Asia is the largest and most populous region or continent depending on the definition. It is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Africa - Eurasia lying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas. About 60% of the world's human population lives in Asia, of whom only 2% live in the northern and interior half (Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, western Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan); the other 98% live in the remaining half.¹

 In terms of gross domestic product, the largest national economy within Asia is that of the People's Republic of China (PRC) . Over the last decade, China's and India's economies have been growing rapidly, both with an average annual growth rate above 7%. China has the world's second largest economy after the US, followed by Japan and India as the world's third and fourth largest economies respectively followed by nations in Europe: Germany, UK, France and Italy.

Asia is rich in natural resources such as petroleum and iron.

High productivity in agriculture, especially of rice, allows high population density of countries in the warm and humid area. Other main agricultural products include wheat and chicken.

Forestry is extensive throughout Asia except Southwest and Central Asia. Fishing is a major source of food in Asia, particularly in Japan.