Western European countries. List of Western European countries Western European countries

Europe- part of the Eurasian continent, washed by two oceans at once - the Arctic, as well as the Atlantic.

The area of ​​the EU is approximately 10 million square meters. The population accounts for approximately 10% of the total population of the planet, which is approximately 740 million people.

General information

How many parts in Europe:

1. Northern Europe;
2. Southern Europe;
3. Eastern Europe;
4. Central Europe.

Depending on the opinions available, European countries can be assigned to one part of it or to another.

The highest point in Europe is Mount Elbrus, which reaches a height of 5642 m. The lowest point is the Caspian Sea, which at the moment is approximately 27 m high.

The main territory is dominated by flat terrain, and only 17% of all of Europe is mountains. The climate of most of Europe is temperate. But in the north of the territory there are glaciers, and in the Caspian lowland - desert.

Europe is the region with the greatest cultural diversity despite its small territory.

Eastern Europe

The European part of Eurasia, located within the borders of Central and Eastern Europe, is commonly referred to as Eastern Europe.

This territory is home to a larger number of people than in other European regions, and occupies about 2/3 of Europe.

The bulk of the population is represented by people of Slavic appearance. In connection with political actions, the territory is constantly amenable to change.

So, in Soviet times, the countries of the USSR were included in Eastern Europe, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, some countries separated and began to be considered foreign.

The climate here is drier and less warm. However, the soils of this part of Europe are much more fertile than the soils of Western Europe. Eastern Europe has the largest amount of chernozem soils in the world.

Eastern Europe is the closest in spirit and territory to Russia part of the Old World. The flight by plane will not take more than two hours. You can even go on vacation to the nearest countries while driving your own car.

The familiar climate and native language will be a nice bonus for those who decide to spend their holidays in Eastern Europe.

Western Europe is the territory in which all the Western countries of Europe are located. Usually, this includes countries that are connected by cultural and geographical principles, and which were able to avoid Soviet influence during the Cold War.

The climate in Western Europe is mostly temperate, with mild winters and warm summers.

Western Europe is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Urbanization here is at the level of 80%.

The largest agglomerations here are London and Paris.

Western Europe is considered the most popular for tourism. About 65% of tourists flock here.

In this area you can see everything from sandy beaches to mountain landscapes. The mosaic of landscapes is striking in its beauty.

A large flow of tourists has led to the formation of special tourist zones that specialize in providing tourist services to guests.

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Everyone will be able to accurately indicate on the map where Europe is located. However, it is not so easy to set clear boundaries.

The geographical boundaries of Europe on the northern, western and southern sides are the coastline of the seas of the Arctic Ocean, as well as the Atlantic Ocean. These are the Baltic, Northern, Irish, Mediterranean, Black, Marmara and Azov seas.

The eastern border is usually drawn along the slope of the Ural Mountains to the Caspian Sea. Some sources also include the territory of the Caucasus in Europe.

List of countries in Europe

The number of European countries is quite extensive.

Listed in alphabetical order, the list would look like this:

• Austria;
• Albania;
• Andorra.

• Belarus;
• Belgium;
• Bulgaria;
• Bosnia.

• Vatican;
• Great Britain;
• Hungary.

• Germany;
• Holland;
• Greece.

• Denmark.

• Ireland;
• Spain;
• Italy;
• Iceland.

• Latvia;
• Lithuania;
• Liechtenstein;
• Luxembourg.

• Malta;
• Moldova;
• Monaco.

• Norway.

• Poland;
• Portugal.

• Russia;
• Romania.

• San Morino;
• Serbia;
• Slovakia;
• Slovenia.

• Ukraine.

• Finland;

• Croatia.

• Montenegro;

• Switzerland;
• Sweden.

• Estonia.

This is a complete list of states that are European.

Number of European countries

The number of states that make up Europe today is 50 .

But based on the political and economic situations that are taking place in the world, it cannot be argued that this list will not change.

You can take as an example the Soviet Union, which at one time broke up into 15 independent states. Whereas the GDR and the FRG, for example, on the contrary, united into a single whole, and today they are called Germany.

Currently, a difficult political situation is taking place in Spain. The Catalan part of it is trying to stand out as a state independent of Spain, and be called Catalonia.

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National symbols

The national symbols of the countries are their flags and coats of arms. As a rule, animalistic symbols are included in the basis of coats of arms. The image of a horse symbolizes speed, movement.

All European countries are familiar with the myths about the god of the sun, who moved in his carriage, which was drawn by horses.

And here, for example, the elephant represents reliability and strength. It is his image that can be found on the coat of arms of the city of Coventry in the UK.

The state symbols of England is the oldest of all European countries. The coat of arms, which is now official in Great Britain, originated in the 19th century.

looks like a shield

• Top left and bottom right corners there are three golden leopards on a red background.
• Top right- a fiery lion, located on a background of the color of gold - the Scottish coat of arms.
• In the bottom left- a harp of gold on a blue field - Irish symbols.

This shield is held by a golden lion with a crown in its mane and a snow-white unicorn.

The symbolism of the Scandinavian countries reveals the history of the countries of the European North. The coat of arms of Denmark has been formed over several centuries. It is a shield, on top of which there is a crown, and inside the shield, four blue leopards are arranged in a row from top to bottom.

Divided by a red and white cross, in the center of which is just her coat of arms.

Until the 13th century, the state emblem of Sweden depicted three leopards in crowns standing one behind the other on the field, which was very reminiscent of the coat of arms of Denmark.

Only at the beginning of the 14th century did coat of arms depicting three golden crowns, which later became the state symbol.

primordial coat of arms of Iceland was presented in the form of a white falcon. But in 1944, a new symbolism was chosen: a shield held by a bull, a dragon, an eagle and an old man.

chief The symbol of Albania is a black eagle with two heads., which is the Albanian coat of arms.

The symbol of Bulgaria is the golden lion., located on a red shield, which is a symbol of masculinity.

Polish coat of arms It looks like a white eagle, whose head is decorated with a gilded crown.

Symbol of Serbia was created during the unification of the lands of Serbia. It depicts an eagle with two heads and a crown.

Macedonia became independent only in the second half of the 20th century. Therefore, until this period, symbolism was represented only by territorial symbols.

Now the coat of arms of Macedonia flaunts a golden crowned lion.

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Population and area of ​​countries

The main giant by all criteria among European countries is Russia.

Its area is approximately equal to 17 million square meters, which is almost equal to the area of ​​South America, and the population is about 146 million.

However, the entry of Russia into Europe is considered controversial, because most of it is located in Asia, and only about 22% - in Europe.

The next in the list of the largest countries in Europe is Ukraine. It occupies an area of ​​almost 604 thousand square meters.

The population of Ukraine is about 42 million people.

France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Norway, Poland and Italy present a list of the 10 largest European countries. However, in terms of the number of inhabitants of these countries, Germany is after Russia, the number of inhabitants of which is about 81 million people .

The population of France is in third place in terms of number. Within it, there are about 66 million people .

The largest cities in Europe are London, with its population of 7 million people, Berlin - 3.5 million people, followed by Madrid, Rome, Kiev and Paris with a population of 3 million.

Which countries are in the European Union?

The Union of Europe was organized during the collapse of the USSR. The EU is united together for economic reasons and political views of the state. Most of these countries use one type of currency - the euro.

The Union is an international entity that includes the signs of a country and the signs of the international community, but in fact they are neither one nor the other.

In some cases, decisions are made by supranational institutions, and in others through negotiations between countries that are members of the European Union.

At the very beginning of its inception, only six countries were part of the European Union.– Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France.

To date, thanks to the connection to the agreement, the number of countries within the European Union has increased to twenty-eight.

States give up their sovereignty, in return receive protection in various institutions of the union, which act for the common interests of all participants.

The Lisbon Treaty included rules for leaving the European Union. For the entire period of action, only Greenland left the European Union - in the late 1900s.

At the moment, five countries claim the opportunity to leave the Union. These are Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Montenegro.

List of EU countries:

1. Austria;
2. Belgium;
3. Bulgaria;
4. Hungary;
5. Great Britain;
6. Greece;
7. Germany;
8. Denmark;
9. Italy;
10. Ireland;
11. Spain;
12. Republic of Cyprus;
13. Luxembourg;
14. Latvia;
15. Lithuania;
16. Malta;
17. Netherlands;
18. Portugal;
19. Poland;
20. Romania;
21. Slovenia;
22. Slovakia;
23. Finland;
24. Croatia;
25. Sweden;
26. Estonia.

Liechtenstein, the Norwegian and Swiss states have not agreed to become members of the European Union, but partly take part in the implementation of joint economic activities.

The population of the European Union as of 2009 exceeded five hundred million people.

Throughout the land of the European Union, people equally use twenty-four languages. But, as a rule, the most popular languages ​​in the European Union are English, German, and also French.

As for religious views, according to polls, about 18% of the population are atheists, 27% are not sure of their views, and 52% confidently believe in the existence of God.

The European region, in view of the impressive area of ​​​​its territory, provides for the division of states into several groups on a geographical basis.

The countries of Western Europe are traditionally popular with tourists from all over the world, due to the abundance of cultural, natural and historical attractions.

The group of countries belonging to Western Europe is traditionally considered one of the most highly developed and prosperous, since the standard of living and income of citizens here is at a consistently high level.

At the same time, the region is characterized by demographic problems associated with low birth rate and insufficient natural growth.

The following states belong to such a geographical association:

• Belgium.
• Germany.
• Switzerland.
• Great Britain.
• Ireland.
• France.
• Liechtenstein.
• Monaco.
• Netherlands.

These countries, for the most part, are washed by the Atlantic Ocean, however, insignificant territories in the northern part of the region border the Arctic Ocean.

Each of these states boasts an abundance of attractions, which is why it is advisable to study them in more detail.

Austria

Austria is one of the most popular countries in Western Europe among tourists. It boasts an abundance of historical sights, as well as an interesting entertainment program.

The most popular tourist cities are Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck. Austrian cities are trying to preserve their historical appearance: there are almost no new buildings in the city center.

The impregnable Hohensalzburg, located near the Alps, is one of the most ancient fortresses - it is over 1,000 years old.

However, in addition to architectural objects, Austria also boasts an impressive list of ski resorts. They represent the best combination of price and quality, while their main advantage is considered to be variety.

There are over 1,000 places in the country that can be used for skiing. Among them there are both large sports complexes and relatively small villages, which allows each tourist to choose the right option.

Vienna is the capital of Austria and the most populated city in the country. One of the sights of Vienna is the opera hall (not only operas, but also ballet). Tickets to the Vienna Opera are not cheap at all - ranging from 14 to 500 euros. It all depends on the performance, its time, as well as the place in the hall.

Salzburg is the birthplace of the great composer Mozart. There is a museum in this city. By the way, you can always bring the famous Mozart sweets from Austria as a gift, which you can buy in any supermarket.

Cake "Sacher"

Arriving in Austria, it is impossible not to try the famous chocolate cake with orange soaking called “Sacher”. This cake can be tasted both in the cafe at the hotel of the same name in Vienna, and in any other Austrian cafe. You can bring a piece of cake home with you - they are sold in tin cans in supermarkets.

Austrian apple strudel. It is prepared in almost any cafe and restaurant. The strudel is usually served with a scoop of ice cream.

Radler drink is very popular. Radler is a weak alcoholic drink (6%), something like a mixture of beer and lemonade. In the literal sense, the name of this drink is translated as a cyclist, and the Austrians themselves joke about it and say that when you drink Radler, you are still able to ride a bicycle.

And in winter, Austrians prefer to drink warm punch. This drink is made from wine, sugar and fruits (usually oranges).

Germany

Germany seems to be one of the largest countries in the region and boasts an abundance of tourist attractions. In terms of sights, there are over 2,000 castles, cathedrals, and other buildings in Germany that date back to the Middle Ages.

Any German city, even the smallest one, will be interesting to visit even for the most fastidious tourist.

When planning to visit Germany, it is advisable to broaden your horizons by visiting not only its capital, Berlin, but also other large cities, Munich and Dresden, where national parks, museums, and natural attractions await tourists.

Oktoberfest in Germany

In late September and early October, a festival called Oktoberfest takes place in Germany. Initially, this festival was only in Bavaria, but now the whole of Germany is not averse to celebrating it.

For two weeks, tents and tables are set up in the cities so that people can get together, listen to music, drink German beer and eat smoked sausages. The Germans love to dress up in national costumes and organize a parade on the first Sunday after the start of the festival.

During Oktoberfest in Germany, they sell the famous gingerbread with drawings and German bagels - pretzels.

German cuisine is dominated by a large amount of meat and locals prefer to cook it in a variety of ways. Salads are very peculiar in Germany: if it is written that a potato salad, then there will be just chopped potatoes with dressing without any other ingredients. Another dish is sauerkraut, the same is not to the taste of all tourists.

Belgium

Another popular destination among travelers is Belgium, which is included in a comprehensive tour of Europe. The small size of this country is offset by the abundance of attractions and their diversity.

Map of Belgium with attractions

The most popular city where most tourists come to is Brussels, but to get a complete picture of the culture and sights of this state, it is advisable to visit:

• Bruges.
• Antwerp.
• Gent.

Each of these cities has a unique atmosphere and unique style that makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations. Active recreation is relatively poorly developed in Belgium, which is why the traveler is advised to focus on sightseeing trips.

In the capital of Belgium, Brussels, tourists love to look into the famous beer museum. And next to the museum there is a shop where you can buy different types of beer, including the strongest ones in terms of alcohol content.

Belgian waffles

One of the most popular dishes in Belgian cuisine is meatballs. Here they are stewed in tomato sauce, and fried in oil and served with cherry jam. The Belgians themselves prefer to combine meat balls with French fries.

Another dish worth trying is Belgian waffles with various toppings. Waffles are sold in any cafe or restaurant, as well as in street fast food. Waffles are served with ice cream and berry jam. As for the national drink, in Belgium it is Jenever, which is sometimes also called Dutch gin.

This drink is available in various flavors and is usually drunk neat. Belgium is not considered a major honey producer, but there are many specialized stores here. Tasty and high-quality honey in a beautiful jar will be a great gift.

France

The capital of France remains for a long time the most popular city for tourists. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the National Opera House, the Arc de Triomphe - the list is endless. In connection with the recent fire, it will no longer be possible to see Notre Dame in its original form. But the French government promises to restore the cathedral in the near future.

Among the interesting objects in France, one can note the Normandy Bridge, which is the largest bridge in Europe.

French cuisine will surprise every tourist with its exquisite combinations. From the unusual, you can try snails cooked in oil with herbs, as well as mussels with lemon juice and vinegar. Well, the most daring can try fried frog legs with onions.

The famous cheese fondue is melted cheese served with meat, baguette and potatoes. Also worth a try is Tartiflet, a kind of potato casserole with bacon, onions and cheese.

Netherlands

In the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, you will definitely not be bored. The city simply surprises with the number of attractions, and most importantly, their availability: tickets to museums are not so expensive and almost all of them are located in the central part of the city.

One of the most beautiful places to visit in Amsterdam in spring is the tulip garden. During their flowering period (April-May), the garden is transformed - more than 700 species of tulips bloom, and their colors are simply indescribable. Also, tulip bulbs will be a great gift from Holland for gardeners.

There are a lot of museums in Amsterdam, here are the most popular ones:

• The Vangoga Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum of Contemporary Art. All museums are located in the so-called golden triangle on Museum Square.
• National Shipping Museum. Next to the museum building is a replica of the ship "Amsterdam".
• Anne Frank Museum. This house museum is dedicated to a girl who lived in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. This girl kept a diary for two years, talking about her hard life.
• Micropia or zoo of microbes.

Tourists should also try street food in Holland. Herring sandwich with onions is very popular. When buying such food on the embankment, you should be careful - seagulls snatch fish right out of their mouths. Waffles are another popular fast food in Holland. They are different from the soft Belgian ones - 2 thin round waffles soaked in sweet syrup.

Also, do not forget about Oliebollen oil balls. The dish is similar to fried Russian dumplings with pieces of fruit inside. Dutch dumplings are traditionally prepared for Christmas and New Year.

You can bring Dutch clogs - wooden slippers with a national pattern - as a memory of a trip or as a gift to friends. You can also order your own design, masters who make clogs are not so hard to find. Some tourists bring licorice sweets as a gift. But they have an amateur taste.

Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. In this country, in addition to sights, there are many quiet places in the mountains untouched by civilization, for example, the Jungfrau in the Alps, the Rhine Falls or Mount Pilatus, on which, according to legend, the body of Pontius Pilate was buried.

Zurich and Geneva attract tourists with a large number of attractions - castles, museums, cathedrals:

• Chillon Castle. It is built right on the shores of Lake Geneva.

In the northern part of Switzerland, the Rhine Falls is located, which is rightfully considered the largest object of its kind located in Europe.

What is worth trying in Switzerland is the cheese. One of the cheese dishes is Raclette, melted cheese served with potatoes. Another dish that tourists should try is Rösti.

This is a potato cake fried in oil, which vaguely resembles everyone's favorite Ukrainian potato pancakes. And as a gift from a trip to Switzerland, you can bring delicious chocolate.

Also, do not forget about Swiss watches, knives and leather boots - however, good quality is not cheap.

Great Britain

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London - all these sights are familiar to everyone from English textbooks. In addition to these famous places, you should pay attention to other, no less exciting:

• Lake District National Park, which recently became under the protection of UNESCO.
• Jura coast. Lovers of history and archeology are interested in this place with a large number of fossils.
• Mount Saint Michael. The mountain is located on a small island, and a huge castle is built on the island.

England is the land of football. Every fan of the British Premier League is simply obliged to go to the match during a tourist trip. Or you should at least watch a match in a sports pub, as the locals do.

Every visitor to England should have breakfast like a real Englishman. An English breakfast is eggs, bacon, beans, sausages, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and freshly made toast.

Such breakfasts were originally for workers in the 19th century, so that they had enough strength for the whole day.

Another dish that you can try is pie and pork. The British themselves prefer to eat such a pie chilled in the summer. From fast food, you should try fish and french fries - a traditional English street food.
The most popular drinks in England are tea, cider and whiskey.

It is necessary to mention the famous British universities, which are not only the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, but also genuine architectural monuments.

Here is a map of countries in Russian and a table with sovereign states, as well as dependent territories. They include completely independent states and territories dependent on various European countries. In total, there are 50 sovereign states and 9 dependent territories in the European part of the world.

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According to the generally accepted geographical definition, the border between and Europe runs along the Ural Mountains, the Ural River and the Caspian Sea in the east, the Greater Caucasus and the Black Sea with its outlets, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles in the south. Based on this division, the transcontinental states of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey have territories both in Europe and in Asia.

The island of Cyprus in Western Asia is close to Anatolia (or Asia Minor) and is on the Anatolian Plate, but is often considered part of Europe and is a current member of the European Union (EU). Armenia is also entirely in Western Asia, but is a member of some European organizations.

While providing a clearer separation between and Europe, some traditionally European islands such as Malta, Sicily, Pantelleria and the Pelagian Islands are located on the African Continental Plate. The island of Iceland is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which crosses the Eurasian and North American plates.

Greenland has socio-political ties with Europe and is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but geographically closer to. Sometimes Israel is also seen as part of Europe's geopolitical processes.

Other territories are part of European countries but are geographically located on other continents, such as the French overseas departments, the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the African coast, and the Dutch Caribbean territories of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius.

There are 50 internationally recognized sovereign states with territory located within the common definition of Europe and/or members in international European organizations, of which 44 have their capitals within Europe. All but the Vatican are members of the United Nations (UN), and all but Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Vatican are members of the Council of Europe. 28 of these countries have been EU members since 2013, which means high integration with each other and partial sharing of their sovereignty with EU institutions.

Political map of Europe with country names in Russian

To enlarge the map, click on it.

Political map of Europe with state names/Wikipedia

Table of European countries with capitals

Western Europe is a region of special history, culture, politics and economy. It is the core and foundation of the modern European Union. The destinies of hundreds of millions of people are intertwined here, representatives of several dozen different nationalities, who, however, get along in a single economic and political space.

Territory

Western Europe is a region distinguished by geographical, linguistic, cultural, political and national features. Historically, the Western European region includes 11 countries: Great Britain, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Monaco. However, there are many disputes about the ownership of countries from this list. So, some scientists single out Great Britain and Ireland as a separate region, while others attribute Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Central Europe. There is also no agreement on the status of their neighbors. There is a theory of "great Western Europe", where Spain, Portugal, Andorra, San Marino, the Vatican, Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are added to the group of countries mentioned above. At the moment, the opinion of the UN dominates, which places 9 states out of 11 in this region, excluding the UK and Ireland.

Western Europe extends over a little over 1,231,000 kilometers, which is approximately 12-13% of the total area of ​​the Old World.

Population

The population of nine countries in the Western European region is approximately 202 million people. It is here that the largest countries in terms of population, located entirely in Europe - Germany and France are located. Together, these two countries are home to 16% of the total population of the Old World.

Western Europe is multilingual, although there are only eight main languages: French, German, Italian, Dutch, Flemish, Luxembourgish and Monegasque. Flemish is the official language of Belgium, spoken by 58% of the country's population. Monegasque and Luxembourgish are the main languages ​​of Monaco and Luxembourg respectively. Almost every country in Western Europe, with the exception of Germany and France, speaks two or more languages. For example, Switzerland uses three official languages ​​- German, French and Italian.

The main religion is Christianity, represented by all major denominations.

An interesting fact is that most of the Western European population lives in cities.

Brief history of the region

Modern Western Europe was formed on the ruins of the Roman Empire: the beginning of the formation of nation-states followed immediately after its collapse. The first such state can be considered the Frankish Kingdom, formed in the 5th century AD and considered the predecessor of modern France. Modern Germany was the last to form, it happened at the end of the 19th century.

Despite the Muslim conquests in Southern Europe, the western part of the continent has always remained Christian. It was the local knights who went on crusades, it was here that Protestantism arose in the 16th century - a new Christian movement. In the 20th century, almost in full force (excluding Switzerland), the countries of Western Europe joined NATO - one of the two world military-political blocs.

Western Europe and Russia

The history of relations between Western Europe and Russia is a history of alternations of friendship and rivalry. It is known for certain that contacts between Western European states and our country existed as early as the 11th century: Anna, the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, was married to the French king Henry I. However, economic and political ties became widespread after the “great embassy” of Peter I. Since then Since then, the relationship between countries has been a series of wars and participation in allied blocs, economic support and embargoes, cultural exchange and conscious military isolation. Russia fought against the Western European states in both world wars, in the Seven Years' War, in the Patriotic War of 1812, in the Crimean War and many others. Cultural exchange reached its peak in the 19th century, when almost all of the Russian nobility spoke French and German. Unfortunately, this interest waned in the 20th century and has only just begun to revive in the last two decades.

culture

The culture of Western Europe is permeated with Christian influence, the echoes of which are still felt today. One of the main attractions of European cities is the majestic Gothic cathedrals, for example: the cathedral in Cologne and Notre Dame de Paris in the capital of France.

Western Europe has always been the flagship of current trends in culture and art: in the 18th century it was classicism, in the 19th - romanticism, modernism and postmodernism in the 20th. At the moment, Western Europe, like the rest of the world, is dominated by pop culture that has been taking shape since the 1960s.

Even earlier, the great French architect Le Corbusier formulated the “five starting points of architecture”, which, to one degree or another, shaped the appearance of many modern Western European cities. Here are the rules: pillars, flat roofs, terraces, free planning, ribbon windows and a free facade.

Economy

Western Europe is one of the main driving forces of the world economy. Today, the share of Western European countries accounts for 24% of the total GDP of the planet, or a little less than 40 thousand euros per inhabitant. The highest rate is in Luxembourg - 73 thousand per capita. The lowest figure in France is 29.3 thousand.

The development of Western Europe directly depends on the development of its main driving forces - Germany, France and the Netherlands, which are a kind of "donor" of the European Union. Thus, Germany gives 12 million euros more than it receives.

The main trading partners of the Western European countries are China, Japan, the USA and Russia. The main export items are machinery, equipment and computers, which indicates the orientation of the economy towards the development of high technologies. Imports are directly related to the availability of natural resources.

In general, the economy of Western Europe is marked by low unemployment, low inflation and sustainable development.

Germany

United Germany is a young state that was formed in 1990 by combining two parts - the western (Germany) and the eastern (GDR). Germany ranks 62nd in the world in terms of area and 16th in terms of population. More than 82 million people live on its territory. Germany is in 5th place in the world in terms of GDP and 4th in terms of the human development index (very high).

Despite the fact that Germany is a secular country, 65% of Germans profess Christianity. This is a very high figure. The migration balance is skewed towards immigration: in 2013, 1.2 million people arrived in Germany, and 700,000 left.

The capital and largest city is Berlin, with a population of over 3.5 million. The official language of the state is German. Germany is divided into 16 federal states.

France

France is the largest country in Western Europe by area, ranking 48th in the world. The population of the country is just over 66 million, including 2 million living in overseas territories. In terms of GDP and HDI, France is inferior to Germany, however, it occupies a leading position in these indicators - 8th and 21st places in the world, respectively.

18 regions and 101 departments form the administrative-territorial division of France. Most of the population professes Catholicism. The capital and largest city is Paris - its population is about 2.2 million people. French is recognized as the official language. It is spoken by most of the country's population.

In the French economy, a significant role is played by: industry, agriculture, energy, mining, trade and tourism. The latter annually brings to the treasury more than 40 billion dollars.

The article tells about the countries of the European subregion. Comparisons of their current state with the past time are given. Powers stand out that have so far managed to maintain their positions, both in the political and economic world arena.

Western European states

This is a sub-region that contains the Western European powers. This definition has a geographical context.

In the UN, the region is positioned as a commonwealth of almost a dozen countries (9):

• Austria;
• Belgium;
• France;
• Germany,
• Liechtenstein;
• Monaco;
• Holland;
• Switzerland.

In the current political situation, EU members are positioned as part of the Western world.

To demonstrate the variability of political processes, it is worth paying attention to the following table:

Table "Integration of Western European countries"

Today the list of countries in Western Europe is as follows:

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• Austria;
• Andorra;
• Belgium;
• Great Britain;
• Germany;
• Ireland;
• Liechtenstein;
• Monaco;
• Netherlands;
• France;
• Switzerland.

General economic and geographical characteristics of the region

The sub-region of Western Europe includes almost three dozen states (26), which are strikingly different in many ways. It is one of the developed strongholds of the world system of capitalist orientation.

Rice. 1. Luxembourg.

Luxembourg is a small state that does not have a natural outlet to the sea. However, it is not only an economic power, it also has significant historical and strategic importance. During the period of Spanish influence, Luxembourg was once an important state that significantly influenced the western hemisphere.

The countries of Western Europe and from the capital are still fraught with many mysteries and secrets of the past.

Western Europe occupies a leading position in such areas as the world economy and politics. In addition, it is the birthplace of significant discoveries in the field of geography and the industrial revolution.

Rice. 2. Steam engine in the units of the industrial revolution.

The states of the subregion are united not only geographically, but also economically. There are also great prospects in political relations.

The changes within the European state and society that occurred at the dawn of the formation of civilization had an impact on the environment of the modern economic and political development of the world. Countries from this region are recognized as leaders in the economy. All this led to the transition to the capitalist path of their development. This was facilitated by such countries as: Holland, England and France.

Rice. 3. EU flag.

These states had access to the Atlantic and actively participated in the emergence of the world markets known today.

What have we learned?

We found out which states are part of the subregion of Europe. We indirectly got acquainted with their economic potential and learned what position the countries of the region occupy in the world among other states that make up the mainland. Supplemented knowledge of geography for the 7th grade.

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