Western Hemisphere

Western Hemisphere (capitalised) is a geopolitical term for the Americas and nearby islands. It is derived from the geographical western hemisphere, which is the half of the Earth that lies west of the prime meridian, but usage has shifted so that the term refers only to North, Central and South America, and the islands of the Caribbean. It is also used in a more demographic sense, for the people (and governments and nations) inhabiting the continent. The main difference between the geographical and geopolitical meanings is the exclusion of parts of Africa, Europe and Antarctica (and the eastern tip of Asia) in the latter.

See also

• International date line
• Western culture