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Asia (/ˈeɪʒə/ ^ⓘ AY-zhə, UK also /ˈeɪʃə/ AY-shə) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which has long been home to the majority of the human population, was the site of many of the first civilisations. Its 4.7 billion people constitute roughly 60% of the world's population.

Asia shares the landmass of Eurasia with Europe, and of Afro-Eurasia with both Europe and Africa. In general terms, it is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. The border of Asia with Europe is a historical and cultural construct, as there is no clear physical and geographical separation between them. A commonly accepted division places Asia to the east of the Suez Canal separating it from Africa; and to the east of the Turkish straits, the Ural Mountains and Ural River, and to the south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black seas, separating it from Europe.

Since the concept of Asia derives from the term for the eastern region from a European perspective, Asia is the remaining vast area of Eurasia minus Europe. Therefore, Asia is a region where various independent cultures coexist rather than sharing a single culture, and its boundary with Europe is somewhat arbitrary and has moved since its first conception in classical antiquity. The division of Eurasia into two continents reflects East–West cultural differences, some of which vary on a spectrum. (Full article...)

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Featured article

Sumatran rhinoceros at Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Lampung, Indonesia

The Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), also known as the Sumatran rhino, hairy rhinoceros or Asian two-horned rhinoceros, is a rare member of the family Rhinocerotidae and one of five extant species of rhinoceros; it is the only extant species of the genus Dicerorhinus. It is the smallest rhinoceros, although it is still a large mammal; it stands 112–145 cm (44–57 in) high at the shoulder, with a head-and-body length of 2.36–3.18 m (7 ft 9 in – 10 ft 5 in) and a tail of 35–70 cm (14–28 in). The weight is reported to range from 500–1,000 kg (1,100–2,200 lb), averaging 700–800 kg (1,540–1,760 lb). Like both African species, it has two horns; the larger is the nasal horn, typically 15–25 cm (5.9–9.8 in), while the other horn is typically a stub. A coat of reddish-brown hair covers most of the Sumatran rhino's body.

The Sumatran rhinoceros once inhabited rainforests, swamps and cloud forests in India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and southwestern China, particularly in Sichuan. It is now critically endangered, with only five substantial populations in the wild: four in Sumatra and one in Borneo, with an estimated total population of fewer than 80 mature individuals. The species was extirpated in Malaysia in 2019, with the last known bull and cow dying in May and November, respectively, and one of the Sumatran populations may already be extinct. In 2015, researchers announced that the Bornean rhinoceros had become extinct in the northern part of Borneo in Sabah, Malaysia. A tiny population was discovered in East Kalimantan in early 2016. (Full article...)

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Selected Country

Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco, for a total land area of 15,007 square kilometres (5,794 sq mi). Timor-Leste shares a land border with Indonesia to the west; Australia is the country's southern neighbour, across the Timor Sea. Dili, on the north coast of Timor, is its capital and largest city.

Timor was settled over time by various Papuan and Austronesian peoples, which created a diverse mix of cultures and languages linked to Southeast Asia and Melanesia. East Timor came under Portuguese influence in the sixteenth century, remaining a Portuguese colony until 1975. Internal conflict preceded a unilateral declaration of independence and an Indonesian invasion and annexation. The subsequent Indonesian occupation was characterised by extreme abuses of human rights, including torture and massacres, a series of events named the East Timor genocide. Resistance continued throughout Indonesian rule and in 1999, a United Nations–sponsored act of self-determination led Indonesia to relinquish control of the territory. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century. That same year, relations with Indonesia were established and normalised, with Indonesia also supporting Timor-Leste's accession into ASEAN. (Full article...)

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Featured biography

Khan in 2018

Shah Rukh Khan (pronounced [ˈʃaːɦɾʊx xäːn] ^ⓘ; born as Shahrukh Khan on 2 November 1965), popularly known by the initials SRK, is an Indian actor and film producer renowned for his work in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as the "Baadshah of Bollywood" and "King Khan", he has appeared in more than 90 films and earned numerous accolades, including a National Film Award and 15 Filmfare Awards. He has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, as well as the Order of Arts and Letters and Legion of Honour by the Government of France. Khan has a significant following in Asia and among the Indian diaspora worldwide. In terms of audience size and income, several media outlets have described him as one of the most successful film stars in the world. Many of his films thematise Indian national identity and connections with diaspora communities, or gender, racial, social and religious differences and grievances.

Khan began his career with appearances in several television series in the late 1980s and made his Hindi film debut in 1992 with the musical romance Deewana. He was initially recognised for playing villainous roles in the films Baazigar (1993), Darr (1993), and Anjaam (1994). Khan established himself as a leading actor by starring in a series of top-grossing romantic films, reaching international audiences with hits such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). He earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of an alcoholic in the period romantic drama Devdas (2002), a NASA scientist in the social drama Swades (2004), a hockey coach in the sports drama Chak De! India (2007), and a man with Asperger syndrome in the drama My Name Is Khan (2010). Further commercial successes came with the romances Om Shanti Om (2007) and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), and with his expansion to comedies in Chennai Express (2013) and Happy New Year (2014). Following a brief setback and hiatus, Khan made a career comeback with the 2023 action thrillers Pathaan and Jawan, both of which rank among the highest-grossing Indian films. For Jawan, he received the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Asia-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Korean peninsula in 476 AD. There are three kingdoms and Gaya Union in the picture. This picture shows the heyday of Goguryeo. (from History of Asia)
Image 2Map of Asia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 3Political map of the world in 1860 (from History of Asia)
Image 4Map of Vietnam showing the conquest of the south (the Nam tiến, 1069–1757). (from History of Asia)
Image 5Political cartoon depicting the Afghan Emir Sher Ali with the rival "friends" the Russian Bear and British Lion (1878) (from History of Asia)
Image 6Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea (from Culture of Asia)
Image 7The Battle of Chinkiang of the First Opium War (from History of Asia)
Image 8Chicken tikka, a well-known dish across the globe, reflects the South Asian cooking style. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 9the Goryeo ware, which shows splendid culture of Goryeo in mediaeval Korea. (from History of Asia)
Image 10Badshahi Mosque built under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore, Pakistan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 11Sun temple at Konarka, Odisha, India (from Culture of Asia)
Image 12Expansion of the Delhi Sultanate (from History of Asia)
Image 13Ancient ziggurat, Iraq (from Culture of Asia)
Image 14Projected shares of global GDP by region to 2050 (from Asian Century)
Image 15Sculpture of Prince Shōtoku (from History of Asia)
Image 16The Taj Mahal, Agra, India (from Culture of Asia)
Image 17The global contribution to world's GDP by major economies from 1 AD to 2003 AD according to Angus Maddison's estimates. Before 18th century, China and India were the two largest economies by GDP output. (from Asian Century)
Image 18Philippine cuisine (from Culture of Asia)
Image 19Traditional Rajasthani garments from Jaipur, Rajasthan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 20The Han dynasty and main polities in Asia c. 200 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 21Battle of Talas between Tang dynasty and Abbasid Caliphate c. 751 (from History of Asia)
Image 22Balhae in the north, Later Silla in the south. (from History of Asia)
Image 23The Silk Road in Asia (from History of Asia)
Image 24Kabsa also called Majboos, famous in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates (from Culture of Asia)
Image 25Angkor Wat, Khmer Empire (from Culture of Asia)
Image 26Gyeonghoeru of Gyeongbokgung, the Joseon dynasty's royal palace. (from History of Asia)
Image 27A view of the Fort St George in 18th-century Madras. (from History of Asia)
Image 28India's middle-class population of 300 million is growing at an annual rate of 5%. Shown here is the skyline in South Mumbai. (from Asian Century)
Image 29Some henges at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey were erected as far back as 9600 BC, predating those of Stonehenge, by over seven millennia. (from History of Asia)
Image 30Robert Clive and Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, 1757 by Francis Hayman (from History of Asia)
Image 31Expansion of the Mongol Empire 1206-1294 (from History of Asia)
Image 32The Song dynasty and main polities in Asia c. 1200 (from History of Asia)
Image 33Indonesian Balinese cuisine (from Culture of Asia)
Image 34The Qing conquest of the Ming and expansion of the empire (from History of Asia)
Image 35Đại Việt, Champa, Angkor Empire and their neighbours, late 13th century (from History of Asia)
Image 36Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 37Daian-ji temple at Nara, Japan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 38Borobudur, a Buddhist temple in Indonesia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 39Daily life of people from the Song period at the capital, Bianjing, today's Kaifeng (from History of Asia)
Image 40Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jeruslam (from Culture of Asia)
Image 41Byzantine and Sasanian Empires in 600 AD (from History of Asia)
Image 42Population concentration and boundaries of the Western Zhou dynasty in China (from History of Asia)
Image 43A Confucian ritual ceremony in Jeju, South Korea (from Culture of Asia)
Image 44The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, which was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010 (from Asian Century)
Image 45Machiya in Heian period (from History of Asia)
Image 46Gojong (1852–1919), the 26th king of Joseon dynasty and the first emperor of Korean Empire. (from History of Asia)
Image 47The Syriac Orthodox Saint Ahoadamah Church was a 7th-century church building in the city of Tikrit, one of the oldest in the world until its destruction by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on 25 September 2014. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 48Map of the Qing Empire in 1832 (from History of Asia)
Image 49The early Muslim conquests, 622–750 (from History of Asia)
Image 50The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling (from Culture of Asia)

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Featured picture

Bijinga

Credit: Utamaro

Utamaro's Ase o fuku onna ("Woman wiping sweat"), an example of bijinga (literally, "pictures of beautiful people"), a central theme of the ukiyo-e genre of Japanese art. Nearly all ukiyo-e artists produced bijinga, but a few, including Utamaro, Suzuki Harunobu, Toyohara Chikanobu, and Torii Kiyonaga, are widely regarded as the greatest innovators and masters of the form.

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Did you know...

... that Reine Abbas chose the name Wixel Studios, a blend of "Weird Pixel", in recognition of being one of the only gaming studios in Lebanon?
... that during his tenure as Indonesia's deputy ambassador to Singapore, Andradjati spent most of his time in Changi Airport?
... that the Japanese manga series Mink featured futuristic technology even though its creator was unfamiliar with computers?
... that The Penguin History of Modern China profiled the Christian general whose army moved to the beat of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"?
... that the Japanese vegetable nozawana got its name from skiers visiting Nozawaonsen who were impressed by the area's pickled turnip?
... that in Vladivostok, the Korean enclave Shinhanchon served as a hub of the Korean independence movement?
... that the Indian emperor Jahangir commissioned a painting depicting his superiority over his rival, the Shah of Iran?
... that members of Stop The Game campaigned against a planned UEFA Nations League fixture between Ireland and Israel by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch?
... that the female founder of a dervish group in Afghanistan was forced to flee the country in 2021?
... that Shohei Ohtani married "a normal Japanese woman" who used to play professional basketball?

Updated: 1:05, 9 August 2026

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In the news

8 August 2026 – 2026 Iran war: 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis; The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company says that one of their vessels was attacked by a missile while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz during the early hours. No injuries were reported. (Khaleej Times); Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr says that Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifts sanctions against the country, ends the naval blockade, and halts military action against the country. (Al Jazeera)
8 August 2026 – 2026 Pacific typhoon season: Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, which encompass the entirety of Okinawa Prefecture and parts of Kagoshima Prefecture. Additionally, China shuts down ports and ferry routes in preparation for the typhoon. (The Japan Times)
8 August 2026 –: Satellite images show that the British-sanctioned oil tanker Caroline Bezengi, believed to be part of the Russian shadow fleet, which was carrying 1 million barrels of oil, is leaking oil and sinking further off the coast of Oman, after a explosion was reported on the vessel on June 8. The oil leaks have reportedly reached the shore of Al-Qibliyah Island. (AP)
7 August 2026 – Middle Eastern crisis: 2026 Iran war

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Related portals

Major Religions in Asia

Middle East (West Asia)

Central Asia

Indian Subcontinent

Southeast Asia

East Asia

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Selected panorama

200pxAlong the River During the Qingming Festival

Credit: Zhang Zeduan

Along the River During the Qingming Festival is a painting from China's Song Dynasty that captures the daily life of people from the period at the capital, Bianjing, today's Kaifeng. As an artistic creation, the piece has been revered, and court artists of subsequent dynasties have made several re-interpretive replicas. The painting is famous because of its geometrically accurate images of boats, bridges, shops, and scenery. Because of its fame, it has been called "China's Mona Lisa".

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