🌏 Lesson 3: Asia: 49 Countries

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Israel — oil wealth transformed deserts into futuristic cities. Dubai didn't even have paved roads in the 1960s. Qatar is the richest country per person on Earth.

India (1.44B people — world's most populous!), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal. India alone has 22 official languages and over 2,000 ethnic groups. Bangladesh is the most densely populated large country.

Thailand (never colonized!), Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia (17,000+ islands!), Singapore, Cambodia. The backpacker highway. Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the world's largest religious monument.

China (world's 2nd largest economy), Japan (robotics, bullet trains), South Korea (K-pop, Samsung), Taiwan (makes 90% of the world's advanced chips). This region drives global technology.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan — the 'Stans'. Former Soviet Union, Silk Road heritage. Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country. Turkmenistan has the 'Gates of Hell' — a gas crater burning since 1971.

Asia has 60% of world's population on 30% of the land. Japan has more than 6,800 islands. Indonesia has the most Muslims of any country. India's railway system carries 23 million people DAILY. Singapore is both a city and a country.