Asia is the largest and most populated continent. It has nearly one-third of the world’s total land area and is home to more than half of Earth’s people. It also has impressive geographical features. It has Earth’s highest point (Mount Everest) and lowest point (the Dead Sea). Asia also includes some of the world’s wettest, driest, hottest, and coldest places. The continent was the home of the great early civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Indus River valley. The world’s major religions—Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism—all began in Asia as well. Today, though many people are farmers and live in small villages, Asia also has enormous cities, including some of the world’s largest: Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and Delhi, India.
"Asia." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2018.
Asia: an overview 1:36
Singapore is a small, wealthy island country in Southeast Asia. The capital city, also called Singapore, is so large and important that the country is often called a city-state.
"Singapore." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia is a melting pot of many cultures. It is the smallest country in the region after Brunei and Singapore. Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city.
"Malaysia." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The local name for Thailand means “land of the free.” True to its name, Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never ruled by European powers. Thailand’s capital is Bangkok.
"Thailand." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The Republic of the Philippines is a country of Southeast Asia. It is made up of about 7,100 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The capital is Manila.
"Philippines." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The country of Indonesia is made up of about 17,500 islands. It is the largest country, both in area and in population, in Southeast Asia. The capital is Jakarta.
"Indonesia." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The Korean peninsula is a piece of land that extends south from China in East Asia. Today it is divided into the countries of North Korea and South Korea, but the Korean people share a history that goes back thousands of years.
By 10,000 bc people had settled on the Korean peninsula. Sometime after 3000 bc the ancient kingdom of Choson developed in the northwest. The Chinese conquered Choson in 108 bc.
"Korea." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The Asian country of Japan is marked by contrast between old and new. The country values its complex and ancient cultural traditions. Yet Japan is known for its powerful, modern economy and its advanced technology. Japan’s capital is Tokyo.
"Japan." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
More people live in India than in any other country in the world except China. India’s culture is one of the oldest and richest in the world. The capital is New Delhi.
"India." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The Asian country of Vietnam split into northern and southern parts in 1954. After the long Vietnam War, the two parts of Vietnam reunited in 1976. Vietnam’s capital is Hanoi.
"Vietnam." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
More than one-fifth of all the people in the world live in China. The country is also the largest in Asia. China’s capital is Beijing.
"China." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
Russia has been a powerful country throughout its history. In the 1900s it was the center of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Today Russia is the largest country in the world. The capital of Russia is Moscow.
"Russia." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The country of Israel, located in the Middle east, was founded in 1948. It was the first homeland for the Jewish people in nearly 2,000 years. Because Israel lies in territory claimed by Arabs, it has faced conflict with neighboring Arab countries. Israel has also experienced violence between Jews and Arabs (known as Palestinians) living within its borders. Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital.
"Israel." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
Pakistan is a Muslim country in southern Asia. It shares its early history with its neighbour India. Pakistan separated from India in 1947. Pakistan’s capital is Islamabad.
"Pakistan." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
Taiwan is a small island off the southeast coast of China. Taiwan is a province of China, not an independent country. However, Taiwan’s government has the power to rule the island. Taiwan also calls itself the Republic of China. The seat of government is Taipei.
"Taiwan." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
The Southeast Asian country of Cambodia has long served as a battleground between various countries and political groups. The capital is Phnom Penh.
"Cambodia." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
Nepal is a small, mountainous country in Asia. Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. For a long time the mountains kept Nepal closed to the outside world. Nepal’s capital is Kathmandu.
"Nepal." Britannica School, Encyclopedia Britannica. 2019.
The largest nation in Central Asia is Kazakhstan. It is named for the Kazakhs, a people who once roamed the region’s vast grasslands. The capital is Astana.
"Kazakhstan." Britannica School, Encyclopedia Britannica. 2019.
The country of Sri Lanka occupies a pear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean. It was once a British colony known as Ceylon. Sri Lanka has two capitals, Colombo and Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
"Sri Lanka." Britannica School, Encycloedia Britannica. 2019.
The United Arab Emirates is a small, rich country in the Middle East. The capital is Abu Dhabi.
"United Arab Emirates." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
Iran is a country of southwest Asia. For much of its history Iran was known as Persia to the outside world. However, the people of the region have called their country Iran for thousands of years. Iran means “land of the Aryans.” The Aryan people settled in the region in ancient times. Iran’s capital is Tehran.
"Iran." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
Bangladesh is a country in south-central Asia. It is one of the most crowded countries in the world. Although 92 countries are larger than Bangladesh, only seven have more people. Dhaka is the capital.
"Bangladesh." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2019.
