Southwest Asia: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Southwest Asia, or West Asia, is the southwestern part of Asia.

Geographers that were annoyed with the ambiguity of the term "Middle East" tried to popularize the word "Southwest Asia", but with limited success. The term "West Asia" has however become the preferred term of use for the Middle East in countries such as India, possibly because of the perceived Eurocentrism of the term "Middle East". Still others deem that the Middle East should include North African countries or at least the part of Egypt in North Africa.

The countries and territories in Southwest Asia include:

• Afghanistan
• Bahrain
• Cyprus
• Egypt (Sinai Peninsula)
• Gaza Strip
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• Turkey (Anatolia section)
• United Arab Emirates
• West Bank
• Yemen

Sometimes the following countries are defined as in Southwest Asia:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Georgia
• Pakistan

Anatolia, Arabia, Levant, and Mesopotamia are subregions of Southwest Asia.

For the history of countries in Southwest Asia, see History of the Middle East

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)