America is the continent of the western hemisphere that comprises North and South America, their dependent territories and possessions. America covers the 8,3% of the total surface of the planet and 28,4% of land and hosts the 13,5% of the world's population (about 992 million people as per 2015).  America in also known as "New World" because of its discovery by Europeans, relatively recently, only during the 15th century.