In this article, we list and discuss the 20 Most Populated Countries in Asia. If you would like to skip our detailed discussion of the topic, you can go directly to the 5 Most Populated Countries in Asia.
A century ago, the world population stood at only 1.8 billion people. However, as the years have passed, we have seen a rise in the global population count. At first, this was a slow increase. Eventually, however, the world’s population started snowballing — especially in recent years. As of 2024, according to the United Nations, the global population has crossed the 8 billion mark.
Even though the population has risen worldwide, there are some countries and regions that carry the burden of a rapidly rising population the most. That’s because population distribution is heavily dependent on land area. Note that the keyword here is heavily, not completely (we’ll expand on this in a bit). For example, with 48 countries and three territories, Asia is the largest continent by land as well as population — hosting 59.76% of the global population.
Population Distribution in Asia
Just like with the rest of the world, the population is unevenly distributed within Asia as well. For example, South Asia is the most populated part of Asia with over 2 billion people, while Central Asia is the least populated part, with a population of only over 78 million people.
Above, we’ve stated that population distribution depends heavily but not completely on land area. That’s because, if it did completely, the smallest country in Asia by land area, Macau, would also be the least populated country in Asia. However, that is not the case — Maldives, with a population of 521,021, beats Macau to it.
Despite being the least populated country in Asia, the economy of Maldives has maintained its robust growth performance in 2023 and is expected to grow at an average growth of 5.4% from 2024 to 2025, according to the World Bank. Tourism is the major sector of the country, accounting for almost one-third of the economy.
The Link Between Population Growth & Economy
The richest country in Asia is Singapore in terms of GDP per capita (See: 23 Richest Countries in Asia by GDP Per Capita in 2023). Although the country has a population of only 5,637,022 people, Singapore has a GDP per capita of $133,110 as per 2023 data. At the same time, it’s important to note that Singapore is not the most populated country in Asia, nor the largest or the smallest. Does this mean there is no line between population growth and the economy? No, because people make the economy. Therefore, population growth does affect a land’s economy, both, positively and negatively.
For instance, if there’s a shortage of workers as well as adequate resources, a rise in demand will result in an increased supply of goods and services, which will result in economic growth. On the other hand, if there is a surplus of workers and inadequate resources in an economy, there simply won’t be enough jobs, resources, or goods available for the people. So, the direction in which population impacts the economy depends on the availability of the land’s resources.
It is also important to note that, with increased economic activity, highly populated regions are also subject to high levels of pollution. As the demand for more industrial work rises and the stress on limited resources (like land, housing, educational institutions, healthcare, and non-renewable energy like electricity and fossil fuels) increases, pollution becomes inevitable.
For instance, India, the most populated country in the world, also ranks as one of the top five most polluted countries (See: 30 Most Polluted Countries in the World Heading into 2024). Concurrently, India is also one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. It hosts some of the leading global companies, such as Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY), and Tata Motors Ltd (NYSE:TTM).
Both of these are among the most prominent companies in Asia, alongside other names like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) — a Chinese multinational technology company — has recently exited the Indian market as it sold its remaining stake in Paytm. As for the rest of Asia, the company continues to expand. In March 2024, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)’s media and entertainment arm pledged $640 million over five years to promote Hong Kong’s creative industries globally.
On the contrary, Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY) and Tata Motors Ltd (NYSE:TTM) have a huge market within India, the rest of Asia, and worldwide too. Recently, Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY) has joined a venture with Honda and announced its new electric car prototype, Afeela. The two companies aim to sell EVs in the North American market by 2026. Tata Motors Ltd (NYSE:TTM) is set to invest around $2 billion in EV battery models by 2027, aiming for EV-only dealerships across India and possibly in overseas markets.
20 Most Populated Countries in Asia
Our Methodology
For our list of the 20 Most Populated Countries in Asia, we sourced our data from the World Bank’s total global population database. Note that we have also included transcontinental countries in our list. For the population density mentioned in the list, we have used 2021 figures (most recent available data) as reported by the World Bank’s database. We have also mentioned population growth rates, fertility rates, life expectancy rates, and growth rates (2023 estimates) that we obtained from the CIA World Fact Book.
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20 Most Populated Countries in Asia
20. Cambodia
Total Population: 16,767,840
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation with the twentieth-highest population in Asia as of 2024. It has a population density of 94 people per square kilometer of land area. Moreover, according to the CIA World Fact Book’s 2023 estimates, Cambodia has a population growth rate of 1.04%. It also has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world today, with the tourism and clothing industries contributing significantly to the country’s economy.
19. Kazakhstan
Total Population: 19,621,970
Ranked 19th, Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia and is one of the most populous countries in Asia. With a GDP of $496.126 billion according to 2021 estimates, Kazakhstan is also the wealthiest Central Asian country, and one of the richest countries in Asia. It has a population density of 7 people per square kilometer of land area and a population growth rate of 0.9% with 2.59 children born per woman.
18. Sri Lanka
Total Population: 22,181,000
Sri Lanka is best known for the hospitality of its people and the beauty of its land. The country has a population density of 358 people per square kilometer of land area as of 2021 data, and a fertility rate of 2.14 according to 2023 estimates. With a population growth rate of 0.56%, Sri Lanka’s overall population is expected to increase further in the coming years.
17. North Korea
Total Population: 26,069,420
Officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea covers a total land area of 120,408 square kilometers and has a population density of 216 people per square kilometer. The country has one of the last centrally planned economies, with declining growth and trade. According to the most recent data available, North Korea has a population growth rate of 0.4% and a fertility rate of 1.82 children per woman.
16. Nepal
Total Population: 30,547,580
Home to Mount Everest, Nepal is a landlocked South Asian country, bordered by India and China. As of 2024, Nepal is the sixteenth most populated country in Asia with a total population of over 30 million, and a population growth rate of 0.74%. According to the World Bank, Nepal’s population density is 210 people per square kilometer.
15. Malaysia
Total Population: 33,938,220
Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country known for its cultural diversity, beaches, and rainforests, is the fifteenth most populous country in Asia. Covering a total land area of 328,657 square kilometers, Malaysia has a population density of 102 people per square kilometer and a population growth rate of 1.01%.
14. Uzbekistan
Total Population: 35,648,100
Located in Central Asia, Uzbekistan is one of the world’s leading cotton producers and is best known for its orchards and vineyards. The country has a total land-covered area of 425,400 square kilometers and a population density of 79 people per square kilometer. Moreover, Uzbekistan is a lower middle-income country with a relatively young population; a fertility rate of 2.92 births per woman, and a mortality rate of 5.2 deaths per 1000 people. Overall, according to 2023 estimates, the country has a population growth rate of 1.61%.
13. Afghanistan
Total Population: 41,128,770
Situated at Central Asia and South Asia’s crossroads, Afghanistan is a landlocked country featuring important trade routes that connect southern and eastern Asia to Europe and the Middle East. It has a total land area of 652,230 square kilometers and a population density of 61 people per square kilometer of land area. As of 2021 data, Afghanistan is the second poorest country in Asia with a per capita income of just $1,149.
12. South Korea
Total Population: 51,628,120
South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia that occupies the southern portion of the Korean peninsula. South Korea has a land area of 96,920 square kilometers and a population density of 530 people per square kilometer. While the country is among the most populated countries in Asia, it has the lowest fertility rate in the world. The fertility rate in South Korea is only 1.11 babies per woman, which is far below the rate of 2.1 babies per woman needed for a steady population. With the current fertility crisis, South Korea’s population is on track to halve by the end of this century.
11. Myanmar
Total Population: 54,179,310
Ranked 11th, Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia and shares borders with India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. Myanmar is a nation of more than 100 ethnic groups. With a land area of 653,508 square kilometers, Myanmar is the largest country in Mainland Southeast Asia. Moreover, it is one of the poorest Asian countries, with a GDP per capita of $1,973 in 2021.
10. Thailand
Total Population: 71,697,030
Thailand is a Southeast Asian country known for its tropical beaches and ancient temples displaying figures of Buddha. It is a highly populated country with a population density of 140 people per square kilometer, occupying 510,890 square kilometers of land area. As of 2023, Thailand’s fertility rate stood at 1.54, which is a slow decline from previous years. All in all, Thailand has a large but very steady population, with a population growth of just 0.2% in 2023.
9. Vietnam
Total Population: 98,186,860
With a population growth rate of 0.93%, Vietnam is a lower-middle-income Southeast Asian country. Its land covers an overall area of 310,070 square kilometers, and the population density stands at 311 people per square kilometer. Vietnam sees 2.04 births per woman, and the average life expectancy at birth is 75.8 years.
8. Philippines
Total Population: 115,559,010
With the 8th highest population in Asia, the Philippines boasts a population growth rate of 1.58%. The country’s population density stands at 382 people per square kilometer as per 2021 data.
7. Japan
Total Population: 125,124,990
An island country located in East Asia, Japan is a leading country on many forefronts, including population. According to the World Bank, the country has a population density of 345 people per square kilometer. However, this number is going to fall eventually, because even though the fertility rate for the country is 1.39 births per woman, the population growth rate of Japan is negative (-0.41%). According to research published by the Pew Research Center, Japan is going to see a population loss of 52 million by the year 2100.
6. Russia
Total Population: 144,236,930
Being the largest country in Asia and in the world, Russia has a total land area of 16,377,742 square kilometers. Moreover, Russia has a population density of 9 people per square kilometer, fertility rate of 1.51 births per woman, mortality rate of 14.1 deaths per 1000 people, and life expectancy of 72 years at birth.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Most Populated Countries in Asia is originally published on Insider Monkey.