Consisting of 48 countries located in the Eastern and Northern hemispheres, Asia is an enormous continent that covers around 30% of earth’s total surface area. Over 60% of the world’s population lives here, or approximately 4.4 billion people. While more than 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, some of the most common include Chinese, Arabic, Malay, Persian and Russian. It is the birthplace of 11 major religions, and more than 350 ethnic groups.
Asia is home to some of the largest economies in the world, including China, India, Japan, Indonesia and Turkey. The economies of China and Vietnam are described as socialist market economies, while India and Singapore and home to developmental market economies. Meanwhile, Japan, Korea and Taiwan are described as state-coordinated market economies. Top industries include technology, finance, investment and international trade.
Asia is the fastest-growing economic region in the world, with many robust, sophisticated and diverse sectors. A number of leading international firms are located here, in sectors as varied as tech, design, publishing, finance, new media and software. The region is renowned for its business-friendly and welcoming environment, while its stable legal and economic environment remains very attractive to international investors.