United Nations geoscheme

The definition of regions and subregions in use by the United Nations for statistical purposes.

The geoscheme was created on the basis of the classification M49 of the United Nations Statistics Division, which divides the world into 'macro-geographical regions' and subregions.

The scheme was devised for statistical purposes and is used for carrying out statistical analysis. The macro-geographical regions are arranged to the extent possible according to continents. Within these groupings, smaller, geographical subregions and selected economic and other groupings allow for detailed analysis.

According to the United Nations, the assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories.

List of regions and sub-regions

• Africa – see also UN geoscheme for Africa
  • Eastern Africa
  • Middle Africa
  • Northern Africa
  • Southern Africa
  • Western Africa

• America / Americas – see also UN geoscheme for the Americas
  • Northern America *
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
    • Caribbean *
    • Central America *
    • South America

* These three subregions together form the continent of North America.

• Asia – see also UN geoscheme for Asia
  • Central Asia
  • Eastern Asia
  • Southern Asia
  • South-Eastern Asia
  • Western Asia

• Europe – see also UN geoscheme for Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • Northern Europe
  • Southern Europe
  • Western Europe

• Oceania – see also UN geoscheme for Oceania
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • Melanesia
  • Micronesia
  • Polynesia

See also

• United Nations Regional Groups
• UN M.49
• Geopolitical divisions of Europe