Subregion

A subregion is a conceptual unit which derives from 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.

United Nations subregions

:"Main article: United Nations geoscheme"

The Statistics Division of the United Nations (UN) is in charge of the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical information for the UN. [ [http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/aboutus.htm United Nations Statistics Division - About Us] ] 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. This geoscheme was devised for statistical purposes and is used for carrying out statistical analysis. [ [http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm United Nations Statistics Division - Country and Area Codes Classifications] ] The division's first publication was the book "World's Women 2000: Trends and Statistics" in 2000. This scheme is in use by several bodies within the UN; other schemes are also used. [ [http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/31119/en/ North America Forest Commission; FAO] ] [ [http://portal.unesco.org/geography/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2297&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html UNESCO worldwide] ] [ [http://earthwatch.unep.net/assessments/regions/index.php Regional assessments, UN System-Wide EARTHWATCH] ] [ [http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/5/field.htm Field presences, UN OHCHR] ] According to the UN, these geographical divisions do not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliations of countries or territories by the UN.

Subregions by continent

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.

Africa

*"by UN subregion:"
** Northern Africa
** Western Africa
** Middle Africa
** Eastern Africa
** Southern Africa
*"by geography:"
** North Africa
*** Maghreb

*** Sahel
** Sub-Saharan Africa
*** West Africa
*** East Africa
*** Horn of Africa
*** Central Africa
*** Congo
*** Southern Africa
*** Sudan (region)
*"by geology:"
*** Kaapvaal craton
*** Zimbabwe craton

= America =

* "see also: Americas (terminology)"

North America

*"by UN subregion:"
** Northern America
** Central America
** Caribbean
*"by geography:"
** Canadian Arctic
** Great Basin
** Great Plains
** Great Lakes
** The Greater Antilles
** The Lesser Antilles
*"by geology:"
** Canadian Shield
** North American craton
** Slave craton
** Superior craton
** Wyoming craton
*"by economics:"
** North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
** Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
** Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)

South America

*"by geography:"
** Altiplano
** Amazon Basin
** Andes
** Caribbean South America
** Gran Chaco
** Guianas
** Pampa
** Pantanal
** Patagonia
*"by economics (Union of South American Nations):"
** Andean Community
** Mercosur

Eurasia

Asia

* "by UN subregion:"
** Western Asia
** Central Asia
** Southern Asia
** Eastern Asia
** Southeastern Asia

* "by geography:"
** Central Asia
** Southwest Asia
*** Arabian Peninsula/Gulf States
*** Anatolia
*** Caucasus
*** Levant
*** Mesopotamia
*** Kurdistan
*** Iranian Plateau/Balochistan
** North Asia (see Siberia)
** East Asia
** South Asia, or the Indian subcontinent
*** Himalayan states
*** Indo-Gangetic plains
*** Deccan Plateau/Peninsular India
*** Indian Ocean states
*** South India
*** North India
*** East India
*** Northeast India
*** West India
** Southeast Asia
*** Maritime/Malay Archipelago
*** Mainland/Indochina

* "other groupings:"
** Far East
** Middle East
** Near East

Europe

* "by UN subregion:"
** Western Europe
** Northern Europe
** Southern Europe
** Eastern Europe
* "by peninsula:"
** Balkan Peninsula
** Iberian Peninsula
** Italian Peninsula
** Scandinavian Peninsula
* "by other groupings:"
** Baltic States
** Benelux or the Low Countries
** the British Isles
** Central Europe
** Nordic States
** Visegrád Group
* "by geology"
** Baltic shield
** Ukrainian shields
** East European craton

Oceania

* Australasia or Australia
** "by geography"
*** Australian Capital Territory
*** New South Wales
*** Northern Territory
*** Queensland
*** South Australia
*** Tasmania
*** Victoria
*** Western Australia
*** Jervis Bay Territory
** "by geology"
*** Yilgarn craton
*** Pilbara craton
* Melanesia
* Micronesia
* Polynesia
* South Pacific
* North Pacific

ee also

* United Nations geoscheme
* Continent
* Subcontinent
* Supercontinent

ources

External links

* [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm UN Statistics Division's Country and Area Codes Classifications]
* [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/ungegn.htm UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names]