From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Asia-Pacific or Apac is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean. The area includes much of East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australasia and Oceania). Sometimes the term Asia-Pacific includes South Asia^{[citation needed]}, though Pakistan, India and their neighbours are on or near the Indian Ocean rather than the Pacific Ocean. The term may also include Russia (on the North Pacific) and countries in North and South America which are on the coast of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Although an imprecise geographical descriptor, the term Asia-Pacific became popular from the late 1980s as the economies within the heterogeneous region flourished due to increased regional capital flow, trade and other forms of economic and political interaction.

In some contexts, the region may extend further to include major Asian countries, as well as those around the Pacific Rim, stretching from Oceania, up to Russia, and down the western coast of the Americas. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, for example, includes Canada, Chile, Russia, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

Component areas

The Asia-Pacific region generally includes:

Main Countries and territories data

Country or territory	Area km²	Population	Population density per km²	GDP millions of USD(2009)	GDP per capita USD(2009)	Capital
Australia	7,617,930	22,164,523	3	920,000	41,500	Canberra
Brunei	5,765	400,000	70	14,700	36,700	Bandar Seri Begawan
Burma	676,578	50,020,000	74	26,820	500	Naypyidaw
Cambodia	181,035	14,805,000	82	10,900	800	Phnom Penh
China	9,671,018	1,335,612,968	138	4,911,000	3,700	Beijing
Timor-Leste	14,874	1,134,000	76	599	500	Dili
Hong Kong	1,104	7,055,071	6,390	210,730	30,000	-
Indonesia	1,904,569	240,271,522	126	514,900	2,200	Jakarta
Japan	377,944	127,470,000	337	5,073,000	39,700	Tokyo
Laos	236,800	6,320,000	27	5,721	900	Vientiane
Macau	29	541,200	18,662	21,700	39,800	-
Malaysia	329,847	28,318,000	86	191,399	6,800	Kuala Lumpur
Mongolia	1,564,116	2,736,800	2	4,212	1,500	Ulan Bator
New Zealand	268,021	4,357,437	16	109,600	25,500	Wellington
North Korea	120,540	23,906,000	198	27,820	1,200	Pyongyang
Papua New Guinea	462,840	6,732,000	15	8,200	1,200	Port Moresby
Philippines	299,764	91,983,000	307	158,700	1,700	Manila
Singapore	710	4,987,600	7,023	177,133	35,500	City of SingaporeDowntown Core
South Korea	100,140	50,062,000	500	800,300	16,100	Seoul
Taiwan	36,191	23,119,772	639	379,400	16,400	Taipei
Thailand	513,120	67,764,000	132	263,510	3,900	Bangkok
Vietnam	331,210	88,069,000	265	97,119	1,100	Hanoi

See also

• Geography of Asia
• Geography of Oceania
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
• East Asian Summit
• Miss Asia-Pacific
• Asia-Pacific Scout Region (World Organization of the Scout Movement)
• Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre
• Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Asia Society

References

External links

• APEC
• The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN)
• BBC Asia-Pacific
• ABC Radio Australia Asia Pacific
• Australia Network (formerly "ABC Asia Pacific")

Regions of the world Africa Northern (Maghreb) · Sub-Sahara (Central · Southern · Western · Eastern (Horn)) Oceania Australasia · Melanesia · Micronesia · Polynesia Americas North (Northern • Middle • Central • Caribbean) · South (Southern Cone) · Anglo · Latin Polar Arctic · Antarctic Asia Central · Eastern (Northeastern) · Northern · Southeastern · Southern · Western Oceans World · Arctic · Atlantic · Indian · Pacific · Southern Europe Central · Eastern · Northern · Southeastern · Southern · Western See also Continents of the world