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]]