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 AfricaMiddle Africa (Congo)Northern Africa (Arabia)Southern AfricaWestern Africa (Guinea)by geography:Central Africa (Congo)Congo BasinSudan (region) (also part of East Africa and West Africa)East Sudanian Savanna (also part of East Africa)East AfricaHorn of AfricaSudan (region) (also part of Central Africa and West Africa)East Sudanian Savanna (also part of Central Africa)SuddNorth Africa (Arabia)SaharaMaghrebSahelSouthern AfricaWest Africa (Guinea)Sudan (region) (also part of Central Africa and East Africa)West Sudanian Savannaby geopolitics:Arab League (the Arab world or Arab states)Greater Middle East (including the Middle East and the 'stans)Horn of AfricaMiddle East (the Near East, part of Asia)Arabian Peninsula (Arabia)Saharan AfricaThe 'stans (part of Asia)Sub-Saharan Africaby geology:Kaapvaal cratonZimbabwe cratonAsia
by the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for Asia):Central AsiaEastern AsiaSoutheastern AsiaSouthern AsiaWestern Asiaby geography:Central AsiaIndus ValleyEast AsiaGreater ChinaChinaHong Kong (some geographers consider it as part of Northeast Asia)Macau (some geographers consider it as part of Northeast Asia)Mainland ChinaEast 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 ChinaCentral ChinaSouth 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 ChinaNorthwest 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 IslandsJames ShoalMongolia (some geographers consider it as part of Central Asia or Northeast Asia)Northeast AsiaJapanManchuriaEastern Inner MongoliaNortheast ChinaOuter Manchuria (also part of North Asia)Sakhalin (also part of North Asia)Korean Peninsula (Korea)North KoreaSouth KoreaNorth Asia (aka Siberia)Russian Far EastOuter Manchuria (also part of Northeast Asia)Sakhalin (also part of Northeast Asia)South Asia (mainly the Indian subcontinent)Deccan Plateau / Peninsular IndiaThe HimalayasIndiaEast IndiaNortheast IndiaNorth IndiaSouth IndiaWestern IndiaIndo-Gangetic plainsIranian PlateauList of island countries and territories in the Indian OceanSoutheast AsiaMainland Southeast Asia (Indochina or Indochinese Peninsula)Malay PeninsulaMaritime Southeast Asia (the Malay Archipelago or Malesia)Western Asia (Southwest Asia)Asia MinorKurdistanLevantMesopotamiaArabian Peninsula (Arabia)CaucasusNorth CaucasusSouth Caucasusby geopolitics:Arab League (the Arab world or Arab states)Far EastASEANChina properRussian Far EastGreater 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 'stansIndian subcontinentby economics:Arab states (the Arab world or Arab League)Eurasian Economic CommunityGreater Mekong SubregionNorthern and southern Chinaby culture:Eastern worldGreater IndiaMuslim worldArab world (the Arab League or Arab states)Northern and southern Chinaby religions:Abrahamic religions (Western Asian religions or the Western religion)Eastern religionsDharmic 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 subregionNorthern Europe – the UN includes the British Isles in this subregionSouthern EuropeWestern Europe – the UN includes Germany and other DACH countries in this subregionby economy:Central European Free Trade AgreementCISFTACustoms Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and RussiaEurasian Economic CommunityEuropean Economic AreaEuropean Free Trade AssociationEuropean Union Customs UnionEurozoneby geology:Baltic shieldEast European cratonUkrainian Shieldby geopolitics:Western worldEuropean Unionby peninsula:Balkan PeninsulaIberian PeninsulaItalian PeninsulaScandinavian Peninsulaby culture:The BalkansWestern BalkansBaltic StatesBeneluxBelgiumThe NetherlandsLuxembourgBritish IslesThe CaucasusThe North CaucasusThe South CaucasusCentral EuropeDACHGermany (Deutschland)AustriaSwitzerland (Confoederatio Helvetica)Latin EuropeNordic countriesFennoscandiaScandinaviaLaplandVisegrád Groupby religions:Western religion (Abrahamic religions or Western Asian religions)by historical divisions:Eastern BlocWestern Blocby the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions (see also: UN geoscheme for the Americas):Latin America and the CaribbeanCaribbeanLatin AmericaCentral America – the UN includes Clipperton Island and Mexico in this subregionSouth AmericaNorthern Americaby culture:Anglo-AmericaLatin AmericaHispanic AmericaMesoamericaby geography:Middle AmericaCaribbeanThe Greater AntillesThe Lesser AntillesCentral AmericaClipperton IslandMexicoNorthern AmericaAlaskaGreat BasinGreat LakesGreat PlainsGreenlandNorthern Canadaby geology:Canadian ShieldNorth American cratonSlave cratonSuperior cratonWyoming cratonby economics:Caribbean Community (CARICOM)Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)Mesoamerican regionNorth American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)Petrocaribeby geography:AltiplanoAmazon BasinAndean statesAndesCaribbean South AmericaEastern South America (Brazil)Gran ChacoGuianan statesNorthern South AmericaPampaPantanalPatagoniaSouthern Coneby economics:Andean CommunityMercosurUnion of South American Nationsby geology:Guiana Shieldby the United Nations Statistics Division's subregions:Antarcticaby geography:AntarcticaBouvet IslandFrench Southern and Antarctic LandsHeard Island and McDonald IslandsPeter I IslandSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsby 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 subregionMelanesia – the UN includes New Caledonia and New Guinea in this subregionMicronesiaPolynesiaby geography:AustralasiaAustralia (continent)AustraliaAshmore and Cartier IslandsAustralian Capital TerritoryChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsCoral Sea Islands Territory (excluding Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs)Jervis Bay TerritoryNew South Wales (excluding Lord Howe Island Group)Northern TerritoryQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaWestern AustraliaNew GuineaPapua New GuineaWestern New GuineaZealandiaElizabeth and Middleton ReefsLord Howe Island GroupNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNorfolk IslandPacific IslandsMelanesiaMicronesiaPolynesiaby geology (see also: Geology of Australia):ArchaeanAustralian ShieldCentralian SuperbasinGawler cratonNarryer gneissOre genesisPerth BasinPilbara cratonWestern PlateauYilgarn craton