Asia is the largest and most populous continent. It covers alomst 10% of the earth's total surface area, or almost 30% of its land area, and it contains more than 60% of the world's human population. Asia is part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia
Asia has three main financial centres: in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. and it is rich in natural resources, such as petroleum and iron. Manufacturing in Asia has traditionally been strongest in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The industry varies from manufacturing cheap goods such as toys to high-tech products such as computers and cars. Many companies from Europe, North America, and Japan have significant operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour.
One of the major employers in manufacturing in Asia is the textile industry. Much of the world's supply of clothing and footwear now originates in Southeast Asia.
Forestry is extensive throughout Asia, except in Southwest and Central Asia. Fishing is a major source of food in Asia, particularly in Japan. There is high productivity in agriculture, especially of rice this allows high population density of countries in the warm and humid area. Other main agricultural products include wheat and chicken.
The largest national economy within Asia is that of the People's Republic of China. The economies of China and India have been growing rapidly the last years. Japan's economy was almost as large as that of the rest of the continent combined.
China’s extraordinary economic, political, and cultural developments in recent years make this an exceptional time to explore this vast nation. Highlights of the are e.g. Beijing and Shanghai, where the modern challenges of rapid urbanization, the rise of the middle class, and the transformation of rural landscapes come together.
Regions of Asia:
Northern Asia
Central Asia
Western Asia
Southern Asia
Eastern Asia
Southeastern Asia
