Asia is the continent with the largest population in the world and also the continent with the highest population density.
Essential Facts About Asia
Regions in Asia
The vast land of Asia can be divided into six regions: East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and North Asia, based on geographical location and orientation. Each of these regions has its own unique natural environment and human activities.
East Asia
East Asia refers to the eastern part of the continent and includes countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia. It covers an area of approximately 11.8 million km² and has a population of over 1.6 billion. The geography is characterized by a high western area and a low eastern area, divided into four plateaus. The Tibetan Plateau in southwestern China is known as the “Roof of the World,” with an average elevation of over 4,000 meters above sea level. The southeastern region experiences a monsoon climate, featuring temperate broadleaf forests and subtropical rainforests, while the northwestern territories have a continental dry climate typical of steppes or deserts, and the southwestern part has a plateau and mountain climate.
From May to October, the eastern coastal areas are affected by tropical storms from the northwest Pacific. The richest mineral resources include coal, iron, crude oil, copper, antimony, tungsten, molybdenum, gold, magnesite, and graphite.
East Asia is known for its cultivation of key plants such as rice, yam, tangerine, black rice, soybeans, spiny grass, tea, tung oil, lacquer, longan, lychee, and ginseng. Rice accounts for over 40% of the world’s total production, tea leaves make up over 25%, and soybeans account for 20%. Moreover, the production of cotton, peanuts, corn, sugarcane, sesame, rapeseed, and silk holds significant positions globally.
West Asia
West Asia, also known as Southwest Asia, refers to the western part of the continent, including Turkey, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This region spans approximately 6 million km² and has a population of over 300 million.
The expansive highlands in the north are home to many mountain ranges. The Mesopotamian plain, located between the northern mountain plateau and the Arabian Peninsula to the south, was formed by the deposits of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The climate is predominantly dry, with vast desert areas in the south. The Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal regions, along with the western mountainous areas, have a Mediterranean climate, while the eastern highlands and inland areas experience a subtropical steppe or desert climate, and much of the Arabian Peninsula falls under a tropical desert climate. The region holds significant oil reserves and production.
West Asia is also known for its cultivation of plants such as carrots, melons, onions, spinach, alfalfa, and dates, as well as livestock species like Arabian camels, Arabian horses, Angora goats, and Angora rabbits.
Central Asia
Central Asia refers to the central region of the continent, including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. The southeastern part of this area is mountainous and frequently experiences earthquakes, characterized by a mountainous climate, while the remaining lands consist of plains, hills, and extensive deserts with a dry climate typical of desert or tropical and subtropical steppes. Natural gas, crude oil, coal, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, sulfur, and mirabilite (sodium sulfate hydrate) are important minerals found here. Central Asia is rich in mineral resources and has a thriving military industry.
This region is also known for cultivating crops such as peas, mulberries, and apples, as well as the Karakul sheep. It produces cotton, tobacco, silk, wool, grapes, and apples.
South Asia
South Asia refers to the southern part of the continent, including India, Afghanistan, the Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It covers an area of about 5.1 million km² and has a population of 1.8 billion. The northern lands are mountainous, forming the southern foothills of the Himalayas, while the southern Indian Peninsula is the Deccan Plateau, with the Indo-Gangetic Plain situated between the northern mountains and the Deccan Plateau.
The northern and central plains predominantly feature a subtropical rainforest climate, while the Deccan Plateau and northern Sri Lanka experience a tropical steppe climate. The southwestern part of the Indian Peninsula, southern Sri Lanka, and the entire Maldives have a tropical rainforest climate, while the Indo-Gangetic Plain has a subtropical steppe or desert climate. The most abundant mineral resources include iron, manganese, and coal.
South Asia is known for cultivating crops such as mangoes, castor beans, eggplant, wild bananas, sugarcane, and lotus roots. The jute plant (Corchorus capsularis L) and tea leaves account for about half of the world’s total production. The production of rice, peanuts, sesame, rapeseed, sugarcane, cotton, rubber, small grain millets, and dried coconut holds significant importance globally.
North Asia
North Asia refers to the Siberian region of Russia that is part of Asia. The western part consists of the West Siberian Plain, the central area features the Central Siberian Plateau and mountains, while the eastern part consists of the Far East mountain ranges. The polar regions to the north have a tundra climate, while the remaining areas experience a temperate coniferous forest climate. The rivers freeze for over six months. Important minerals include crude oil, coal, copper, gold, and diamonds. It produces various grains, potatoes, flax, and timber.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia refers to the southeastern part of the continent, including countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei, and East Timor. This region covers approximately 4.5 million km² and has a population of over 650 million. Geographically, it consists of two main parts: the Indian and Chinese Peninsulas and the Malay Archipelago. It is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. The southern part of the archipelago and peninsula experiences a tropical rainforest climate, while the northern mountainous areas of the peninsula have a subtropical rainforest climate. Important minerals include tin, crude oil, natural gas, coal, nickel, bauxite, tungsten, chromium, and gold.
Southeast Asia is known for its tropical agricultural products such as western lemons, jute, cloves, cardamom, pepper, wild bananas, betel palm, jackfruit, Manila hemp (or abaca), and it is a significant producer of rice, rubber, spices, teak wood, cotton, quinine, and tropical fruits. Among these countries, Indonesia is recognized as the most volcanically active nation in the world, earning the title “the country of volcanoes.”
Geographical Location of Asia
The topography of Asia varies greatly, being high in the center and lower around the periphery. The eastern region features an archipelago with various shapes stretching from south to north. The average elevation is about 950 meters, making it the highest continent in the world except for Antarctica. Mountains, plateaus, and hills cover about three-quarters of the total area, with one-third of the region being over 1,000 meters above sea level. Peaks higher than 8,000 meters are found globally, predominantly in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges.
The plains occupy one-quarter of the total area, estimated to be over 10 million km². Overall, Asia is centered around the Pamir Plateau, with a series of significant mountain ranges radiating westward towards the coastline. These include the Tian Shan, Kunlun, Himalayas, Altai, Hindu Kush, and others. Between these major mountain ranges are the Tibetan Plateau, Mongolian Plateau, Iranian Plateau, Anatolian Plateau (also known as the Turkish Plateau), Deccan Plateau, Arabian Plateau, Central Siberian Plateau, and basins such as Tarim, Junggar, and Qaidam.
On the outer slopes of the mountains and plateaus, there are extensive plains, mainly the Northeast Plain, the North China Plain, the middle and lower Yangtze River Plain, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Mesopotamian Plain (also known as the Fertile Crescent), and the West Siberian Plain.
Asia not only has varying elevations on land but also features an archipelago with a similar range of heights along the eastern coastline, along with deep ocean trenches in the Pacific. The height difference between the highest peak in Asia and the deepest ocean trench nearby is approximately 20 km.
The geographical center of Asia is a point located within the landmass, which is farthest from any coastline and has the strongest continental characteristics. According to Chinese accounts, its location is in Yongqian village, Yongfeng township, Wulumuqi city, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with geographical coordinates of 43°40′52″N 87°19′52″E, which has now been developed into a scenic area. On the other hand, Russia claims the center of Asia is located in Tos-Bulak, the capital of Kyzyl, Tuva Republic, Russian Federation, with geographical coordinates of 51°43′29″N 94°26′37″E.
Climate of Asia
The Asian landmass encompasses three major climate zones: tropical, temperate, and polar. Its climate is characterized by a diverse range of complex weather patterns, prominently featuring a monsoon climate and a distinct continentality. The southeastern part of East Asia experiences a subtropical monsoon climate and humid temperate conditions, while Southeast Asia and South Asia are characterized by a humid tropical monsoon climate. Central Asia, Western Asia, and the inland areas of East Asia are predominantly arid regions. The area that lies between the humid monsoon zone and the arid inland zone, along with much of Northern Asia, is classified as semi-humid to semi-arid land.
Natural Resources of Asia
Mineral Resources: Asia boasts a wide variety of mineral resources with substantial reserves, including crude oil, coal, iron, tin, tungsten, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, nickel, molybdenum, magnesium, chromium, gold, silver, halite, sulfur, and gemstones. Among these, the reserves of crude oil, magnesium, iron, and tin rank highest across all continents.
Forests and Grasslands: The total forest area in Asia accounts for approximately 13% of the world’s total forest area. Over two-thirds of the forest timber has been exploited and utilized. There has been considerable development of artificial forests. The Asian part of Russia, northeastern China, and northern Korea feature extensive coniferous forests, rich in biomass and numerous rare timber species. The flora in southern China, southwestern China, the southern slopes of the Japanese mountains, and the southern slopes of the Himalayas is incredibly diverse, including not only common broadleaf trees but also species like the camphor tree, rattan, fir, and cypress. The tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia play a crucial role in the global rainforest ecosystem, noted for their ancient and rich plant communities. Primary species include the Dipterocarpaceae family, as well as “living fossils” such as the sal tree, ginkgo, and the false cypress. The total area of grasslands in Asia represents about 15% of the global grassland area.
Water Resources: The hydropower potential that Asian countries can harness is estimated to produce around 2.6 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, accounting for 27% of the world’s exploitable hydropower resources.
Marine Fisheries: The area of coastal fishing grounds in Asia constitutes about 40% of the total area of coastal fishing grounds globally.
Cultural Landscape of Asia
Due to the vast expanse of land in Asia, the large population, and strong cultural diversity, there is hardly a unified “Asian culture.” All major world religions originated in Asia, including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. Prior to the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, Asia was the center of the world’s economy, with most of humanity’s technical achievements arising from this region.
As early as 3000 BC, Asians invented techniques for firing ceramics and smelting ores. The Sumerians in Asia were the first to develop systematic irrigation works with written records. Nomadic peoples in Central Asia invented the saddle, horse bridle, and the wheel. The Chinese made significant contributions, including the invention of porcelain, stirrups, gunpowder, the compass, papermaking, and printing technology, while also being the earliest cultivators of millet. Indians and Arabs developed the decimal system of calculation. Many local traditional medical techniques in Asia remain highly effective and are still in use today.
Numerous musical instruments from both Western and Eastern cultures share the same origins, leading to significant similarities. For example, the violin and the erhu, the guitar and the pipa, the oboe and the suona, and the eastern and western flutes are closely related. In fact, these instruments primarily originated in the Middle East. The cultures of Asian peoples such as the Chinese, Arabs, and Indians have had a profound influence on global culture.
Future Population of Asia
Religions in Asia
Asia is the birthplace of major world religions.
- Christianity originated in Bethlehem, Palestine, in Western Asia, founded by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem on December 25, AD. Jerusalem is the holy site of Christianity, and the Bible is the supreme scripture.
- Islam originated on the Arabian Peninsula and was founded by Muhammad (born 570, died 632 AD) from Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Medina and Mecca are the holy sites of Islam, and the Qur’an is the supreme scripture.
- Buddhism formed at the border of India and Nepal on the Indian subcontinent, founded by Siddhārtha Gautama, an ancient Indian, who was born in 566 and died in 486 BC from the Shakya clan, later known as Shakyamuni.
- Hinduism originated in India.
- Sikhism
- Judaism
- Taoism
Countries in Asia
Sports in Asia
The Asian Games, commonly referred to as the Asiad, is the largest and most prestigious multi-sport event in Asia. It represents the athletic standards of the entire continent and is recognized as a major regional multi-sport event by the International Olympic Committee. The Asian Games are organized by the Olympic Council of Asia and held every four years. It evolved from the Far Eastern Championship Games and the West Asian Games.
The first Asian Games were originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India, in February 1949; however, due to host country preparations, they were postponed until 1951.
