Asia is the largest and most populous continent on Earth, known for its remarkable geographical, cultural, and economic diversity. Comprising 48 sovereign countries, Asia accounts for nearly 30% of the world’s land area and is home to around 60% of the global population. The continent includes some of the world’s oldest civilizations, fastest-growing economies, and most influential nations. This article provides a comprehensive List of Asian Countries, along with their capitals, regional classifications, currencies, and other important facts.
Asian Countries
Asia, the world’s largest continent, spans 44.58 million square kilometres, covering 30% of Earth’s land area and hosting 60% of its population. Located in the northern and eastern hemispheres, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean (east), Indian Ocean (south), and Arctic Ocean (north). It connects to Europe through the Ural Mountains and links to Africa via the Isthmus of Suez. Its immense diversity and strategic location make it a vital region in understanding global development, both historically and in contemporary times.
| Asian Countries | |
|
Divisions |
Countries |
|
Central Asia |
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
|
Eastern Asia |
China, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Taiwan |
|
Northern Asia |
Russia |
|
South-eastern Asia |
Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam. |
|
Southern Asia |
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. |
|
Western Asia |
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. |
List of Asian Countries, Capital and Currency
Asia, the Largest Continent in the World, is home to 48 countries, as recognized by the United Nations. Spanning a massive land area of over 44.58 million km², the continent showcases diverse geographical, cultural, and political characteristics.
Among these nations, Russia holds the title of the largest Asian country by area, covering approximately 13 million km², which accounts for 77% of Asia’s landmass. Next in line is China, having an area of 9.6 million km². On the other hand, the smallest Asian nation is the island country of Maldives, which spans just 298 km².
| List of Asian Countries, Capital and Currency | ||||
|
Country |
Capital |
Region |
Currency |
Population (2024 Estimate) |
|
Afghanistan |
Kabul |
South Asia |
Afghan Afghani (AFN) |
41.8 million |
|
Armenia |
Yerevan |
West Asia |
Armenian Dram (AMD) |
2.8 million |
|
Azerbaijan |
Baku |
West Asia |
Azerbaijani Manat (AZN) |
10.4 million |
|
Bahrain |
Manama |
West Asia |
Bahraini Dinar (BHD) |
1.8 million |
|
Bangladesh |
Dhaka |
South Asia |
Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) |
171.2 million |
|
Bhutan |
Thimphu |
South Asia |
Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) |
777,000 |
|
Brunei |
Bandar Seri Begawan |
Southeast Asia |
Brunei Dollar (BND) |
450,000 |
|
Cambodia |
Phnom Penh |
Southeast Asia |
Cambodian Riel (KHR) |
17.1 million |
|
China |
Beijing |
East Asia |
Chinese Yuan (CNY) |
1.41 billion |
|
Cyprus |
Nicosia |
West Asia |
Euro (EUR) |
1.2 million |
|
Georgia |
Tbilisi |
West Asia |
Georgian Lari (GEL) |
3.7 million |
|
India |
New Delhi |
South Asia |
Indian Rupee (INR) |
1.44 billion |
|
Indonesia |
Jakarta |
Southeast Asia |
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) |
278.7 million |
|
Iran |
Tehran |
West Asia |
Iranian Rial (IRR) |
88.2 million |
|
Iraq |
Baghdad |
West Asia |
Iraqi Dinar (IQD) |
45.6 million |
|
Israel |
Jerusalem |
West Asia |
Israeli New Shekel (ILS) |
9.6 million |
|
Japan |
Tokyo |
East Asia |
Japanese Yen (JPY) |
124.7 million |
|
Jordan |
Amman |
West Asia |
Jordanian Dinar (JOD) |
11.4 million |
|
Kazakhstan |
Astana |
Central Asia |
Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT) |
19.7 million |
|
Kuwait |
Kuwait City |
West Asia |
Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) |
4.5 million |
|
Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
Central Asia |
Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS) |
6.9 million |
|
Laos |
Vientiane |
Southeast Asia |
Lao Kip (LAK) |
7.7 million |
|
Lebanon |
Beirut |
West Asia |
Lebanese Pound (LBP) |
6.5 million |
|
Malaysia |
Kuala Lumpur |
Southeast Asia |
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) |
34.4 million |
|
Maldives |
Malé |
South Asia |
Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) |
557,000 |
|
Mongolia |
Ulaanbaatar |
East Asia |
Mongolian Tugrik (MNT) |
3.5 million |
|
Myanmar |
Naypyidaw |
Southeast Asia |
Burmese Kyat (MMK) |
55.5 million |
|
Nepal |
Kathmandu |
South Asia |
Nepalese Rupee (NPR) |
31.1 million |
|
North Korea |
Pyongyang |
East Asia |
North Korean Won (KPW) |
26.1 million |
|
Oman |
Muscat |
West Asia |
Omani Rial (OMR) |
5.4 million |
|
Pakistan |
Islamabad |
South Asia |
Pakistani Rupee (PKR) |
247.5 million |
|
Palestine |
Ramallah |
West Asia |
Israeli New Shekel (ILS) |
5.4 million |
|
Philippines |
Manila |
Southeast Asia |
Philippine Peso (PHP) |
119.9 million |
|
Qatar |
Doha |
West Asia |
Qatari Riyal (QAR) |
2.9 million |
|
Russia* |
Moscow |
Eurasia |
Russian Ruble (RUB) |
143.5 million |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Riyadh |
West Asia |
Saudi Riyal (SAR) |
36.5 million |
|
Singapore |
Singapore |
Southeast Asia |
Singapore Dollar (SGD) |
5.7 million |
|
South Korea |
Seoul |
East Asia |
South Korean Won (KRW) |
51.7 million |
|
Sri Lanka |
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte |
South Asia |
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) |
21.4 million |
|
Syria |
Damascus |
West Asia |
Syrian Pound (SYP) |
19.8 million |
|
Taiwan |
Taipei |
East Asia |
New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) |
23.6 million |
|
Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
Central Asia |
Tajikistani Somoni (TJS) |
10.1 million |
|
Thailand |
Bangkok |
Southeast Asia |
Thai Baht (THB) |
71.9 million |
|
Timor-Leste |
Dili |
Southeast Asia |
US Dollar (USD) |
1.4 million |
|
Turkey* |
Ankara |
Eurasia |
Turkish Lira (TRY) |
88.6 million |
|
Turkmenistan |
Ashgabat |
Central Asia |
Turkmenistan Manat (TMT) |
6.4 million |
|
United Arab Emirates |
Abu Dhabi |
West Asia |
UAE Dirham (AED) |
10.2 million |
|
Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
Central Asia |
Uzbekistani Som (UZS) |
36.3 million |
|
Vietnam |
Hanoi |
Southeast Asia |
Vietnamese Dong (VND) |
103.7 million |
|
Yemen |
Sana’a |
West Asia |
Yemeni Rial (YER) |
34.3 million |
Top 10 Asian Countries Area Wise
Water covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface, while landmass occupies the remaining 29%. When it comes to the largest countries by land area in Asia, Russia takes the lead, spanning an impressive 17,125,000 square kilometres. The following are the Top 10 Asian Countries (Area-wise):
| Top 10 Asian Countries Area Wise | |
|
Asian Countries |
Area covered |
|
Russia |
17,125,000 ²km |
|
Canada |
9,984,670 ²km |
|
China |
9,572,900 ²km |
|
United States of America |
9,525,067 ²km |
|
Brazil |
8,515,767 ²km |
|
Australia |
7,692,202 ²km |
|
India |
3,166,391 ²km |
|
Argentina |
2,780,400 ²km |
|
Kazakhstan |
2,724,900 ²km |
|
Algeria |
2,381,741 ²km |
Top 10 Asian Countries Population Wise
Asia contributes the most when it comes to the global population, accounting for approximately 60%. Among its vast nations, China and India stand out as the most populous. China, with its population of 1.37 billion, leads the continent. The following are the Top 10 Asian Countries (Population Wise):
| Top 10 Asian Countries Population Wise | |
|
Asian Countries |
Population |
|
China |
1.37 billion |
|
India |
1.299 billion |
|
Indonesia |
255.46 million |
|
Pakistan |
191.78 million |
|
Bangladesh |
158.76 million |
|
Japan |
126.89 million |
|
The Philippines |
102.96 million |
|
Vietnam |
91.81 million |
|
Iran |
78.77 million |
|
Turkey |
78.21 million |
Asian Countries and Populations
Asia, the largest and most populous continent on Earth, is divided into six distinct geographical regions based on physiographic features. Each of these regions encompasses a variety of countries with diverse landscapes, cultures, and populations. Below is a List of Asian Countries categorised by their respective regions, along with details about their population sizes.
| Asian Countries and Population | ||
|
Regions |
Asian Countries |
Populations |
|
Northern Asia |
Russia (Siberia) |
146,085,586 |
|
Western Asia |
Armenia |
2,963,243 |
|
Azerbaijan |
10,139,177 |
|
|
Bahrain |
1,701,575 |
|
|
Cyprus |
1,207,359 |
|
|
Georgia |
3,989,167 |
|
|
Iran |
83,992,949 |
|
|
Iraq |
40,222,493 |
|
|
Israel |
8,655,535 |
|
|
Jordan |
10,203,134 |
|
|
Kuwait |
4,270,571 |
|
|
Lebanon |
6,825,445 |
|
|
Oman |
5,106,626 |
|
|
Qatar |
2,881,053 |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
34,813,871 |
|
|
State of Palestine |
5,101,414 |
|
|
Syria |
17,500,658 |
|
|
Turkey |
84,339,067 |
|
|
United Arab Emirates |
9,890,402 |
|
|
Jordan |
10,203,134 |
|
|
Kuwait |
4,270,571 |
|
|
Oman |
5,106,626 |
|
|
Qatar |
2,881,053 |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
34,813,871 |
|
|
State of Palestine |
5,101,414 |
|
|
Syria |
17,500,658 |
|
|
Turkey |
84,339,067 |
|
|
United Arab Emirates |
9,890,402 |
|
|
Yemen |
29,825,964 |
|
|
Central Asia |
Kazakhstan |
18,776,707 |
|
Kyrgyzstan |
6,524,195 |
|
|
Tajikistan |
9,537,645 |
|
|
Turkmenistan |
6,031,200 |
|
|
Uzbekistan |
33,469,203 |
|
|
East Asia |
China |
1,439,323,776 |
|
China, Hong Kong SAR |
7,496,981 |
|
|
China, Macao SAR |
649,335 |
|
|
Japan |
126,476,461 |
|
|
North Korea |
25,778,816 |
|
|
South Korea |
51,269,185 |
|
|
Mongolia |
3,278,290 |
|
|
Taiwan |
23,816,775 |
|
|
South Asia |
Afghanistan |
38,928,346 |
|
Bangladesh |
164,689,383 |
|
|
Bhutan |
771,608 |
|
|
India |
1,380,004,385 |
|
|
Maldives |
540,544 |
|
|
Nepal |
29,136,808 |
|
|
Pakistan |
220,892,340 |
|
|
Sri Lanka |
21,413,249 |
|
|
Southeast Asia |
Brunei Darussalam |
437,479 |
|
Cambodia |
16,718,965 |
|
|
Indonesia |
273,523,615 |
|
|
Lao PDR |
7,275,560 |
|
|
Malaysia |
32,365,999 |
|
|
Myanmar (Burma) |
54,409,800 |
|
|
Philippines |
109,581,078 |
|
|
Singapore |
5,850,342 |
|
|
Thailand |
69,799,978 |
|
|
Timor-Leste (East Timor) |
1,318,445 |
|
|
Vietnam |
97,338,579 |
|
Asian Countries Map
This Asian Countries Map depicts a political division of Asia, showcasing all countries with clear boundaries and capitals. Asia, covering around 49.7 million km² (≈30 % of Earth’s land area), is bordered by the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, Indian Ocean to the south, and connects with Europe via the Ural Mountains and Caucasus. Asia’s landmass features transcontinental nations such as Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, which straddle both Europe and Asia.
Asian Countries Features
- Diverse Economies: Asia has economic powerhouses like China, Japan, and India, alongside emerging markets such as Vietnam and Bangladesh that are rapidly industrializing.
- Cultural Richness: Home to ancient civilizations and spiritual traditions, Asia features deep cultural roots in countries like China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia.
- Population Giants: China and India together make up more than one-third of the world’s population, with each exceeding one billion people.
Economic and Cultural Diversity in Asia
Economic and Cultural Diversity in Asia is remarkably diverse. The continent includes advanced economies like Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, alongside rapidly developing countries striving for growth. Culturally, Asia showcases a rich variety of languages, religions, traditions, and social norms, highlighting its vast historical and societal depth across regions.
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