What is the sixth continent in the world?

Answer 1

Australia is the sixth biggest continent if you hold to either one of the two six-continent models of earth. These two models list the six continents in order from largest to smallest and in kilometers squared as follows:

One six continent model:

1. Asia: 43,820,000
2. America (North and South): 42,330,000
3. Africa: 30,370,000
4. Antarctica: 13,720,000
5. Europe: 10,180,000
6. Australia: 9,008,500

Another six continent model:

1. Eurasia: 54,000,000
2. Africa: 30,370,000
3. North America: 24,490,000
4. South America: 17,840,000
5. Antarctica: 13,720,000
6. Australia: 9,008,500

But those holding to the seven continent model arrange the continents like this:

1. Asia: 43,820,000
2. Africa: 30,370
3. North America: 24,490,000
4. South America: 17,840,000
5. Antarctica: 13,720,000
6. Europe: 10,180,000
7. Australia: 9,008,500

This model gives Europe as the sixth largest continent,and not Australia.

There are also models that divide the world into 4continents and 5 continents. Of course these models do not have a sixth continent. Different models are popular in different parts of the world, and no approach is entirely wrong or right. Models are based on studies of continental crusts. To an extent continental divisions like that between Europe and Asia may have been influenced by Eurocentrism and other socio-political factors. Most English speaking countries are comfortable, for example, with viewing North America and South America as two distinct continents, while most Spanish speaking countries consider them to be one continent, America.