Geopolitical data for Asia[edit]

Introduction[edit]
The countries in this table are categorised mainly, but not entirely, according to the UNSD scheme
for statistical purposes used by the United Nations Statistics Division. For example, the UNSD
statistical geoscheme does not recognize a "North Asia," but problematic differences in point of view
reach down to the country level elsewhere as well. Part of Egypt (Sinai Peninsula) is geographically
in Western Asia, and the Australian external territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling)
Islands are often associated with Asia. However, these are not present in the UNSD geoscheme.
There is no universally defined standard Asia. Traditional views are approximate at best. Even today
borders are still being defined, as between Indonesia, Australia and Oceania. As long as conflict
over territory remains a human trait there may well be "an eastern question," as the British Empire
said of the Ottoman Empire.
In evaluating the geographic position of nations of the edge of Asia some writers utilize the
amorphous concept of "transcontinental countries," which has different meanings to different
authorities. Merriam-Webster defines it as "going across a continent," as might a railroad. [22] With
regard to Asia, there is only one such country, the Russian Federation.
In a second definition, Petrovsky refers to a new tendency to form transcontinental agencies,
meaning agencies whose jurisdictions cross continental borders, rather than the whole continent.
[23]
 Petrovsky's examples put together widely scattered sections of continents. There is no question of
their trans- status. More precise views, however, require definitions of continents, which in the case
of Asia are not quite so facile.
A third definition emphasizes transformation in place from one continent to another. Fahey at first
defines Turkey as transcontinental by virtue of being in both Anatolia and the Balkans, neglecting the
historical circumstance that the Balkans as part of the Ottoman Empire were once Asian, as was
much of North Africa. He then hypothesizes that Turkey, accepted into the European Union, is
defined by that circumstance to be European. [24] By this usage, the very region to which "Asia" was
first applied is now Europe. If it is, Turkey cannot be transcontinental by being split between two
continents. This sort of paradox only underlines that Asia has no precise definition in the same way
that nations do, to whom a mere 100 yards of border may be of great concern.
Data included in the table below are per sources in linked articles when available, the CIA World
Factbook when not. No attempt is made to split populations. That of Russia is for the whole country;
thus, the populations and areas cannot be summed to produce those of any defined Asia. The notes
state which nations might be considered transcontinental by some agency, but there is little
agreement generally.