Asia
Asia is divided into 5 or 6 regions, with the 6th, the north region being politically part of Europe.
Central Asia is the smallest sub-region of Asia, popularly referred to as "the Stans". This region includes the 5 countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and is very diverse in it's geography with tall mountains and high passes as well as a range of deserts.
East Asia is a huge sub-region in Asia with the 8 countries and regions including China, Mongolia, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Macau (Macao). With some of the largest cities in the world including Tokyo, Beijing, and Seoul, East Asia is home to high technology and is considered one of the most advanced in the world.
South Asia is the largest su-region in Asia with a huge population that includes the 9 countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This region has some of the most populated cities in the world including Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi and Dhaka. Geographically, this region contains the tallest point in the world, Mount Everest, located in Nepal.
Southeast Asia is a sub-region in Asia that includes the 11 countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (formerly Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Mainland Southeast Asia consists of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Peninsular Malaysia.
Maritime Southeast Asia includes Indonesia, the Philippines, East Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and East Timor. Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands may be considered to be a part of South East Asia region, though they are governed by Australia.
West Asia is a sub-region in Asia that includes the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestinian Territory (West Bank & Gaza Strip). Egypt belongs to the Sinai Peninsula and is a transcontinental country that could be considered part of this region. West Asia is surrounded by seven major seas; the Aegean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea and includes the lowest location on earth at the Dead Sea, located between Jordan and Israel.
North Asia is a sub-region in Asia that includes the Asian part of Russia which consists of Ural, Siberia and the Russian Far East. This region is home to the Ural Mountains and while it is geographically in the northern region of Asia, it is politically part of Russia and the European Region.
Listing of Countries in Asia