https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Europe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_European_and_Others_Group
CIA classification
The CIA classifies seven countries as belonging to "Western Europe":[11]
Belgium
France
Ireland
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
United Kingdom
The CIA also classifies three countries as belonging to "Southwestern Europe":
Andorra
Portugal
Spain
Western European and Others Group
The Western European and Others Group is one of several unofficial Regional Groups in the United Nations that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums. Regional voting blocs were formed in 1961 to encourage voting to various UN bodies from different regional groups. The European members of the group are:[12]
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) consists of a group of islands off the western coast of Europe. The largest, Great Britain, comprises three countries: England, Scotland and Wales. Ireland, to the west, consists of the UK's province of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
So the UN would call the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Monaco the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein "Western Europe". ... but Spain, Portugal, Vatican City, Italy the European part of Turkey and Greece are "Southern Europe".
Other people and organizations add in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City Lichtenstein and Monaco into the list of the countries that are geographically positioned in west of Europe. Others also add Iceland and Finland into the list, making a total of 20 countries.
Germany was part of Central Europe, then split between Western and Eastern Europe and is now definitely part of Western Europe
Geographically, Northwestern Europe usually consists of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Northern Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. Luxembourg, Finland, Northern France, Southern Germany, and Switzerland are also often considered part of the grouping.
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-countries-are-considered-western-europe.html
https://www.quora.com/What-countries-are-considered-to-be-Western-Europe
Which Countries Are Considered Western Europe?
The CIA classifies seven countries as belonging to the region of Western Europe.
Which Countries Are Considered Western Europe?
Believe it or not, western Europe is hard to define.
Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands and United Kingdom are the official countries that form the Western Europe according to CIA classification. However, various organizations and groups define Western Europe differently, guided by different ideologies. These include history, economics, politics and geography. There are even geopolitical and cultural definitions of the term.
The confusion exists because Western Europe is not an official zone like you would regard EU or EFTA, which have specific memberships.
Historic Definition
Historically, post-war Europe was divided into two major parts: the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The Western Bloc, which was known as the Western Europe and comprising of the non-Communist countries, was allied with the NATO against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It contained the seven countries listed above.
The previous definition adopted by the CIA includes five of the seven countries. It had Belgium, Netherlands, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain and Portugal. However, currently, three countries, namely Andorra, Portugal and Spain, belong to the Southwestern Europe category according to the CIA. Therefore, some people would see it as a group of ten countries.
The definition by CIA excludes Turkey, which is partially in Europe. Eastern Europe was under communist control that time.
Modern Definition
However, a more modern definition of Western Europe has Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands and United Kingdom, which puts into consideration other factors such as economics and location. For instance, Monaco is located in the region geographically as is Luxembourg.
Geographic Definition
Other people and organizations define Western Europe geographically, with some considering only France, UK, Spain and Portugal best fit for this description.
Other people and organizations add in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City Lichtenstein and Monaco into the list of the countries that are geographically positioned in west of Europe. Others also add Iceland and Finland into the list, making a total of 20 countries.
Economic Definition
The economics of the region and economics of the countries in or around this region also shape the definition. In fact, some people consider how rich a country is or how developed it is when categorizing members into this list, and the countries that would certainly fit well according to this categorization are Germany, UK , Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The CIA Definition
The CIA recognizes seven countries as belonging to the Western Europe and these include the Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands and United Kingdom
Conclusion
Various groups and organization lists different countries as belonging to Western Europe. CIA lists Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands and United Kingdom as the only countries belonging to the Western Europe. The confusion is because the term is not official like the EU.
What Countries Are Considered Western Europe?
Rank Countries
1 Belgium
2 France
3 ireland
4 Luxembourg
5 Monaco
6 Netherlands
7 United Kingdom
Inge de Bruijn - Dutch