Asia
Asia is the largest continent on Earth — both in area and in population. Nearly six in ten people live here, among the highest mountains, the busiest cities and the oldest civilisations on the planet.
Asia by the numbers
Key facts about the continent, as of 2025.
Location & geography
Asia covers the eastern portion of the vast Eurasian landmass. The boundary with Europe is not a sea but a convention: it runs roughly along the Ural Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus and the Bosphorus. To the south-west, Asia meets Africa at the Suez Canal; to the east and south it is bounded by the Pacific and Indian Oceans, both covered on the oceans page.
The relief is extreme. The Himalayas hold all fourteen peaks above 8,000 m, with Mount Everest (8,849 m) as the highest point on Earth. At the same time, the lowest exposed point on land — the shore of the Dead Sea, more than 430 m below sea level — is also in Asia. Great rivers such as the Yangtze, the Ganges, the Mekong and the Ob feed densely populated deltas, while deserts such as the Gobi and the Arabian Peninsula remain almost uninhabited.
Population
With roughly 4.84 billion people in 2025, nearly 59% of humanity lives in Asia (UN WPP 2024). India has been the world's most populous country since 2023, with over 1.45 billion people, followed by China with around 1.41 billion. Together they hold more people than all other continents combined.
The population is very unevenly distributed. The fertile river plains of the Ganges, the Yangtze and the island of Java are among the most densely settled places on Earth, while Mongolia and Siberia are nearly empty. Growth is slowing: East Asia is ageing rapidly, while South Asia remains young. Compare the figures on the comparison page or browse the most populous countries.
Countries & capitals
Asia has 48 countries (UN count). Below are the five most populous; the complete list with all capitals is on the separate page countries of Asia.
| Country | Capital | Population (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| India | New Delhi | 1,450,000,000 |
| China | Beijing | 1,410,000,000 |
| Indonesia | Jakarta | 282,000,000 |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | 251,000,000 |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | 173,000,000 |
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, Worldometer 2025.
Climate & seasons
No continent has so many climate types side by side. Under the Köppen classification, Asia contains tropical rainforest (Indonesia, Malaysia), savanna and monsoon climates (India, Indochina), desert (Arabia, the Gobi), temperate zones (eastern China, Japan) and polar conditions in Siberia, where Oymyakon at −67.7 °C ranks among the coldest inhabited places on Earth.
The monsoon shapes the lives of billions: from June to September, the south-west monsoon brings the rains on which agriculture across South and South-East Asia depends. Read more about climate zones and seasons on Asia's climate.
Plants & animals
Asia holds some of the world's richest biomes. The rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra are home to the orang-utan and the Sumatran tiger (both critically endangered, IUCN). The Himalayas are the habitat of the snow leopard; the Indian subcontinent is home to the tiger, the Asian elephant and the one-horned rhinoceros.
To the north, the taiga — the largest continuous forest on Earth — stretches across the whole of Siberia. The giant panda of central China has become a global symbol of conservation. More species and their conservation status are listed on animals of Asia.
History & culture
Asia is the cradle of the oldest cities and writing systems. In Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and the Euphrates, the first city-states emerged around 3500 BC; along the Indus and the Yellow River, distinct civilisations followed shortly after. The world's major religions were also born here: Hinduism and Buddhism in India, Judaism, Christianity and Islam in the Middle East.
Today the continent speaks hundreds of languages — from Mandarin, by far the world's most widely spoken mother tongue, to Arabic, Hindi, Bengali and Japanese. That diversity makes every country a world of its own, and explains why no single "Asian" stereotype holds up.
Economy & cities
Asia is the economic centre of gravity of the 21st century. China and Japan rank among the world's largest economies, and India is growing at a remarkable pace. The region produces the lion's share of the world's electronics, clothing and steel.
That growth shows in the cities. The Tokyo metropolitan area, with around 37 million people, is the largest urban agglomeration in the world; Delhi, Shanghai, Dhaka and Jakarta are expanding at speed. At the same time, rural areas are urbanising rapidly, with consequences for air, water and farmland. See how Asia compares to other continents on the largest countries page.
Famous places
- 🏔️Mount Everest — highest mountain on Earth, 8,849 m, on the border of Nepal and China.
- 🕌Taj Mahal — white marble mausoleum in Agra, India (1648).
- 🧱Great Wall of China — thousands of kilometres of defensive fortification across northern China.
- 🏜️Petra — rock-carved city in Jordan.
- 🏙️Burj Khalifa — at 828 m the world's tallest building, in Dubai.
- 🛕Angkor Wat — the world's largest temple complex, Cambodia.
What time is it in Asia?
Asia spans roughly eleven time zones, from UTC+3 in the west (Turkey, Saudi Arabia) to UTC+12 at the far eastern edge of Russia. Notably, China uses a single nationwide time (UTC+8) even though geographically it straddles five zones. India takes a half-hour offset: UTC+5:30.
ExampleWhen it is noon in the Netherlands (UTC+1 in winter), it is 16:30 in New Delhi and 20:00 in Tokyo — the evening is already drawing to a close there. Read more on all about time zones.
Live time in four Asian cities, based on your device.
🎒 For kids
Asia is the biggest continent. It has the world's highest mountain and the most people. You can find elephants, tigers and giant pandas here. Read the easy version with big pictures.
Frequently asked questions
How many people live in Asia?
In 2025 Asia is home to around 4.84 billion people — nearly 59% of the world's population. India (±1.45 bn) and China (±1.41 bn) together account for more than 2.8 billion people (UN WPP 2024).
What is the highest mountain in Asia?
Mount Everest in the Himalayas, on the border of Nepal and China, is at 8,849 m not only the highest peak in Asia but the highest in the world.
How many countries are in Asia?
Between 48 and 50, depending on the count. The United Nations recognises 48 countries as part of Asia. The full list is on countries of Asia.
Why are Europe and Asia separate continents?
Physically they form a single landmass: Eurasia. The division grew from historical and cultural convention. Read more on how many continents are there?
Sources
- United Nations — World Population Prospects 2024 (population figures)
- Worldometer 2025 — current estimates by country
- CIA World Factbook — area and geography
- IUCN Red List — conservation status of wildlife
- Köppen-Geiger — climate classification