Asia

Getting to Asia

Asia is the biggest of the seven continents, covering about 30% of the world's land and having nearly 60% of the world's people. It's known for its diversity, with people in Asia having various customs, lifestyles, religions, philosophies, politics, art, architecture, music, and literature.

Famous places in Asia, such as the old temples in Fukuoka, Japan, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal in India, attract many visitors and are among the most popular destinations globally.

Getting permission to visit Asia

If you plan to visit Asia for tourism or business, you may need a visa, e-visa, visa on arrival or travel permit. Visa rules depend on where you are coming from and where you are going. You must obtain an entry visa for a country from the list below in order to enter Asia:

Afghanistan	Armenia	Azerbaijan
Bahrain	Bangladesh	Bhutan
Brunei	Cambodia	China
Cyprus	Georgia	India
Indonesia	Iran	Iraq
Occupied Palestine	Japan	Jordan
Kazakhstan	Kuwait	Kyrgyzstan
Laos	Lebanon	Malaysia
Maldives	Mongolia	Myanmar
Nepal	North Korea	Oman
Pakistan	Palestine	Philippines
Qatar	Largest part of Russia	Saudi Arabia
Singapore	South Korea	Sri Lanka
Syria	Taiwan	Tajikistan
Thailand	Timor-Leste	Largest part of Turkey
Turkmenistan	United Arab Emirates	Uzbekistan
Vietnam	Yemen

Brief Information About Asia

Here are some cool things to know about Asia:

  
      Size
      44.57 million square kilometers
    
      Countries
      51 (49 acknowledged by the UN)
    
      People
      4.561 billion
    
      Languages
      2,300 languages spoken
    
      Biggest Country (in terms of size)
      China (9.6 million square kilometers)
    
      Most People
      China (1.4 billion)
    
      Tallest Mountain
      Mount Everest
    
      Longest River
      Yangtze (Cháng Jiāng) in China
    
      Biggest Lake
      Baikal Lake in Russia

How many countries exist in Asia?

Asia has fifty-one (51) countries.

  
      Country
      Population (2021)
    
      Afghanistan
      39,835,428
    
      Armenia
      2,968,127
    
      Azerbaijan
      10,223,342
    
      Bahrain
      1,748,296
    
      Bangladesh
      166,303,498
    
      Bhutan
      779,898
    
      Brunei
      441,532
    
      Cambodia
      16,946,438
    
      China (PRC)
      1,444,216,107
    
      East Timor
      1,343,873
    
      Georgia
      3,979,765
    
      Hong Kong
      7,552,810
    
      India
      1,393,409,038
    
      Indonesia
      276,361,783
    
      Iran
      85,028,759
    
      Iraq
      41,179,350
    
      Occupied Palestine
      8,789,774
    
      Japan
      126,050,804
    
      Jordan
      10,269,021
    
      Kazakhstan
      18,994,962
    
      Kuwait
      4,328,550
    
      Kyrgyzstan
      6,628,356
    
      Laos
      7,379,358
    
      Lebanon
      6,769,146
    
      Macau
      658,394
    
      Malaysia
      32,776,194
    
      Maldives
      543,617
    
      Mongolia
      3,329,289
    
      Myanmar
      54,806,012
    
      Nepal
      29,674,920
    
      North Korea
      25,887,041
    
      Oman
      5,223,375
    
      Pakistan
      225,199,937
    
      Palestine
      5,222,748
    
      Qatar
      2,930,528
    
      Russia
      145,734,038
    
      Saudi Arabia
      35,340,683
    
      Singapore
      5,896,686
    
      South Korea
      51,305,186
    
      Sri Lanka
      21,497,310
    
      Syria
      18,275,702
    
      Taiwan
      23,855,010
    
      Tajikistan
      9,749,627
    
      Thailand
      69,950,850
    
      The Philippines
      111,046,913
    
      Turkey
      85,042,738
    
      Turkmenistan
      6,117,924
    
      United Arab Emirates
      9,991,089
    
      Uzbekistan
      33,935,763
    
      Vietnam
      98,168,833
    
      Yemen
      30,490,640

Country	Population (2021)
Afghanistan	39,835,428
Armenia	2,968,127
Azerbaijan	10,223,342
Bahrain	1,748,296
Bangladesh	166,303,498
Bhutan	779,898
Brunei	441,532
Cambodia	16,946,438
China (PRC)	1,444,216,107
East Timor	1,343,873
Georgia	3,979,765
Hong Kong	7,552,810
India	1,393,409,038
Indonesia	276,361,783
Iran	85,028,759
Iraq	41,179,350
Occupied Palestine	8,789,774
Japan	126,050,804
Jordan	10,269,021
Kazakhstan	18,994,962
Kuwait	4,328,550
Kyrgyzstan	6,628,356
Laos	7,379,358
Lebanon	6,769,146
Macau	658,394
Malaysia	32,776,194
Maldives	543,617
Mongolia	3,329,289
Myanmar	54,806,012
Nepal	29,674,920
North Korea	25,887,041
Oman	5,223,375
Pakistan	225,199,937
Palestine	5,222,748
Qatar	2,930,528
Russia	145,734,038
Saudi Arabia	35,340,683
Singapore	5,896,686
South Korea	51,305,186
Sri Lanka	21,497,310
Syria	18,275,702
Taiwan	23,855,010
Tajikistan	9,749,627
Thailand	69,950,850
The Philippines	111,046,913
Turkey	85,042,738
Turkmenistan	6,117,924
United Arab Emirates	9,991,089
Uzbekistan	33,935,763
Vietnam	98,168,833
Yemen	30,490,640

Asia Languages

Asia has over 2,000 languages. However, the ten most spoken native languages in the region are Chinese Mandarin, Hindi, Russian, Indonesian, Arabic, Bengali, Persian, Japanese, Punjabi, and Filipino.

  
      Language
      Regions
      Number of speakers
    
      Chinese Mandarin
      China
      1.2 billion
    
      Singapore
    
      Hindi
      India
      550 million
    
      Russian
      Russia
      260 million
    
      Abkhazia
    
      Kazakhstan
    
      Kyrgyzstan
    
      South Ossetia
    
      Tajikistan
    
      Turkmenistan
    
      Uzbekistan
    
      Indonesian
      Indonesia
      240 million
    
      Arabic
      Bahrain
      230 million
    
      Iraq
    
      Jordan
    
      Kuwait
    
      Lebanon
    
      Oman
    
      Palestine
    
      Qatar
    
      Saudi Arabia
    
      Syria
    
      UAE
    
      Yemen
    
      Bengali
      Bangladesh
      230 million
    
      Persian
      Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan
      130 million
    
      Japanese
      Japan
      120 million
    
      Punjabi
      India, Pakistan
      100 million
    
      Filipino
      Philippines
      93 million

Language	Regions	Number of speakers
Chinese Mandarin	China	1.2 billion
Singapore
Hindi	India	550 million
Russian	Russia	260 million
Abkhazia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
South Ossetia
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Indonesian	Indonesia	240 million
Arabic	Bahrain	230 million
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
UAE
Yemen
Bengali	Bangladesh	230 million
Persian	Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan	130 million
Japanese	Japan	120 million
Punjabi	India, Pakistan	100 million
Filipino	Philippines	93 million

Top Asian Destinations to Travel

Asia has something for everyone, whether you want adventure, a laid-back vacation, or to experience the rich and ancient culture of the continent. The ideal country to visit depends on what you like. Still, here are the most popular countries to visit in Asia:

China – 65.7 million visitors in 2019. With a 3,000-year history, China offers cultural sites, ancient heritage, natural wonders, and delicious cuisine.
Thailand – 39.8 million visitors in 2019. Known for 40,000 Buddhist temples, diverse architecture, serene beaches, nature, nightlife, and tasty food.
Japan – 32.2 million visitors in 2019. Combining rich ancient culture and innovative technology, Japan also features stunning cherry blossom seasons.
Malaysia – 26.1 million visitors in 2019. Attracting visitors with modern architecture, cultural diversity, pristine beaches, and natural attractions.
Hong Kong – 23.8 million visitors in 2019. A mix of traditional and modern, Hong Kong offers endless shopping, skyscrapers, festivals, and delicious street food.

Famous Places to Visit in Asia

Asia has some of the most beautiful views in the world, whether they're made by nature or people. Mount Fuji and the Taj Mahal, as well as tall buildings, are just a few of the favorite places for tourists in Asia. It's hard to put them all in a list, but these are some of the most well-known.

Paro Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan. This sacred Buddhist temple sits on a cliffside in Bhutan's Paro valley. Accessible only by hiking, it is a renowned destination in Bhutan.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Built in the 12th century as the Khmer Empire’s state temple, Angkor Wat is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is Cambodia’s largest temple and a major tourist attraction known for its intricate, centuries-old architecture.
Pink Beach, Indonesia. Located in Komodo Island, Indonesia, the Pink Beach gets its color from microscopic organisms, giving the sand a soft pink tint. Alongside crystal-blue waters, it provides a picturesque backdrop for relaxation and photos.
The Royal Grand Palace, Thailand. Constructed in 1782, the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok served as the main residence of the Thai royal family until the early 20th century. It is a complex of impressive buildings showcasing Thai craftsmanship and is considered the most sacred site in Thailand.
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. A 250-acre nature park in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay was built to enhance the city's quality of life through greenery. It is a popular attraction with over 50 million visitors since 2005, featuring waterfront gardens and the world's largest greenhouse, the Flower Dome.
Sakura Season (Cherry Blossoms), Japan. Cherry blossoms are iconic in Japan, and during spring, pink petals blanket the country. Spectacular views attract visitors from around the world, with notable spots including Hirosaki Park, Goryokaku Park, Chidorigafuchi Green Way, etc.

Size	44.57 million square kilometers
Countries	51 (49 acknowledged by the UN)
People	4.561 billion
Languages	2,300 languages spoken
Biggest Country (in terms of size)	China (9.6 million square kilometers)
Most People	China (1.4 billion)
Tallest Mountain	Mount Everest
Longest River	Yangtze (Cháng Jiāng) in China
Biggest Lake	Baikal Lake in Russia