Asian countries

Asia is the largest landmass in the world by both area and population. It covers more than 44 million square kilometers—about 30 % of the Earth’s land area and 8 % of its total surface area. This region, which has long been home to the majority of humanity, witnessed the rise of many of the world’s earliest civilizations. Its 4.7 billion people account for roughly 60 % of the global population—more than all other continents combined.

Asia shares the supercontinent of Eurasia with Europe and the larger Afro-Eurasian landmass with Europe and Africa. Broadly speaking, it is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. The boundary between Asia and Europe is a historical and cultural construct, as there is no clear physical or geographical divide. It is somewhat arbitrary and has shifted since its first conception in classical antiquity. Dividing Eurasia into two continents reflects cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences—some of which exist along a spectrum rather than a sharp dividing line. By convention, Asia lies east of the Suez Canal (separating it from Africa), east of the Turkish Straits, the Ural Mountains, and the Ural River, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas (separating it from Europe).