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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...)

Featured article

Satellite image of the tropical storm on May 13

The 2003 Sri Lanka cyclone was a moderately powerful tropical cyclone that produced the worst flooding in Sri Lanka in 56 years. The first storm of the 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, it developed over the Bay of Bengal on May 10. Favorable environmental conditions allowed the system to intensify steadily while moving northwestward. The storm reached peak maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) on May 13, making it a very severe cyclonic storm according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the basin. The cyclone drifted north over the central Bay of Bengal, gradually weakening due to heightened wind shear. Turning eastward, the storm deteriorated to a deep depression on May 16 before it curved northeastward and re-intensified into a cyclonic storm. It came ashore in western Myanmar and dissipated over land the following day.

In the wake of prolonged precipitation during the first half of May, the cyclone produced torrential rains across southwest Sri Lanka while stationary in the central Bay of Bengal. The storm drew extensive moisture that coalesced in the mountainous portion of the island. A station at Ratnapura recorded 366.1 mm (14.41 in) of rainfall in 18 hours on May 17, including 99.8 mm (3.93 in) in one hour. In southwestern Sri Lanka, the rainfall caused flooding and landslides that destroyed 24,750 homes and damaged 32,426 others, displacing about 800,000 people. Overall damage totaled about $135 million (2003 USD), and there were 260 deaths. The cyclone also produced some rainfall in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India and along the country's eastern coast. The storm funneled moisture away from the mainland, which possibly contributed to a heat wave that killed 1,900 people, and dropped heavy rainfall in Myanmar. (Full article...)

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Selected Country

Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. Located within the geo-political region of the Middle East, it is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and Kuwait to the southeast, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west. The country covers an area of 438,317 square kilometres (169,235 sq mi) and has a population of over 46 million, making it the 58th largest country by area and the 31st most populous in the world. Baghdad, home to over 8 million people, is the capital city and the largest in the country.

Starting in the 6th millennium BC, the fertile plains between Iraq's Tigris and Euphrates rivers, referred to as Mesopotamia, fostered the rise of early cities, civilisations, and empires including Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria. Known as the cradle of civilisation, Mesopotamia saw the invention of writing systems, mathematics, navigation, timekeeping, a calendar, astrology, the wheel, the sailboat, and a law code. After the Muslim conquest of Mesopotamia in the 7th century, Iraq became the metropole of the Abbasid Caliphate with Baghdad emerging as a global cultural and intellectual hub during the Islamic Golden Age, home to institutions such as the House of Wisdom. Following Baghdad's destruction by the Mongols in 1258, Iraq came under successive empires and, from the 16th century until the 20th century, was governed within the Ottoman system as a defined region known administratively as Ottoman Iraq. (Full article...)

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Featured biography

Antiochus X's portrait on the obverse of a tetradrachm

Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator (Ancient Greek: Ἀντίοχος Εὐσεβής Φιλοπάτωρ; c. 113 BC – 92 or 88 BC) was a Seleucid monarch who reigned as King of Syria during the Hellenistic period between 95 BC and 92 BC or 89/88 BC (224 SE [Seleucid year]). He was the son of Antiochus IX and perhaps his Egyptian wife Cleopatra IV. Eusebes lived during a period of general disintegration in Seleucid Syria, characterized by civil wars, foreign interference by Ptolemaic Egypt and incursions by the Parthians. Antiochus IX was killed in 95 BC at the hands of Seleucus VI, the son of his half-brother and rival Antiochus VIII. Antiochus X then went to the city of Aradus where he declared himself king. He avenged his father by defeating Seleucus VI, who was eventually killed.

Antiochus X did not enjoy a stable reign as he had to face three of Seleucus VI's brothers, Antiochus XI, Philip I and Demetrius III. Antiochus XI defeated Antiochus X and expelled him from the capital Antioch in 93 BC. A few months later, Antiochus X regained his position and killed Antiochus XI. This led to both Philip I and Demetrius III becoming involved. The civil war continued but its outcome is uncertain due to the contradictions between different ancient historians' accounts. Antiochus X married his stepmother, Antiochus IX's widow Cleopatra Selene, and had several children with her, including a future king Antiochus XIII. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1Badshahi Mosque built under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore, Pakistan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 2British troops taking Zhenjiang from Qing troops (from History of Asia)
Image 3Daian-ji temple at Nara, Japan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 4Hinduism expansion in Asia, from its heartland in Indian Subcontinent, to the rest of Asia, especially Southeast Asia, started circa 1st century marked with the establishment of early Hindu settlements and polities in Southeast Asia. (from History of Asia)
Image 5Byzantine and Sassanian Empires in 600 AD (from History of Asia)
Image 6East Asian cultural sphere (from Culture of Asia)
Image 7The Great Wave off Kanagawa, c. 1830 by Hokusai, an example of art flourishing in the Edo Period (from History of Asia)
Image 8Gyeonghoeru of Gyeongbokgung, the Joseon dynasty's royal palace. (from History of Asia)
Image 9The Mughal ambassador Khan’Alam in 1618 negotiating with Shah Abbas the Great of Iran. (from History of Asia)
Image 10The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling (from Culture of Asia)
Image 11Deoksugung, the palace where Emperor Gojong established Korean Empire. (from History of Asia)
Image 12Kabsa also called Majboos, famous in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates (from Culture of Asia)
Image 13Map of Vietnam showing the conquest of the south (the Nam tiến, 1069–1757). (from History of Asia)
Image 14The Russian Znamensky Cathedral in Tyumen built in 1768 (from Culture of Asia)
Image 15The Hindu-Buddhist temple of Angkor Wat. (from History of Asia)
Image 16The Han dynasty and main polities in Asia c. 200 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 17The 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 18Sculpture of Prince Shōtoku (from History of Asia)
Image 19Traditional Rajasthani garments from Jaipur, Rajasthan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 20Gojong (1852–1919), the 26th king of Joseon dynasty and the first emperor of Korean Empire. (from History of Asia)
Image 21Map of Asia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 22Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jeruslam (from Culture of Asia)
Image 23The early Muslim conquests, 622–750 (from History of Asia)
Image 24The Delhi Sultanate. (from History of Asia)
Image 25The third Inter-Korean Summit, which was held in 2018, between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un. It was a historical event that symbolized the peace of Asia. (from History of Asia)
Image 26Tang dynasty Chinese poet Li Bai, in a 13th-century depiction by Liang Kai (from Culture of Asia)
Image 27The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, which was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010 (from Asian Century)
Image 28Population concentration and boundaries of the Western Zhou dynasty in China (from History of Asia)
Image 29Korean 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 30Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 31The Qing conquest of the Ming and expansion of the empire (from History of Asia)
Image 32Detail of Chinese silk from the 4th century BCE. The characteristic trade of silk through the Silk Road connected various regions from China, India, Central Asia, and the Middle East to Europe and Africa. (from History of Asia)
Image 33Map of Marco Polo's travels (from History of Asia)
Image 34Political cartoon depicting the Afghan Emir Sher Ali with the rival "friends" the Russian Bear and British Lion (1878) (from History of Asia)
Image 35Robert Clive and Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, 1757 by Francis Hayman (from History of Asia)
Image 36Some 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 37India'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 38Language families in South Asia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 39Invasions, destruction and possible population movements during the Late Bronze Age collapse, beginning c. 1200 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 40Indonesian Balinese cuisine (from Culture of Asia)
Image 41The Qing Empire in 1832. (from History of Asia)
Image 42Political map of Asia in 1860 (from History of Asia)
Image 43Machiya in Heian period (from History of Asia)
Image 44Ancient ziggurat, Iraq (from Culture of Asia)
Image 45A typical example of Dravidian architecture (from Culture of Asia)
Image 46Detail of the Dragon Throne used by the Qianlong Emperor of China, Forbidden City, Qing dynasty. Artifact circulating in U.S. museums on loan from Beijing (from Culture of Asia)
Image 47Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea (from Culture of Asia)
Image 48The First Persian Empire at its greatest extent, c. 500 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 49the Goryeo ware, which shows splendid culture of Goryeo in mediaeval Korea. (from History of Asia)
Image 50A stone image of the Buddha (from Culture of Asia)
Image 51Philippine cuisine (from Culture of Asia)
Image 52Here a Jesuit, Adam Schall von Bell (1592–1666), is dressed as an official of the Chinese Department of Astronomy. (from History of Asia)
Image 53Chicken tikka, a well-known dish across the globe, reflects the South Asian cooking style. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 54Battle of Talas between Tang dynasty and Abbasid Caliphate c. 751 (from History of Asia)
Image 55Sun temple at Konarka, Odisha, India (from Culture of Asia)
Image 56A view of the Fort St George in 18th-century Madras. (from History of Asia)
Image 57A Confucian ritual ceremony in Jeju, South Korea (from Culture of Asia)
Image 58The Taj Mahal, Agra, India (from Culture of Asia)
Image 59The Grand Mosque in Kuwait City, one of the largest mosques in the region (from Culture of Asia)
Image 60The Song dynasty and main polities in Asia c. 1200 (from History of Asia)
Image 61Daily life of people from the Song period at the capital, Bianjing, today's Kaifeng (from History of Asia)
Image 62Projected shares of global GDP by region to 2050 (from Asian Century)
Image 63Borobudur, a Buddhist temple in Indonesia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 64Angkor Wat, Khmer Empire (from Culture of Asia)
Image 65Balhae in the north, Later Silla in the south (from History of Asia)
Image 66The 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 67Đại Việt, Champa, Angkor Empire and their neighbours, late 13th century (from History of Asia)
Image 68The Silk Road in Asia (from History of Asia)

Featured picture

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Credit: Royal family of Bhutan

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the fifth and current Bhutan Dragon King and head of the Wangchuck dynasty. He became king on 14 December 2006, and was officially crowned on 6 November 2008. The young king began his unusual reign overseeing the democratization of Bhutan, stating that the responsibility for this generation of Bhutanese was to ensure the success of democracy.

Did you know...

... that zanana can refer to a nagging wife in Egypt, or to Israeli drones flying overhead in Gaza?
... that after the Iraqi government lost control of its northern territories following the 1991 Gulf War, the Legislative Council of the Autonomous Kurdistan Region was based in Baghdad?
... that a Hawaii TV station's switch from Japanese-language programming to home shopping stirred viewer outcry?
... that the Dark Millennium, which suddenly followed the Neolithic in the United Arab Emirates around 4000 BC, has furnished virtually no evidence of human activity?
... that Saraswati enthroned has been described as "a pinnacle of Indian art"?
... that in 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first in the Indian Premier League to win all away games in a season?
... that stage director Tina Packer has hired Black and Asian actors in traditionally White Shakespearean roles?
... that al-Shaykh Badr was the hometown of Salih al-Ali, who led the Alawite revolt against the French in Syria?
... that the 2012 Southern Indiana tornado ripped chunks of asphalt concrete off of a road and threw the pieces 30 yards (27 m) away?
... that a Japanese racehorse was named the tourism ambassador of a city in Hokkaido?

Updated: 1:05, 17 February 2026

In the news

17 February 2026 – Middle Eastern crisis: 2026 United States–Iran crisis; Iran announces the temporary and partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to military exercises and warns the United States to avoid a military escalation. (Euronews)
17 February 2026 – Solar eclipse of February 17, 2026: An annular solar eclipse lasting up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds is visible from Antarctica (for the first time since 2014), the Southern Ocean, and the South Indian Ocean, and partially observed in Africa, Argentina, and Chile. (EclipseWise) (AP) (hub.pl)
16 February 2026 – Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Two people are killed, including a child, and 12 others are injured in a motorcycle bombing near a police station in Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (Sky News); Twenty-four people are killed, including 12 attackers and a child, and seven civilians are injured in an attack on a security post in Bajaur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (CTV News)
16 February 2026 –: Seven people are killed, 10 others are trapped and some escape in a fire at a chemical factory in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, India. (NDTV)

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Major Religions in Asia

Middle East (West Asia)

Central Asia and Caucasus

Indian Subcontinent

Southeast Asia

East Asia

Selected panorama

The Ratchaprasong and Sukhumvit skylines of Bangkok, the capital of and largest city in Thailand, with Lumphini Park in the center, as viewed from the Sathon District. Known in Thai as Krung Thep ("city of angels"), it became the capital in 1768 after the destruction of Ayutthaya by Burmese invaders.