Let’s divide the 54 into three awkward cliques, just like high school. First clique: North America. That’s 23 countries if you include the Caribbean islands, which is a lot of tiny flags on a map. The second clique: South America, which has 12 countries and one very dramatic continent-sized river. The third clique? The misfits—Greenland, Iceland (yes, it’s often considered transcontinental), and about a dozen island nations that make you say, “Wait, that’s a country?”
Here’s where it gets funny. Russia technically sneaks a tiny bit of its landmass into the Western Hemisphere (the Chukchi Peninsula). So if you want to get technical—and please don’t, because I have a headache—you could say Russia has a foot in the door. It’s like that neighbor who always leaves their trash can in your driveway. Please, Russia. Take it back.
The Geography Trap (We’ve All Fallen Into It)
You know that moment in a conversation where someone says, “The Western Hemisphere is basically the Americas,” and you nod along, even though you’re thinking about pizza? I’ve done that. We’ve all done that. It’s the same mental shortcut that convinces us “Europe” is just castles and tiny cars. But here’s the kicker: the Western Hemisphere includes parts of Europe and Africa too.
How Many Countries In The Western Hemisphere | Detroit Chinatown
Take a deep breath. It’s okay. The Western Hemisphere is like that friend who claims they’re “super easygoing” but then throws a fit if you touch their snacks. It includes countries like France (via French Guiana in South America), the Netherlands (thanks to Aruba and Curaçao), and the United Kingdom (yes, the Falkland Islands count). Suddenly, your mental map of the world looks like a toddler’s crayon drawing. Beautiful, but chaotic.
