Southwest Asia
399656
225969120
2008-07-16T07:01:38Z
74.210.50.94
{{Unreferenced|date=January 2007}}
'''Southwest Asia''' or '''Southwestern Asia''' (largely overlapping with the [[Middle East]]) is the southwestern [[subregion|portion]] of [[Asia]]. The term '''Western Asia''' is sometimes used in writings about the archeology and the late prehistory of the region, and in the [[United Nations]] [[subregion]] geoscheme. Unlike the Middle East, which is broadly-defined defined to include several [[North Africa]]n countries such as [[Egypt]], Southwestern Asia is a purely [[physical geography|geographical]] term that is reserved for the southwestern extremities of the [[Asia]]n continent.
Southwest Asia is partly co-terminous with the traditional European names the ''Middle East'' and the ''[[Near East]]'', both of which describe the regions' geographical position in relation to [[Europe]] rather than their location within Asia. The term ''Western Asia'' has become the preferred term of use for the [[Middle East]] by [[international organization]]s (most notably the [[United Nations]]<ref>United Nations Cartographic Section[http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm]</ref>) and also in countries to the east of the region, such as [[India]] and [[Australia]], because of the perceived [[Eurocentrism]] of the historical term ''Middle East''.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} In terms of [[cultural geography|cultural]] and [[political geography]], the Middle East often includes [[North Africa]]n countries, particularly [[Egypt]].
The [[United Nations]] includes [[Turkey]], [[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Azerbaijan]] in Western Asia. However, these countries also lie in regions that straddle both Asia and [[Europe]], and have sociopolitical ties to both. [[Turkey]] is located in both [[Europe]] and [[Asia]].
The Asian part of the [[Arab world]] (including [[Arabia]] proper) is called the ''[[Mashreq]]'' in [[Arabic]].
:''See [[continent]] and [[transcontinental country]] for further definitions''
==Countries in Southwest Asia==
Some of the countries classified as southwest Asian are sometimes classified differently. [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]], for example, are sometimes considered [[Central Asia]]n countries, and sometimes as South Asian countries. [[Cyprus]] meanwhile politically aligns itself with [[Europe]], and is generally considered a part of Southeastern Europe despite its geographic location. Southwest Asia is in most contexts meant to encompass:
*{{AFG}}<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_461511144_4/Ethnic_Groups_in_Canada.html Ethnic Groups in Canada - MSN Encarta<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574726/Asia.html Asia - MSN Encarta<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*{{ARM}}
*{{AZE}}
*{{BHR}}
*{{CYP}}
*{{GEO}}
*{{IRN}}
*{{IRQ}}
*{{ISR}}
*{{JOR}}
*{{KWT}}
*{{LBN}}
*{{OMN}}
*{{flagicon|PSE}} [[Palestinian Territories]] ([[Gaza Strip]] and [[West Bank]])
*{{QAT}}
*{{SAU}}
*{{SYR}}
*{{UAE}}
*{{YEM}}
*[[Anatolia]], the Asian portion of
**{{TUR}}
*[[Sinai Peninsula]], the Asian portion of
**{{EGY}}
==Use in ethnicity statistics==
The Canadian government uses "West Asian" in its statistics; however people from the Arab countries are counted in a separate "Arab" category.<ref>http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/89-621-XIE/89-621-XIE2007003.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.google.com/search?q=west+asian+site%3Astatcan.ca</ref>
== Other subregions of Asia ==
*[[East Asia]]
*[[Southeast Asia]]
*[[South Asia]] ([[Indian subcontinent]])
*[[Central Asia]]
*[[North Asia]] ([[Siberia]])
*[[Northern Eurasia]] (extends into [[Europe]])
*[[Central Eurasia]] (extends into [[Europe]])
{{Regions of the world}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
;
[[Category:Regions of Asia]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Southwest Asia| ]]
[[ar:جنوب غرب آسيا]]
[[zh-min-nan:Sai-lâm-a]]
[[bs:Jugozapadna Azija]]
[[bg:Югозападна Азия]]
[[cs:Jihozápadní Asie]]
[[de:Vorderasien]]
[[et:Lääne-Aasia]]
[[eo:Sud-Okcidenta Azio]]
[[ko:서아시아]]
[[hr:Jugozapadna Azija]]
[[id:Asia Barat Daya]]
[[is:Suðvestur-Asía]]
[[it:Asia occidentale]]
[[he:דרום-מערב אסיה]]
[[jv:Asia Kidul-kulon]]
[[ka:დასავლეთი აზია]]
[[sw:Asia ya Magharibi]]
[[ms:Asia Barat]]
[[nl:Zuidwest-Azië]]
[[ja:西南アジア]]
[[ro:Asia de Sud-Vest]]
[[ru:Передняя Азия]]
[[simple:Southwest Asia]]
[[sk:Juhozápadná Ázia]]
[[sr:Југозападна Азија]]
[[sh:Jugozapadna Azija]]
[[fi:Etu-Aasia]]
[[sv:Sydvästasien]]
[[tl:Timog-kanlurang Asya]]
[[th:เอเชียตะวันตกเฉียงใต้]]
[[vi:Tây Nam Á]]
[[uk:Передня Азія]]
[[zh:西亚]]