What Countries Are In The Western Hemisphere?

Let’s play a quick game. Grab a globe or a map—or just imagine one. Where does the Western Hemisphere actually live?

Spoiler: It’s not a secret club. It’s literally half the planet.

We’re talking about everything west of the Prime Meridian. That’s the invisible line running through Greenwich, England—because the British really wanted to be the center of the world. The Western Hemisphere goes all the way to the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean.

So, what’s inside? North America, for starters.

That’s the USA, Canada, Mexico, and all of Central America. Yes, all of it—from Belize to Panama. These countries are basically the Western Hemisphere’s cool front porch.

Western Hemisphere Map

Then comes South America. Twelve countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Fun fact: Brazil is so big it almost touches every other South American nation except Chile and Ecuador. That’s a party with a really long invite list.

But wait—there’s more! The Caribbean is a wild, island-filled mess of nations. Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic all live here. So does the Bahamas, even though it’s technically not in the Caribbean Sea. Geography is a liar sometimes.

Now, here’s the super weird part: Europe and Africa have lands in the Western Hemisphere too. Greenland belongs to Denmark, but it’s sitting right off Canada. France owns islands like Martinique and Guadeloupe—yes, France is technically an American country too. That’s a passport stamp you didn’t know you needed.

Map Of Western Hemisphere With Names | Adams Printable Map

And Africa? Cape Verde is an island nation off the coast of Senegal. It’s entirely in the Western Hemisphere. So is part of Iceland, if you squint at a map. Iceland is basically waving at Canada from across the Atlantic.

Let’s count the nations. There are roughly 35 independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Nobody agrees on the exact number because some folks count Greenland as a country (it’s not), and others argue about tiny islands. But 35 is a solid, party-friendly number.

32 Map Of The Western Hemisphere Maps Database Source

Want a funny detail? Russia lies partly in the Western Hemisphere too—the far eastern tip of Siberia crosses the Date Line. So when Putin says he’s “in the West,” he’s actually being geographically honest. Scary, but accurate.

The Western Hemisphere also has the driest place on Earth: the Atacama Desert in Chile. Some parts haven’t seen rain in 400 years. That’s older than your grandma’s meatloaf recipe.

And the longest mountain range? The Andes runs down the west side of South America for 4,300 miles. It’s so long it makes the Appalachian Mountains look like a speed bump.

Western Hemisphere Globe

So why does this matter? Because the Western Hemisphere is where you probably live (if you’re reading this in the Americas). It’s a place of wild contrasts—from frozen Greenland to steamy Amazon jungles. It’s where you’ll find the most spoken European language (Spanish) and the most spoken Indigenous language (Quechua, from the Inca Empire).

Next time someone says “Western Hemisphere,” don’t yawn. Picture a map where Canada hugs a piece of Denmark, France runs tropical islands, and Russia peeks in from the side. That’s the fun of geography—it’s a beautifully messy puzzle.

So, what countries are in the Western Hemisphere? All of the Americas, plus a few gate-crashers from Europe and Africa. Now go impress someone at a party. You’re welcome.