Short answer: In most contexts people say there are 7 continents, but some models use 6 or 5, and there is no universal consensus.
Context and variations
- Common Western school convention: 7 continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Antarctica, Oceania (Australia).[1][2]
- Some models combine Europe and Asia into Eurasia, yielding 6 continents, or merge the Americas into a single “America,” yielding 5, depending on regional teaching or geographic criteria.[3][4][1]
- There is also debate about Zealandia’s status as a continent, which would affect counts in some discussions, though it’s not universally recognized in standard models.[3]
What you might expect in different contexts
- School curricula in many countries: 7 continents as the default teaching standard.[1]
- Some universities and geographic sources discuss 5 or 6-continent models for specific historical or cultural reasons or when using different definitions of what constitutes a continent.[4][5][3]
- Popular media articles and travel sites frequently mention 7 but also note the ongoing debate or present alternative models.[5][6]
Quick example to illustrate
- If a classroom uses 7 continents, you’d list: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania (Australia).
- If a six-continent model is used (Eurasia treated as one), you’d list: Africa, Eurasia, North America, South America, Antarctica, Oceania.
- If a five-continent model is used, you’d list: Africa, Americas (combined North and South), Asia, Europe, Oceania (plus sometimes Antarctica is included elsewhere in 6-continent variants).
If you’d like, tell me your preferred model (7, 6, or 5) and I can tailor a concise explanation or a short reference note you can use in a presentation.
Citation note: The overview above reflects common distinctions discussed in educational sources and popular articles on the topic. If you want, I can pull up specific current sources in French or English to align with your preferred model.