Being the largest continent in the world, Asia is home to a multitude of countries, cultures, food, and, most importantly, people. While most of us know about renowned Asian countries such as Japan, China, and India, the smallest countries in Asia often go unheard.
Well, some of the smallest countries in Asia include Maldives, Bahrain, Cyprus, and Lebanon, these are only to name a few. There many countries in Asia, which that e ca, and today we will discuss the top 10.
Despite the limited surface area over spread across these countries, they are rich in culture, flora, fauna, and much more. Also, some countries have surprisingly high populations despite the small surface area.
Table of Contents
Top 10 smallest countries in Asia
It is time to go through the list of the smallest countries in Asia:
Maldives
This mesmerizing island falls in the southern part of Asia. It is constitutes of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. The island is spread over an area of roughly 116 square miles. However, it has a population of approximately 420,000 people overall.
The entire island is divided into multiple atolls. Each atoll is governed by a democratically elected council for the position. The capital of Maldives is Male, and is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia.
One of the most striking features of Maldives is its marine ecosystem. Some of Maldives’ most beautiful and rich marine endowments range from shallow coast to fringing mangroves, reef ecosystems, and deep sea.
Another asset for the island of Maldives is the rich marine fauna it possesses. It comprises over 150 species of coral reefs, over 80 species of echinoderms, and over 1000 fish species. Not just this, it also has around 5 different species of turtle, which is extremely rare to find.
Apart from knowing about the demographic and geographical features of Maldives, you must also know that it is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world. This island is a regular and famous honeymoon spot for couples and a place to cool off for working professionals. It has something to offer to all its visitors.
The pristine beaches and exquisite cuisine set the tone for a perfect romantic trip. Hence one of the most important sources of income for the economy is its tourism and hospitality.
Most travelers usually prefer living in beautiful resorts that border the beaches. However, one turn-off for some of you would be that most restaurants in the Maldives don’t serve alcohol, or even if they do, they usually charge a bomb for it.
Singapore
Not many words are needed to describe this renowned Asian travel destination. Spread over 716 square kilometers, this country is also known for its strong economy.
Singapore also has a diplomatic stronghold, which is evident from the number of events and discussions conducted there. Many of you would know that Donald Trump first visited Singapore when he had to meet Kim Jong Un.
Singapore has also seen some amount of upheaval about its border. Owing to its small size, Malaysia offered to absorb Singapore. This plan was eventually executed, keeping in mind the welfare of both countries. However, the union broke just two years later, after which Singapore again became an independent country.
Being one of the most glamorous and popular travel destinations, the county welcomes almost 19.1 million tourists annually from across the globe. This number is three times the population of Singapore. Hence, Singapore also looks at tourism as one of its most fertile sources of income.
If you travel to Singapore, make sure you enjoy two of the favorite pastime activities of most Singaporeans, i.e., shopping and eating.
Dotted with multifarious shopping malls, gardens, cafes, museums, and heritage structures, this country is the perfect amalgamation of culture and modernization.
Bahrain
Located right off the coast of Saudi Arabia, this is a tiny country in Asia. It is even tinier than Qatar, which is a little country in Arabia.
Rich in oil, this is definitely what we would call Asia’s smallest country. It is spread over a total of 765 square kilometers roughly.
With a population of just over 1.4 million, almost 50 percent comprises immigrants. Most of these immigrants move to Bahrain simply in search of better income opportunities, as the country is a fast-paced economy. However, the sad part about having a considerably huge population is that most of Bahrain, i.e., about 90% of Bahrain is desert and completely inhabitable.
The good news is that it has an active government working on multiple land reclamation projects to expand the proportion of habitable land on this tiny island. This will give respite to the ever-growing population as well. That is all about Bahrain, which one might say is the smallest country in Asia.
Brunei
Once again, here is one of the smallest countries in Asia that is rich in oil and has a prosperous economy. Situated on Borneo Island, this country is spread over 5765 kilometers. Brunei is one of only three countries in the world with no public debt. You would be surprised to know Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by a Sultan. Another twist to the tale of Brunei is that it gained independence from British rule in 1986.
Taiwan
With a population of over 23 million, this country has a disputed territory. This is because China claims to have power over it. However, this North Asian country has a flourishing economy by itself.
China also shares quite a disturbing equation with Taiwan as it refuses diplomatic relations with countries that acknowledge Taiwan as a legit country. Hence, Taiwan has diplomatic relations with just 17 countries worldwide. Spread over just 36,000 sq km, this country is too tiny to rise against China.
Lebanon
Spread over just about 10,000 square km, amusingly, this country is only partially located within Asia. However, it is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. As a considerable part of the country falls in Asia, it features in the list. However, its location is highly strategic, making Lebanon the smallest globally recognized country in Asia.
But one difference between Lebanon and most of the other countries in this list is that it has a weak economy. As one of the countries that have been impacted as a result of the Syrian war, Lebanon is wrapped in financial trouble from all sides.
It is also since the Syrian war that the economy started going south. Before the war, Lebanon used to be a popular Asian travel destination. It used to be regarded as the Switzerland of the East.
Fun Fact: Do you know in India, Nagaland is known as the Switzerland of the East?
Palestine
Spread over 2402 square kilometers, this country has a population of just over 4 million. Regarding religion, the population comprises about 93% Muslims and 6% Christians. Also, this country consists of 16 administrative divisions. It also is recognized by only 117 UN member countries.
Palestine also has famous tourist sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Herodion National Park, Church of Nativity, and Hishams Palace. You can also visit the Abraham Mosque if you plan a trip to Palestine.
Palestine receives millions of tourists annually mainly because of Abraham mosque, which is revered as one of the most sacred spaces. This is because this mosque houses the graves of Sarah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham.
The country also participates in global events, including the Arab League and G77. It is also an active member of the International Olympic Committee and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Cyprus
Spread over more than 3000 square miles, this is yet another island country on this list. Most of this island country’s land surface area is covered by the Kyrenia and Troodos Mountains, which also sandwich the Mesaoria plain between them. This combination also happens to be a popular tourist site.
Situated within the Mediterranean Sea Eastern Basis, this island is divided into four main segments. Cyprus is also known for popular tourist sites such as Caledonia Falls, Milia Medieval Bridge, and Famagusta, where one can enjoy the view of luxurious cruise ships.
Kuwait
Situated between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, this is yet another Middle East Asian country on this list. Of course, you would have guessed by now that it is rich in oil. However, it also has a complementary plus point, i.e., Kuwait has a long coastline. On top of this, most of its prosperous big cities are located on the coast. Hence, the country is one of the most sought-after oil exporters globally.
Also, an absolute monarchy is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. You would be amazed to know that the Kuwaiti Dinar is one of the most valued currencies in the world currently. This gives the royal family or the ruling family of Kuwait immense strategic power.
Timor-Leste
Have you heard about this country? We won’t be surprised if you haven’t. The small country become an independent country only in 1975. So, it is also one of the youngest countries in the world. East Timor another name for Timor-Leste spreads over almost half of an island in South East Asia. The other half of the same island is a part of Indonesia.
This country was a part of Indonesia until it liberated itself in 1999. However, it is acknowledged as an independent nation by a few countries worldwide. With just about 1.1 million population, it is a small country and has a weak economy. The country spread across a surface area of 15,006 sq km.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which country in Asia has the longest name?
The country in Asia with the longest name is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, with 42 characters.
2. Which are the smallest countries in the Asian continent?
Some of the smallest countries in the Asian continent are Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Tior-Leste, and Singapore.
3. Which are some of the wealthiest countries in Asia?
Some of the wealthiest countries in Asia are Qatar, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
4. Which are some of the poorest countries in Asia?
Some of the poorest countries in Asia include Yemen, East Timor, Syria, and Afghanistan.
5. Name the democratic Asian countries.
The democratic countries of Asia are India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
6. Which are the most popular countries in Asia?
The most popular countries situated in Asia are Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, China, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea. A common feature of most of these countries is their famous travel destinations.
Final Thoughts
The smallest countries in the world are not the weakest. Some of these country are economically shining, while others bound by war and complexities. If you wish to travel to any of these places, make sure you know if your passports supports, and things you need to know before visiting. If you want to add some more names of smallest Asian countries, add it in the comments below!
