A subregion is a part of a larger region or continent and is usually based on location. Cardinal directions, such as south or southern, are commonly used to define a subregion.
The Statistics Division of the United Nations (UN) is in charge of the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical information for the UN. In 1999, it developed a system of macro-geographical (continental) regions, subregions, and other selected economic groups to report advances towards achieving numerous millennial development goals worldwide. These statistical divisions were devised for statistical purposes and is used for carrying out statistical analysis. The division's first publication was the book World's Women 2000: Trends and Statistics in 2000.
According to the UN, 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.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of subregions, arranged alphabetically by region (i.e., by continent); in the UN geoscheme, higher-level, macro-geographical regions are arranged to the extent possible according to continents.
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for Africa):
Eastern Africa
Middle Africa (Congo)
Northern Africa (Arabia)
Southern Africa
Western Africa (Guinea)
by geography:
Central Africa (Congo)
Congo Basin
Sudan (region) (also part of East Africa and West Africa)
East Sudanian Savanna (also part of East Africa)
East Africa
Horn of Africa
Sudan (region) (also part of Central Africa and West Africa)
East Sudanian Savanna (also part of Central Africa)
Sudd
North Africa (Arabia)
Sahara
Maghreb
Sahel
Southern Africa
West Africa (Guinea)
Sudan (region) (also part of Central Africa and East Africa)
West Sudanian Savanna
by geopolitics:
Arab League (the Arab world or Arab states)
Greater Middle East (including the Middle East and the 'stans)
Horn of Africa
Middle East (the Near East, part of Asia)
Arabian Peninsula (Arabia)
Saharan Africa
The 'stans (part of Asia)
Sub-Saharan Africa
by geology:
Kaapvaal craton
Zimbabwe craton
Asia
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for Asia):
Central Asia
Eastern Asia
Southeastern Asia
Southern Asia
Western Asia
by geography:
Central Asia
Indus Valley
East Asia
Greater China
China
Hong Kong (some geographers consider it as part of Northeast Asia)
Macau (some geographers consider it as part of Northeast Asia)
Mainland China
East China (some geographers include the Taiwan Island, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu Islands, and Senkaku Islands in this subregion)
North China (Eastern Inner Mongolia is also part of Northeast Asia)
Northeast China (also part of Northeast Asia)
South Central China
Central China
South China (including the Hainan Island, Paracel Islands, and Zhongsha Islands; some geographers also include Hong Kong, Macau, and the Pratas Islands in this subregion)
Western China
Northwest China (some geographers consider Qinghai and Xinjiang as part of Central Asia)
Southwest China (some geographers consider Tibet as part of Central Asia)
Taiwan (some geographers consider it as part of Northeast Asia)
Spratly Islands
James Shoal
Mongolia (some geographers consider it as part of Central Asia or Northeast Asia)
Northeast Asia
Japan
Manchuria
Eastern Inner Mongolia
Northeast China
Outer Manchuria (also part of North Asia)
Sakhalin (also part of North Asia)
Korean Peninsula (Korea)
North Korea
South Korea
North Asia (aka Siberia)
Russian Far East
Outer Manchuria (also part of Northeast Asia)
Sakhalin (also part of Northeast Asia)
South Asia (mainly the Indian subcontinent)
Deccan Plateau / Peninsular India
The Himalayas
India
East India
Northeast India
North India
South India
Western India
Indo-Gangetic plains
Iranian Plateau
List of island countries and territories in the Indian Ocean
Southeast Asia
Mainland Southeast Asia (Indochina or Indochinese Peninsula)
Malay Peninsula
Maritime Southeast Asia (the Malay Archipelago or Malesia)
Western Asia (Southwest Asia)
Asia Minor
Kurdistan
Levant
Mesopotamia
Arabian Peninsula (Arabia)
Caucasus
North Caucasus
South Caucasus
by geopolitics:
Arab League (the Arab world or Arab states)
Far East
ASEAN
China proper
Russian Far East
Greater Middle East (including the Horn of Africa and Saharan Africa)
Horn of Africa (part of Africa)
Middle East (the Near East)
Arabian Peninsula (Arabia)
Saharan Africa (part of Africa)
The 'stans
Indian subcontinent
by economics:
Arab states (the Arab world or Arab League)
Eurasian Economic Community
Greater Mekong Subregion
Northern and southern China
by culture:
Eastern world
Greater India
Muslim world
Arab world (the Arab League or Arab states)
Northern and southern China
by religions:
Abrahamic religions (Western Asian religions or the Western religion)
Eastern religions
Dharmic religions (Indian religions)
Taoic religions (East Asian religions or Far Eastern religions)
Europe
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for Europe):
Eastern Europe – the UN includes North Asia (Siberia) and Central Europe in this subregion
Northern Europe – the UN includes the British Isles in this subregion
Southern Europe
Western Europe – the UN includes Germany and other DACH countries in this subregion
by economy:
Central European Free Trade Agreement
CISFTA
Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia
Eurasian Economic Community
European Economic Area
European Free Trade Association
European Union Customs Union
Eurozone
by geology:
Baltic shield
East European craton
Ukrainian Shield
by geopolitics:
Western world
European Union
by peninsula:
Balkan Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
Italian Peninsula
Scandinavian Peninsula
by culture:
The Balkans
Western Balkans
Baltic States
Benelux
Belgium
The Netherlands
Luxembourg
British Isles
The Caucasus
The North Caucasus
The South Caucasus
Central Europe
DACH
Germany (Deutschland)
Austria
Switzerland (Confoederatio Helvetica)
Latin Europe
Nordic countries
Fennoscandia
Scandinavia
Lapland
Visegrád Group
by religions:
Western religion (Abrahamic religions or Western Asian religions)
by historical divisions:
Eastern Bloc
Western Bloc
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for the Americas):
Latin America and the Caribbean
Caribbean
Latin America
Central America – the UN includes Clipperton Island and Mexico in this subregion
South America
Northern America
by culture:
Anglo-America
Latin America
Hispanic America
Mesoamerica
by geography:
Middle America
Caribbean
The Greater Antilles
The Lesser Antilles
Central America
Clipperton Island
Mexico
Northern America
Alaska
Great Basin
Great Lakes
Great Plains
Greenland
Northern Canada
by geology:
Canadian Shield
North American craton
Slave craton
Superior craton
Wyoming craton
by economics:
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
Mesoamerican region
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Petrocaribe
by geography:
Altiplano
Amazon Basin
Andean states
Andes
Caribbean South America
Eastern South America (Brazil)
Gran Chaco
Guianan states
Northern South America
Pampa
Pantanal
Patagonia
Southern Cone
by economics:
Andean Community
Mercosur
Union of South American Nations
by geology:
Guiana Shield
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions:
Antarctica
by geography:
Antarctica
Bouvet Island
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Peter I Island
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for Oceania):
Australia and New Zealand – the UN includes Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, Lord Howe Island Group and Norfolk Island in this subregion
Melanesia – the UN includes New Caledonia and New Guinea in this subregion
Micronesia
Polynesia
by geography:
Australasia
Australia (continent)
Australia
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Australian Capital Territory
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Coral Sea Islands Territory (excluding Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs)
Jervis Bay Territory
New South Wales (excluding Lord Howe Island Group)
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Western New Guinea
Zealandia
Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs
Lord Howe Island Group
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norfolk Island
Pacific Islands
Melanesia
Micronesia
Polynesia
by geology (see also: Geology of Australia):
Archaean
Australian Shield
Centralian Superbasin
Gawler craton
Narryer gneiss
Ore genesis
Perth Basin
Pilbara craton
Western Plateau
Yilgarn craton
