Asian Countries by Population and GDP
Under the UN's M49 standard, Asia has 47 UN member states; SOTW's data also has three territories and other economies there, 50 economies in all. Together they had 4.80 billion people in 2025, 58.6% of the world's population in SOTW's data. China has the largest economy and India the most people. Singapore has the highest GDP per person, $109,117 (2026 IMF projection).
Source: UN Statistics Division: standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49), checked October 21, 2026.
- UN member states
- 47
- 50 economies with data, M49
- Combined GDP
- $45.01T
- 2026 (IMF projection), 35.5% of covered world, 45 of 50 economies
- Population
- 4.80 billion
- 2025, 58.6% of covered world
- Highest GDP per person
- Singapore
- $109,117, 2026 (IMF projection)
All Asian countries and territories
Most populous countries in Asia
India has the highest population among the 50 economies here with a figure: 1.46 billion (2025). The ten listed account for 85.5% of Asia's combined population.
| # | Country | Populationpeople | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 1.46 billion | 2025 |
| 2 | China | 1.41 billion | 2025 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 285.7 million | 2025 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 255.2 million | 2025 |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 175.7 million | 2025 |
| 6 | Japan | 123.4 million | 2025 |
| 7 | Philippines | 116.8 million | 2025 |
| 8 | Vietnam | 101.6 million | 2025 |
| 9 | Iran | 92.4 million | 2025 |
| 10 | Türkiye | 85.9 million | 2025 |
Richest countries in Asia
Singapore has the highest GDP per person among the 47 economies here with a figure: $109,117 (2026 IMF projection). Singapore is also highest at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for price levels ($176,927). North Korea, West Bank and Gaza and Syria have no figure and are not ranked.
| # | Country | GDP per personcurrent US dollars | Year | GDP per person at PPPinternational dollars (PPP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | $109,117 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $176,927rank 1 |
| 2 | Macao | $77,049 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $141,442rank 2 |
| 3 | Israel | $72,441 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $60,100rank 11 |
| 4 | Qatar | $63,634 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $103,804rank 3 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $60,322 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $85,843rank 5 |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | $57,109 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $83,704rank 6 |
| 7 | Cyprus | $44,477 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $68,256rank 9 |
| 8 | South Korea | $43,512 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $70,251rank 8 |
| 9 | Brunei | $40,613 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $98,028rank 4 |
| 10 | Saudi Arabia | $36,577 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $74,295rank 7 |
Largest economies in Asia
China has the highest nominal GDP among the 47 economies here with a figure: $21.55T (2026 IMF projection). The ten listed account for 86.4% of the combined nominal GDP of the 45 economies with a 2026 figure. North Korea, West Bank and Gaza and Syria have no figure and are not ranked.
| # | Country | GDPcurrent US dollars | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $21.55T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 2 | Japan | $4.34T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 3 | India | $4.06T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 4 | South Korea | $2.25T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 5 | Türkiye | $1.82T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 6 | Indonesia | $1.48T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | $1.34T | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 8 | Israel | $746.98B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 9 | Singapore | $667.89B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
| 10 | United Arab Emirates | $661.02B | 2026 (IMF projection) |
Poorest countries in Asia
Afghanistan has the lowest GDP per person among the 47 economies here with a figure: $450 (2025). At purchasing power parity, which adjusts for price levels, Yemen is lowest instead ($1,571, 2026 IMF projection). North Korea, West Bank and Gaza and Syria have no figure and are not ranked.
| # | Country | GDP per personcurrent US dollars | Year | GDP per person at PPPinternational dollars (PPP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | $450 | 2025 | $2,269rank 2 |
| 2 | Yemen | $567 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $1,571rank 1 |
| 3 | Myanmar | $1,507 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $5,283rank 3 |
| 4 | Timor-Leste | $1,520 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $5,288rank 4 |
| 5 | Nepal | $1,540 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $6,615rank 5 |
| 6 | Pakistan | $1,836 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $7,371rank 7 |
| 7 | Tajikistan | $2,005 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $6,727rank 6 |
| 8 | Laos | $2,331 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $12,054rank 12 |
| 9 | India | $2,750 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $12,998rank 13 |
| 10 | Bangladesh | $2,886 | 2026 (IMF projection) | $10,884rank 10 |
Asian countries by subregion
Southern Asia has the most people of these regions: 2.08 billion people in 2025.
| Region | Economies | Population, 2025 | GDP, 2026 IMF projection | Most populous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Asia | 5 | 83.6 million | $706.89B | Uzbekistan |
| Eastern Asia | 7 | 1.62 billion | $28.68T (6 of 7) | China |
| South-eastern Asia | 11 | 700.3 million | $4.51T | Indonesia |
| Southern Asia | 9 | 2.08 billion | $5.50T (8 of 9) | India |
| Western Asia | 18 | 315.3 million | $5.62T (15 of 18) | Türkiye |
Asia over time
Nominal GDP of the 6 largest economies
About these figures
- Totals are sums of country figures for one year over the economies that have one, not official aggregates; each says how many it covers. Missing figures are not counted as zero.
- Growth, inflation and other rates are not added up or averaged into a group or continent rate, because an unweighted average gives a small economy the same weight as a large one.
- GDP is converted to US dollars at market exchange rates; GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) adjusts for differences in price levels, so it is the better comparison of living standards and gives a different order.
- Territories and other economies that are not UN member states are marked in the table: Hong Kong (a special administrative region of China), Macao (a special administrative region of China) and West Bank and Gaza (World Bank figures for the West Bank and Gaza; the State of Palestine is a UN observer state).
- Taiwan is not in SOTW’s data and is not listed in this table. Cyprus, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are in Western Asia under M49; Russia is counted in Europe.
- IMF figures for the current year are projections from the World Economic Outlook, revised at each release, not measured values.
Sources and definitions
- Population SP.POP.TOTL
- Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. Unit: people. World Bank (World Development Indicators)
- GDP IMF.NGDPD
- Economic output at current prices, expressed using market exchange rates. Unit: current US dollars. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- GDP per person IMF.NGDPDPC
- Current-price economic output divided by the population. Unit: current US dollars. International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- GDP per person at PPP IMF.PPPPC
- Purchasing-power-adjusted current-price economic output per person. Unit: international dollars (PPP). International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
- Land area AG.LND.TOTL.K2
- Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. Unit: square kilometres. World Bank (World Development Indicators)
Questions
How many countries in Asia are there?
47 UN member states, under the UN's M49 standard, plus the State of Palestine, a UN observer state. SOTW's data has 50 economies there, counting territories.
What is the largest economy in Asia?
China, with nominal GDP of $21.55 trillion (2026 IMF projection, IMF World Economic Outlook). That is 47.9% of the combined GDP of the 45 economies with a 2026 figure.
What is the richest country in Asia?
By GDP per person, Singapore: $109,117 (2026 IMF projection). Singapore is also first at purchasing power parity ($176,927). GDP per person measures output, not household income or wealth.
What is the most populous country in Asia?
India, with 1.46 billion people in 2025 (World Bank estimate).
What is the poorest country in Asia?
By GDP per person, Afghanistan: $450 (2025). Countries without an IMF figure are not ranked.