View source for West Asia

{{Short description|Western region of Asia}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox continent
| title = West Asia
| image = Western Asia (orthographic projection).svg
| area = {{convert|5994935|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}{{sup|a}}
| population = 313,450,000 (2018) ([[List of continents by population#Regional and continental .28sub.29totals in 2016|9th]])<ref name = "UN WPP 2019">{{Cite web|title = World Population prospects – Population division|url = https://population.un.org/wpp/|access-date = 16 July 2019|publisher = [[United Nations]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190205234912/https://population.un.org/wpp/|archive-date = 5 February 2019|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name = "UN WPP 2019 2">{{Cite web|title = Overall total population|url = https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx|format = xlsx|access-date = 16 July 2019|publisher = [[United Nations]]|archive-date = 27 February 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210227235642/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx|url-status = dead}}</ref>
| density = {{convert|50.1|/km2|abbr=on}}
| GDP_nominal = $3.383{{nbs}}trillion (2019)<ref name="IMF">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2020/02/weodata/index.aspx|title=World Economic Outlook Database|publisher=IMF|website=imf.org}} Outlook Database, October 2020</ref>
| GDP_PPP = $9.063{{nbs}}trillion (2019)<ref name="IMF" />
| GDP_per_capita = $10,793 (2019; nominal)<ref name="IMF"/><br/>$28,918 (2019; PPP)<ref name="IMF"/>
| HDI = {{Increase}}0.699 (''<span style="color:orange">medium</span>'')
| ethnic_groups = [[Arabs]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]], [[Armenians]], [[Azerbaijanis]], [[Baloch people|Baloch]], [[Georgians]], [[Greek Cypriots]], [[Jews]], [[Kurds]], [[Laz people]], [[Mandaeans]], [[Maronites]], [[Persians]], [[Pontic Greeks]], [[Talysh people|Talyshis]], [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Yazidis]], [[Zazas]]
| religions = [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]], [[Druze|Druzism]], [[Yarsanism]], [[Yazidism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Mandaeism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], etc.
| demonym = West Asian<br />Western Asian
| countries = {{collapsible list
| title = [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia|20 recognized]]
| {{flag|Armenia}}
| {{flag|Azerbaijan}} (except for a small portion of territory north of the [[Greater Caucasus]])
| {{flag|Bahrain}}
| {{flag|Cyprus}}
| {{flag|Egypt}} (only [[Sinai Peninsula]])
| {{flag|Georgia}} (except for a small portion of territory north of the [[Greater Caucasus]])
| {{flag|Iran}}
| {{flag|Iraq}}
| {{flag|Israel}}
| {{flag|Jordan}}
| {{flag|Kuwait}}
| {{flag|Lebanon}}
| {{flag|Oman}}
| {{flag|Palestine}}
| {{flag|Qatar}}
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| {{flag|Syria|revolution}}
| {{flag|Turkey}} (except [[East Thrace|Turkish Thrace]])
| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| {{flag|Yemen}} (except [[Socotra]])
}}{{collapsible list
| title = '''3 unrecognized'''
| ''{{flag|Abkhazia}}''
| ''{{flag|Northern Cyprus}}''
| ''{{flag|South Ossetia}}''
 }}
| dependencies =
{{flag|Akrotiri and Dhekelia}}
| languages = {{collapsible list
 | title = Official languages
 | [[Modern Standard Arabic|Arabic]]
 | [[Abkhaz language|Abkhaz]]
 | [[Armenian language|Armenian]]
 | [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]
 | [[English language|English]]
 | [[Georgian language|Georgian]]
 | [[Greek language|Greek]]
 | [[Modern Hebrew|Hebrew]]
 | [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]]
 | [[Ossetian language|Ossetian]]
 | [[Persian language|Persian]]
 | [[Russian language|Russian]]
 | [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
 }}
 {{collapsible list
 | title = '''Other languages'''
 | '''[[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Neo-Aramaic languages|Neo-Aramaic]]
 | [[Amharic language|Amharic]]
 | [[Modern South Arabian languages|South Arabian]]
 | [[Syriac language|Syriac]]
 }}
 | '''[[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]
 | [[Malay language|Malay]]
 | [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]
 }}
 | '''[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Balochi language|Balochi]]
 | [[Domari language|Domari]]
 | [[French language|French]]
 | [[Gilaki language|Gilaki]]
 | [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
 | [[Luri language|Luri]]
 | [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
 | [[Mazanderani language|Mazanderani]]
 | [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
 | [[Pashto language|Pashto]]
 | [[Rohingya language|Rohingya]]
 | [[Romani language|Romani]]
 | [[Shabaki language]]
 | [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
 | [[Talysh language|Talysh]]
 | [[Urdu language|Urdu]]
 | [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]
 | [[Zaza language|Zaza]]
 }}
 | '''[[Northeast Caucasian languages|NE Caucasian]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Avar language|Avar]]
 | [[Chechen language|Chechen]]
 | [[Lezgian language|Lezgian]]
 }}
 | '''[[Northwest Caucasian languages|NW Caucasian]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Circassian languages|Circassian]]
 | [[Kabardian language|Kabardian]]
 }}
 | '''[[Turkic languages|Turkic]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Qashqai language|Qashqai]]
 | [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]]
 }}
 }}
| time = {{collapsible list
 | title = 5 time zones
 | bullets = true
 | '''[[UTC+02:00]]''':
 {{hlist
 | Standard: [[Time in Cyprus|Cyprus]], [[Israel Standard Time|Israel]], [[Time in Jordan|Jordan]], [[Time in Lebanon|Lebanon]], [[Time in the State of Palestine|Palestine]], [[Egypt Standard Time|Sinai]], [[Time in Syria|Syria]]
 }}
 | '''[[UTC+03:00]]''':
 {{hlist
 | [[Daylight Saving Time|Daylight]]: Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria
 | Standard: [[Time in Bahrain|Bahrain]], [[Time in Iraq|Iraq]], [[Time in Kuwait|Kuwait]], [[Time in Qatar|Qatar]], [[Saudi Arabia Standard Time|Saudi Arabia]], [[Time in Turkey|Turkey]], [[Time in Yemen|Yemen]]
 }}
 | '''[[UTC+03:30]]''':
 {{hlist
 | Standard: [[Iran Standard Time|Iran]]
 }}
 | '''[[UTC+04:00]]''':
 {{hlist
 | Standard: [[Armenia Time|Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan Time|Azerbaijan]], [[Georgia Time|Georgia]], [[Time in Oman|Oman]], [[Time in the United Arab Emirates|UAE]]
 }}
 | '''[[UTC+04:30]]''':
 {{hlist
 | Daylight: Iran
 }}
 }}
| internet = [[.ae]], [[.am]], [[.az]], [[.bh]], [[.cy]], [[.eg]], [[.ge]], [[.il]], [[.iq]], [[.ir]], [[.jo]], [[.kw]], [[.lb]], [[.om]], [[.ps]], [[.qa]], [[.sa]], [[.sy]], [[.tr]], [[.ye]]
| calling_code = [[List of country calling codes|Zone 9 except Armenia, Cyprus (Zone 3) & Sinai (Zone 2)]]
| cities =<!-- PLEASE LIMIT THE CITIES LISTED HERE TO CITIES LISTED IN [[List of urban areas by population]], AND LIST PER ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THANKS! -->
{{collapsible list
 | title = List{{sup|b}}
 | bullets = true
 | {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Amman]]
 | {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Ankara]]
 | {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Baghdad]]
 | {{flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai]]
 | {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]]
 | {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[İzmir]]
 | {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Jeddah]]
 | {{flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Kuwait City]]
 | {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Riyadh]]
 | {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Tehran]]
}}
<!-- PLEASE LIMIT THE CITIES LISTED HERE TO CITIES LISTED IN [[List of urban areas by population]]. THANKS! -->
| m49 = <code>145</code> – West Asia<br /><code>142</code> – [[Asia]]<br /><code>001</code> – World
| footnotes = {{longitem|{{sup|a}} Area and population figures include the [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]]}}{{longitem|{{sup|b}} Among the top 100 [[List of urban areas by population|urban areas of the world by population]]}}
}}

'''West Asia''' (also called '''Western Asia''' or '''Southwest Asia''') is the westernmost region of [[Asia]]. As defined by most academics, [[UN]] bodies and other institutions, the [[subregion]] consists of [[Anatolia]], the [[Arabian Peninsula]], [[Iran]], [[Mesopotamia]], the [[Armenian highlands]], the [[Levant]], the [[island of Cyprus]], the [[Sinai Peninsula]] and the [[South Caucasus]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Land Use Dynamics and Institutional Changes in West Asia |url=https://www.fao.org/3/ag266e/ag266e.pdf |first1=Lama |last1=Bashour |date=2006 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230616092754/https://www.fao.org/3/ag266e/ag266e.pdf |archive-date= Jun 16, 2023 }}</ref><ref name=WGSRPD/> The region is separated from [[Africa]] by the [[Isthmus of Suez]] in [[Egypt]], and separated from [[Europe]] by the waterways of the [[Turkish Straits]] and the watershed of the [[Greater Caucasus]]. [[Central Asia]] lies to its northeast, while [[South Asia]] lies to its east. Twelve seas surround the region (clockwise): the [[Aegean Sea]], the [[Sea of Marmara]], the [[Black Sea]], the [[Caspian Sea]], the [[Persian Gulf]], the [[Gulf of Oman]], the [[Arabian Sea]], the [[Gulf of Aden]], the [[Red Sea]], the [[Gulf of Aqaba]], the [[Gulf of Suez]], and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. West Asia contains the majority of the similarly defined [[Middle East]]. The ''Middle East'' is a political term invented by Western geographers that has historically included various territories depending on political and historical context, while West Asia is a geographical term with more accuracy and consistency. It excludes most of Egypt and the northwestern part of [[Turkey]], and includes the [[South Caucasus|southern part of the Caucasus]].

West Asia covers an area of {{convert|5994935|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, with a population of about 313 million.<ref name="UN WPP 2019"/><ref name="UN WPP 2019 2"/> Of the 20 UN member countries fully or partly within the region, 13 are part of the [[Arab world]]. The most populous countries in West Asia are [[Iran]], [[Turkey]], [[Iraq]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Yemen]].

In the [[World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions]] (WGSRPD), West Asia excludes the Arabian Peninsula and includes [[Afghanistan]].<ref name=WGSRPD>{{Cite book |last = Brummitt |first = R. K. |year = 2001 |title = World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions |edition = 2nd |publisher = International Working Group on Taxonomic Databases For Plant Sciences (TDWG) |url = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tdwg/wgsrpd/master/109-488-1-ED/2nd%20Edition/TDWG_geo2.pdf |access-date = 27 July 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160125135239/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/tdwg/TDWG_geo2.pdf |archive-date = 25 January 2016}}</ref> The [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) excludes Egypt and includes Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 21. West Asia |url=https://www.fao.org/3/Y1997e/y1997e0q.htm |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=www.fao.org}}</ref> The [[United Nations Environment Programme]] excludes [[Cyprus]], [[Israel]], [[Turkey]], and Iran from West Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=12 April 2023 |title=West Asia |url=http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/networks/west-asia |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=Ozonaction |language=en}}</ref>

== Definition ==
The term ''West Asia'' is used pragmatically and has no "correct" or generally accepted definition. Its typical definitions overlap substantially, but not entirely, with definitions of the terms [[Middle East]], [[Eastern Mediterranean]], and [[Near East]] (which is historically familiar but widely deprecated today).<ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-near-east-and-middle-east.html What Is The Difference Between Near East and Middle East?] ''worldatlas.com''</ref> The ''[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] Style Manual'' as well as [[Angus Maddison|Maddison]]'s ''[[The World Economy: Historical Statistics]]'' (2003) by the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD) include only Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestine (called West Bank and Gaza in the latter), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen as West Asian countries.<ref name="ngs">{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/a/ngs.org/ngs-style-manual/home/W/west-asia |title=West Asia |last=Miller |first=David |work=National Geographic Style Manual |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]] |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531235607/https://sites.google.com/a/ngs.org/ngs-style-manual/home/W/west-asia |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Maddison |first=Angus |author-link=Angus Maddison |year=2004 |title=The World Economy: Historical Statistics |series=Development Centre Studies |location=Paris, France |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD) |publication-date=2003 |isbn=978-92-64-10412-9 |lccn=2004371607 |oclc=53465560 |title-link=The World Economy: Historical Statistics }}</ref> By contrast, the [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization]] (UNIDO) in its 2015 yearbook includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, and excludes Israel (as Other) and Turkey (as Europe).<ref>{{cite book |author=United Nations Industrial Development Organization Vienna (UNIDO) |author-link=United Nations Industrial Development Organization |year=2005 |title=International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAKMBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |location=Cheltenham, UK |publisher=[[Edward Elgar Publishing]] |page=14 |isbn= 9781784715502}}</ref>

Unlike the UNIDO, the [[United Nations Statistics Division]] (UNSD) excludes Iran from West Asia and includes Turkey, Georgia, and Cyprus in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49.htm |title=Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use |publisher=Millenniumindicators.un.org |quote=The UNSD notes that the "assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is merely for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories."|access-date=25 August 2012}}</ref> In the United Nations geopolitical [[United Nations Regional Groups|Eastern European Group]], Armenia and Georgia are included in Eastern Europe, whereas Cyprus and East Thracian Turkey are in Southern Europe. These three nations are listed in the European category of the [[United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation]] (UNESCO).

National members of West Asian sports governing bodies are limited to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wabsf.net/en/information.php |title=WABSF Member Countries |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035427/http://www.wabsf.net/en/information.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topendsports.com/events/games/asian-games/west-asian/index.htm |title=The West Asian Games |publisher=Topend Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-waff.com/en/championships/29.html |title=WAFF Member Associations |website=The-Waff.com |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801232057/http://www.the-waff.com/en/championships/29.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Olympic Council of Asia]]'s multi-sport event [[West Asian Games]] are contested by athletes representing these 13 countries. Among the region's sports organisations are the [[West Asia Basketball Association]], [[West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation|West Asian Billiards and Snooker Federation]], [[West Asian Football Federation]], and the [[West Asian Tennis Federation]].

=== Map ===
{{center|{{West Asia}}}}

== Countries ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
! [[Country]], with [[flag]]
! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
! [[List of countries by population|Population]]{{UN_Population|ref}}<br />({{UN_Population|Year}})
! [[List of countries by population density|Density]]<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|Nominal GDP]]<ref>{{cite web|title=GDP|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=93&pr.y=3&sy=2012&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDP_R&grp=0&a=|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]]|access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref><br />(2012)
! [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|Per capita]]<ref>{{cite web|title=GDP per capita|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=28&pr.y=10&sy=2012&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a=|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]]|access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref><br />(2012)
! [[Currency]]
! [[Government]]
! [[Official language]]s
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Anatolia]]''':
|-
| {{nowrap|{{flag|Turkey}}}}{{Notetag|The figures for Turkey includes [[East Thrace]], which is not a part of Anatolia.}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 783,562
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Turkey}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 94.1
| [[Ankara]]
| $788.042 billion
| $10,523
| [[Turkish lira]]
| [[Presidential republic]]
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Arabian Peninsula]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Bahrain}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 780
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Bahrain}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,646.1
| [[Manama]]
| $30.355 billion
| $26,368
| [[Bahraini dinar]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Kuwait}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 17,820
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Kuwait}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 167.5
| [[Kuwait City]]
| $184.540 billion
| $48,761
| [[Kuwaiti dinar]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Oman}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 212,460
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Oman}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 9.2
| [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]]
| $78.290 billion
| $25,356
| [[Omani rial]]
| [[Absolute monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Qatar}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 11,437
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Qatar}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 123.2
| [[Doha]]
| $192.402 billion
| $104,756
| [[Qatari riyal]]
| [[Absolute monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,149,690
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Saudi Arabia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 12
| [[Riyadh]]
| $733.956 billion
| $25,139
| [[Saudi riyal]]
| [[Absolute monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 82,880
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|United Arab Emirates}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 97
| [[Abu Dhabi]]
| $383.799 billion
| $43,774
| [[UAE dirham]]
| [[Federation|Federal]] [[constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Yemen}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 527,970
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Yemen}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 44.7
| [[Sana'a]] ([[Houthis|Houthi]]-led [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|government]])<br>[[Aden]] ([[Temporary capital|Seat of government]])
| $35.05 billion
| $1,354
| [[Yemeni rial]]
| [[Provisional government|Provisional]] [[presidential republic]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[South Caucasus]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Abkhazia}} (unrecognized)
| style="text-align:right;" | 8,660
| style="text-align:right;" | 242,862
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
| [[Sokhumi]]
| $500 million
| N/A
| [[Georgian lari]]
| [[Semi-presidential system|Semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
| [[Abkhaz language|Abkhaz]]<br>[[Russian language|Russian]]
|-
| {{flag|Armenia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 29,800
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Armenia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 108.4
| [[Yerevan]]
| $9.950 billion
| $3,033
| [[Armenian dram]]
| [[Semi-presidential system|Semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
| [[Armenian language|Armenian]]
|-
| {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 86,600
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Azerbaijan}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 105.8
| [[Baku]]
| $68.700 billion
| $7,439
| [[Azerbaijani manat]]
| [[Presidential republic]]
| [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]
|-
| {{flag|Georgia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 69,700
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Georgia}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 68.1
| [[Tbilisi]]
| $15.847 billion
| $3,523
| [[Georgian lari]]
| [[Semi-presidential system|Semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
| [[Georgian language|Georgian]]
|-
| {{flag|South Ossetia}} (unrecognized)
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,900
| style="text-align:right;" | 53,532
| style="text-align:right;" | 13
| [[Tskhinvali]]
| $500 million
| N/A
| [[Georgian lari]]
| [[Semi-presidential system|Semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
| [[Ossetian language|Ossetian]]<br>[[Russian language|Russian]]
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Fertile Crescent]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Iraq}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 438,317
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Iraq}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 73.5
| [[Baghdad]]
| $216.044 billion
| $6,410
| [[Iraqi dinar]]
| [[Parliamentary republic]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]<br>[[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]
|-
| {{flag|Israel}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 20,770
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Israel}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 365.3
| [[Positions on Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]<sup>1</sup>
| $353.65 billion
| $39,106
| [[Israeli new shekel]]
| [[Parliamentary republic]]
| [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]
|-
| {{flag|Jordan}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 92,300
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Jordan}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 68.4
| [[Amman]]
| $30.98 billion
| $4,843
| [[Jordanian dinar]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Lebanon}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 10,452
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Lebanon}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 404
| [[Beirut]]
| $42.519 billion
| $10,425
| [[Lebanese pound]]
| [[Parliamentary republic]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flagcountry|Palestine}}{{Notetag|UN observer state.}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 6,220
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|State of Palestine}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 667
| [[Ramallah]]<sup>2</sup>
| $6.6 billion
| $1,600
| [[Egyptian pound]], [[Jordanian dinar]], [[Israeli new shekel]]
| [[Semi-presidential system|Semi-presidential]] [[republic]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| {{flag|Syria|revolution}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 185,180
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Syrian Arab Republic}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 118.3
| [[Damascus]]
| N/A
| N/A
| [[Syrian pound]]
| [[Transitional government]]
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Iranian Plateau]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Iran}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,648,195
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Iran (Islamic Republic of)}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 45
| [[Tehran]]
| $548.590 billion
| $7,207
| [[Iranian rial]]
| [[Islamic republic]]
| [[Persian language|Persian]]
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Mediterranean Sea]]''':
|-
| {{flag|Akrotiri and Dhekelia}}<sup>3</sup>
| style="text-align:right;" | 254
| style="text-align:right;" | 15,700
| style="text-align:right;" | N/A
| [[Episkopi Cantonment|Episkopi]]
| N/A
| N/A
| [[Euro]]
| [[stratocracy|Stratocratic]] [[Dependent territory|dependency]] under a [[constitutional monarchy]]
| [[English language|English]]
|-
| {{flag|Cyprus}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 9,250
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Cyprus}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 117
| [[Nicosia]]
| $22.995 billion
| $26,377
| [[Euro]]
| [[Presidential republic]]
| [[Greek language|Greek]]<br>[[Turkish language|Turkish]]
|-
| {{flag|Northern Cyprus}} (unrecognized)
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,355
| style="text-align:right;" | 313,626
| style="text-align:right;" | 93
| [[North Nicosia]]
| $4.032 billion
| $15,109
| [[Turkish lira]]
| [[Semi-presidential republic]]
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
|-
| colspan=10 style="background:#eee;" | '''[[Sinai Peninsula]]''':
|-
| {{nowrap|{{flag|Egypt}}}}{{Notetag|The area and population figures for Egypt only include the [[Sinai Peninsula]].}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 60,000
| style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Egypt}}
| style="text-align:right;" | 82
| [[Cairo]]
| $262.26 billion
| $3,179
| [[Egyptian pound]]
| [[Presidential republic]]
| [[Arabic]]
|}
'''Notes:'''<small><br /><sup>1</sup> Ramallah is the actual location of the government, whereas the proclaimed capital of Palestine is [[Jerusalem]], which is [[Positions on Jerusalem|disputed]].{{refn|name=Jerusalem|group=note|Jerusalem is Israel's ''[[de jure]]'' capital under [[Jerusalem Law|Israeli law]], as well as its ''[[de facto]]'' capital by the location of the presidential residence, government offices, supreme court and parliament ([[Knesset]]). Jerusalem is the State of Palestine's ''de jure'' capital under its {{cite web |ref=BasicLawPal-T1A3 |url=http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/basic-law/2003-amended-basic-law |title=2003 Amended Basic Law |date=17 February 2008 |postscript=none}}, but not its ''de facto'' capital as its government branches are based in [[Ramallah]]. The UN and most [[sovereign states]] do not recognize Jerusalem as either state's ''de jure'' capital under the position that Jerusalem's status is pending future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In practice, therefore, most maintain their embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] and its suburbs, or else in suburbs such as [[Mevaseret Zion]] outside Jerusalem proper. See [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/israel/ CIA Factbook], {{cite web|url= https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/israel.pdf |title=Map of Israel |postscript=none}} and [[Status of Jerusalem]] for more information.}}<br /><sup>2</sup> [[Jerusalem]] is the [[Jerusalem Law|proclaimed capital of Israel]] and the actual location of the [[Knesset]], [[Israeli Supreme Court]], etc. Due to its [[Positions on Jerusalem|disputed]] status, most embassies are in [[Tel Aviv]].{{refn|group=note|name=Jerusalem}}<br />{{sup|3}} [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]]</small>

== History ==
{{See also|History of the Middle East|Ancient Near East|History of the Ottoman Empire|Treaty of Gulistan|Treaty of Turkmenchay|Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire}}

"Western Asia" was in use as a geographical term in the early 19th century, before "[[Near East]]" became current as a geopolitical concept.<ref>e.g. James Rennell, ''A treatise on the comparative geography of western Asia'', 1831.</ref> In the context of the history of [[classical antiquity]], "Western Asia" could mean the part of Asia known in classical antiquity, as opposed to the reaches of "interior Asia", i.e. [[Scythia]], and "Eastern Asia" the easternmost reaches of geographical knowledge in classical authors, i.e. [[Transoxania]] and [[Indus valley|India]].<ref>James Rennell, ''The Geographical System of Herodotus Examined and Explained'', 1800, [https://archive.org/details/geographicalsys00renn/page/210 p. 210].</ref><ref>Hugh Murray, ''Historical Account of Discoveries and Travels in Asia'' (1820).</ref><ref>Samuel Whelpley, ''A compend of history, from the earliest times'', 1808, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6jkNAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9 p. 9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120055307/https://books.google.ch/books?id=6jkNAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9 |date=20 November 2022 }}.</ref> In the 20th century, "Western Asia" was used to denote a rough geographical era in the fields of [[archaeology]] and [[ancient history]], especially as a shorthand for "the [[Fertile Crescent]] excluding [[Ancient Egypt]]" for the purposes of comparing the early civilizations of Egypt and the former.<ref>e.g. Petrus Van Der Meer, ''The Chronology of Ancient Western Asia and Egypt'', 1955. Karl W. Butzer, ''Physical Conditions in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and Egypt Before the Period of Agricultural and Urban Settlement'', 1965.</ref>

Use of the term in the context of contemporary [[geopolitics]] or [[world economy]] appears to date from at least the mid-1960s.<ref>''The Tobacco Industry of Western Asia'', U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 1964.</ref>

== Geography ==
{{See also|Geography of Asia}}
The region is surrounded by eight major seas; the [[Aegean Sea]], the [[Black Sea]], the [[Caspian Sea]], the [[Persian Gulf]], the [[Arabian Sea]], the [[Gulf of Aden]], the [[Red Sea]], and the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

To the northwest and north, the region is delimited from [[Europe]] by the [[Turkish Straits]] and drainage divide of the [[Greater Caucasus]], to the southwest, it is delimited from [[Africa]] by the [[Isthmus of Suez]], while to the northeast and east, the region adjoins [[Central Asia]] and [[South Asia]]. The region is located east of [[Southern Europe]] and south of [[Eastern Europe]].

The [[Dasht-e Kavir]] and [[Dasht-e Lut]] deserts in eastern [[Iran]] naturally delimit the region from [[Balochistan]] and South Asia.

=== Geology ===
==== Plate tectonics ====
Three major [[plate tectonics|tectonic plates]] converge on West Asia, including the [[African Plate|African]], [[Eurasian Plate|Eurasian]], and [[Arabian Plate|Arabian]] plates. The boundaries between the tectonic plates make up the [[Azores–Gibraltar Transform Fault|Azores-Gibraltar Ridge]], extending across [[North Africa]], the [[Red Sea]], and into Iran.<ref name="beaumont-pg22">Beaumont (1988), p. 22</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2021}} The Arabian Plate is moving northward into the [[Anatolian Plate|Anatolian plate]] (Turkey) at the [[East Anatolian Fault]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/handbooks/arabianpages/mainframe.htm |title=The Arabian Plate |author=Muehlberger, Bill |publisher=NASA, Johnson Space Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706103125/http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/handbooks/arabianpages/mainframe.htm |archive-date=6 July 2007 }}</ref> and the boundary between the [[Aegean Sea Plate|Aegean]] and Anatolian plate in eastern [[Turkey]] is also [[seismic]]ally active.<ref name="beaumont-pg22"/>

==== Water resources ====
Several major [[aquifer]]s provide [[water]] to large portions of West Asia. In Saudi Arabia, two large aquifers of [[Palaeozoic]] and [[Triassic]] origins are located beneath the [[Jabal Tuwayq]] mountains and areas west to the Red Sea.<ref name="beaumont-86">Beaumont (1988), p. 86</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2021}} [[Cretaceous]] and [[Eocene]]-origin aquifers are located beneath large portions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia, including Wasia and Biyadh which contain amounts of both [[fresh water]] and [[saline water]].<ref name="beaumont-86"/> Flood or furrow irrigation, as well as sprinkler methods, are extensively used for [[irrigation]], covering nearly {{cvt|90,000|km2}} across West Asia for agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/land-water/en/|title=Land & Water|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref> Also, the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]] rivers contribute very well.

=== Climate ===
{{See also|Climate of Asia}}
[[File:Cedars in Lebanon.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|A [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Cedar Forest]] in winter]]
[[File:West Asia Köppen Map.png|right|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Köppen climate classification]] map of West Asia]]

West Asia is primarily [[arid climate|arid]] and [[semi-arid]], and can be subject to [[drought]], but it also contains vast expanses of forest and fertile valleys. The region consists of [[grassland]]s, [[rangeland]]s, [[desert]]s, and [[mountains]]. [[Water shortage]]s are a problem in many parts of West Asia, with rapidly growing [[population]]s increasing demands for water, while [[salinity|salinization]] and [[pollution]] threaten water supplies.<ref name="ipcc-1997">{{cite web|url=http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=/climate/ipcc/regional/index.htm|title=Chapter 7: Middle East and Arid Asia|work=IPCC Special Report on The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability|publisher=United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)|year=2001|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201222/http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=%2Fclimate%2Fipcc%2Fregional%2Findex.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Major rivers, including the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates River|Euphrates]], provide sources for [[irrigation]] water to support [[agriculture]].

There are two wind phenomena in West Asia: the ''sharqi'' and the ''[[shamal (wind)|shamal]]''. The ''sharqi'' (or ''sharki'') is a [[wind]] that comes from the south and southeast. It is seasonal, lasting from April to early June, and comes again between late September and November. The winds are dry and dusty, with occasional gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour) and often kick up violent sand and dust storms that can carry sand a few thousand meters high, and can close down airports for short periods of time. These winds can last for a full day at the beginning and end of the season, and for several days during the middle of the season. The ''shamal'' is a summer northwesterly wind blowing over Iraq and the Persian Gulf states (including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), often strong during the day, but decreasing at night. This weather effect occurs anywhere from once to several times a year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World|editor-first=Taru|editor-last=Bahl| editor2=M H Syed| publisher=Anmol Publications|location=New Delhi|year=2003|page=20|isbn=978-81-261-1419-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2x4jq4bXrq0C&q=%22Sharqi%22+wind&pg=PA20|access-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>

=== Topography ===
West Asia contains large areas of mountainous terrain. The [[Anatolian Plateau]] is sandwiched between the [[Pontus Mountains]] and [[Taurus Mountains]] in [[Turkey]]. [[Mount Ararat]] in Turkey rises to {{convert|5,137|meters|abbr=on}}. The [[Zagros Mountains]] are located in Iran, in areas along its border with Iraq. The Central Plateau of Iran is divided into two [[drainage basin]]s. The northern basin is [[Dasht-e Kavir]] (Great Salt Desert), and [[Dasht-e-Lut]] is the southern basin.

In [[Yemen]], elevations exceed {{convert|3,700|meters|abbr=on}} in many areas, and [[Highland (geography)|highland]] areas extend north along the [[Red Sea]] coast and north into [[Lebanon]]. A [[Geologic fault|fault]] zone also exists along the Red Sea, with continental [[rifting]] creating [[Trough (geology)|trough]]-like [[topography]] with areas located well below [[sea level]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/235042.pdf|title=Region #4 — Red Sea Continental Rift Zone|work=Preliminary Definition of Geophysical Regions for the Middle East and North Africa|author=Sweeney, Jerry J.|first2=William R.|last2=Walter|publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|date=1 December 1998|page=8|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=27 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127184404/http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/235042.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Dead Sea]], located on the border between the [[West Bank]], [[Israel]], and [[Jordan]], is situated at {{convert|418|meters|abbr=on}} below sea level, making it the [[Extremes on Earth|lowest point]] on the surface of the [[Earth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=deadsea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830064747/http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=deadsea|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2006|title=ASTER Image Gallery: The Dead Sea|publisher=NASA}}</ref>

[[Rub' al Khali]], one of the world's largest sand deserts, spans the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula in Saudi Arabia, parts of Oman, the [[United Arab Emirates]] and Yemen. [[Jebel Akhdar (Oman)|Jebel al Akhdar]] is a small range of mountains located in northeastern Oman, bordering the [[Gulf of Oman]].

== Economy ==
{{See also|Economy of the Middle East}}

The [[economy]] of West Asia is diverse and the region experiences high economic growth. Turkey has the largest economy in the region, followed by [[Saudi Arabia]] and Iran. [[Petroleum]] is the major [[Petroleum industry|industry]] in the regional economy, as more than half of the world's [[oil reserves]] and around 40 percent of the world's [[natural gas]] [[List of countries by natural gas proven reserves|reserves]] are located in the region.

== Demographics ==
{{Further|Demographics of the Middle East}}
{{See also|Ethnic groups in the Middle East}}
The population of West Asia was estimated at 272 million as of 2008, projected to reach 370 million by 2030 by Maddison (2007; the estimate excludes the Caucasus and Cyprus).
This corresponds to an annual growth rate of 1.4% (or a [[doubling time]] of 50 years), well above the [[world population estimates|world average]] of 0.9% (doubling time 75 years).
The population of West Asia is estimated at 4% of [[world population]], up from about 39 million at the beginning of the 20th century, or about 2% of world population at the time.<ref>Data for "15 West Asian countries", from Maddison (2003, 2007).Angus Maddison, 2003, ''[[iarchive:worldeconomyhist0000madd|The World Economy: Historical Statistics]]'', Vol. 2, OECD, Paris, {{ISBN|92-64-10412-7}}. ''Statistical Appendix'' (2007, ggdc.net) "The historical data were originally developed in three books: Monitoring the World Economy 1820–1992, OECD, Paris 1995; The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective, OECD Development Centre, Paris 2001; The World Economy: Historical Statistics, OECD Development Centre, Paris 2003. All these contain detailed source notes."
Estimates for 2008 by country (in millions):
Turkey (71.9),
Iran (70.2),
Iraq (28.2),
Saudi Arabia (28.1),
Yemen (23.0),
Syria (19.7),
Israel (6.5),
Jordan (6.2),
Palestine (4.1),
Lebanon (4.0),
Oman (3.3),
United Arab Emirates (2.7),
Kuwait (2.6),
Qatar (0.9),
Bahrain (0.7).
</ref>

The most populous countries in the region are [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]], each with around 79 million people, followed by [[Iraq]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] with around 33 million people each, and [[Yemen]] with around 29 million people.

Numerically, West Asia is predominantly [[Arabs|Arab]], [[Persians|Persian]], [[Turkish people|Turkish]], and the dominating languages are correspondingly [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Turkish language|Turkish]], each with of the order of 70 million speakers, followed by smaller communities of [[Kurdish Language|Kurdish]], [[Azerbaijani Language|Azerbaijani]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Armenian Language|Armenian]] and [[Neo-Aramaic]]. The dominance of Arabic and Turkish is the result of the medieval [[Early Muslim conquests|Arab]] and [[Turkic expansion|Turkic]] invasions beginning with the Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD, which displaced the formerly dominant [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] in the [[Syria (region)|region of Syria]], and [[Greek language|Greek]] in Anatolia, although [[Hebrew]] became the dominant language in [[Israel]] in the second half of the 20th century, and [[Neo-Aramaic]] (spoken by modern [[Modern Arameans|Arameans]] and [[Modern Assyrians|Assyrians]]) and [[Greek language|Greek]] both remain present in their respective territories as minority languages.

Significant native minorities include, in alphabetical order: [[Modern Arameans|Arameans]], [[Modern Assyrians|Assyrians]],{{sfn|Laing-Marshall|2005|p=149–150}} [[Druze]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Patterns: Places, People, and Politics| first=Colbert|last= C. Held|year= 2008| isbn= 9780429962004| page =109|publisher=Routledge|quote= Worldwide, they number 1 million or so, with about 45 to 50 percent in Syria, 35 to 40 percent in Lebanon, and less than 10 percent in Israel. Recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.}}</ref> [[Jews]], [[Lurs]], [[Mandeans]], [[Maronites]], [[Shabaks]] and [[Yezidis]].

=== Religion ===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in West Asia (2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010–2050|website=www.pewforum.org|date=2 April 2015|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221014350/https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Islam]]
| value1 = 92.59
| color1 = Green
| label2 = [[Christianity]]
| value2 = 3.87
| color2 = DodgerBlue
| label3 = [[Judaism]]
| value3 = 2.02
| color3 = DarkBlue
| label4 = [[Irreligion|No religion]]
| value4 = 1.16
| color4 = Grey
| label5 = [[Hinduism]]
| value5 = 0.32
| color5 = Darkorange
| label6 = Other religions
| value6 = 0.25
| color6 = Chartreuse
| label7 = [[Buddhism]]
| value7 = 0.15
| color7 = Gold
| label8 = [[Folk religion]]s
| value8 = 0.06
| color8 = Red
}}
Four [[major religious groups]] (i.e. the two largest religions in the world: [[Christianity and Islam]], plus [[Judaism]] and [[Druze faith]]) originated in West Asia.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Middle East (region, Asia)|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/381192/Middle-East|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=9 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=An Introduction to Middle East Politics: Continuity, Change, Conflict and Co-operation|first=Benjamin |last=MacQueen|year= 2013| isbn=9781446289761| page =5|publisher=SAGE|quote=The Middle East is the cradle of the three monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Modern World: Civilizations of Africa, Civilizations of Europe, Civilizations of the Americas, Civilizations of the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Civilizations of Asia and the Pacific| first=Sarolta |last=Takacs|year= 2015| isbn= 9781317455721| page =552|publisher=Routledge|quote=}}</ref> [[Islam]] is the largest religion in West Asia, but other faiths that originated there, such as [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]],<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Christianity in the Middle East|first=Philip |last=Jenkins|year= 2020| isbn=9781538124185| page =XLVIII|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|quote=The Middle East still stands at the heart of the Christian world. After all, it is the birthplace, and the death place, of Christ, and the cradle of the Christian tradition.}}</ref> are also well represented.

In [[Christianity in Armenia|Armenia]] and [[Christianity in Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] respectively are the predominant religions.<ref name="Global Christianity" /> Eastern Orthodoxy is also the majority religion in [[Cyprus]]. There are still large ancient communities of [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christians]] (such as [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]], [[Christianity in the Middle East|Middle Eastern Christians]] and [[Arab Christians]]) in [[Christianity in Lebanon|Lebanon]],<ref name="Global Christianity">{{cite web|url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf|title=Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> [[Christianity in Iraq|Iraq]],<ref name="Global Christianity" /> [[Christianity in Iran|Iran]],<ref name="Farsinet">{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Massoume|date=December 2002|title=History of Christians and Christianity in Iran|url=http://www.farsinet.com/iranbibl/christians_in_iran_history.html|access-date=1 December 2009|work=Christianity in Iran|publisher=FarsiNet Inc.}}</ref> [[Turkey]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Christianity in Turkey|url=http://www.allaboutturkey.com/hristiyan.htm|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Global Christianity" /> [[Christianity in Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]], [[Syria]],<ref name="Global Christianity" /> [[Christianity in Jordan|Jordan]],<ref name="Global Christianity" /> [[Christianity in Israel|Israel]] and [[Palestinian Christians|Palestine]] numbering more than 3 million in West Asia.<ref name="Global Christianity" /> There are also large populations of expatriate workers which include sizeable Christian communities living in the [[Arabian Peninsula]] numbering more than 3 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC News – Guide: Christians in the Middle East|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-15239529|access-date=13 March 2015|work=BBC News|date=11 October 2011 }}</ref> [[Christianity in the Middle East|Christian communities]] have [[Role of Christianity in civilization|played a vital role]] in West Asia.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jews, Antisemitism, and the Middle East|first=Michael |last=Curtis|year= 2017| isbn=9781351510721| page =173|publisher=Routledge|quote=}}</ref>

[[Judaism]] is the predominant religion in [[Israel]], and there are small ancient Jewish communities in West Asia such as in [[History of the Jews in Turkey|Turkey]] (14,300),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpr.org.uk/countries/how-many-jews-in-turkey |title= How many Jews live in Turkey?|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 10 May 2022|website= |publisher= Institute for Jewish Policy Research|access-date= 14 November 2023|quote=}}
</ref> [[History of the Jews in Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]] (9,100),<ref name="mashke2">{{cite web |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009 |publisher=Pop-stat.mashke.org |date=7 April 1971 |access-date=22 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207161726/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012}}</ref> and [[Persian Jews#Iran|Iran]] (8,756).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/#ixzz3Ac6duaqw |title=Jewish woman brutally murdered in Iran over property dispute |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=16 August 2014 |quote=A government census published earlier this year indicated there were a mere 8,756 Jews left in Iran |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102713/http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/#ixzz3Ac6duaqw |archive-date=19 August 2014}} See</ref>

The [[Druze]] Faith or Druzism originated in West Asia. It is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of figures like [[Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad]] and [[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]] and Greek [[philosophy|philosophers]] such as [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]]. The number of [[Druze]] people worldwide is around one million, with about 45% to 50% living in [[Syria]], 35% to 40% living in [[Lebanon]], and less than 10% living in [[Israel]]; recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Patterns: Places, People, and Politics| first=Colbert|last=C. Held|year= 2008| isbn= 9780429962004| page =109|publisher=Routledge|quote= Worldwide, they number 1 million or so, with about 45 to 50 percent in Syria, 35 to 40 percent in Lebanon, and less than 10 percent in Israel. Recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.}}</ref>

There are also important minority religions like the [[Baháʼí Faith]], [[Yarsanism]], [[Yazidis]]m,<ref name="Fuccaro" >{{cite book |first1=Nelida |last1=Fuccaro |title=The Other Kurds: Yazidis in Colonial Iraq |date=1999 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |location=London & New York |isbn=1860641709 |page=9}}</ref> [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Mandaeism]], and [[Shabak people#Religious beliefs|Shabakism]].

<div align="center"><gallery widths="150" caption="Religions in West Asia">
File:Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg|Pilgrims in the annual [[Hajj]] at the [[Kaaba]] in [[Mecca]].
File:Էջմիածնի Մայր Տաճար.jpg|[[Etchmiadzin Cathedral]], first cathedral in the world, the mother church of all [[Armenians]]
File:Qozhaya01072003.jpg|Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya in [[Lebanon]].
File:Saint Elijah Maronite Cathedral, Aleppo (4).jpg|[[Cathedral of Saint Elijah, Aleppo]].
File:Western Wall, Jerusalem, (16037897867).jpg|[[Jews]] praying at the [[Western Wall]].
Image:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Nebi Shueib Festival.jpg|[[Israeli Druze|Druze]] dignitaries celebrating the [[Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu'ayb]] festival at the tomb of the prophet in [[Hittin]]
File:Pilgrims and festival at Lalish on the day of the Yezidi New Year in 2017 06 (cropped).jpg|[[Yazidi]] pilgrims celebrating the Yazidi new year festival at the ancient holy temple of [[Lalish]], [[Iraq]]
</gallery>
</div>

== Culture ==
=== Sports ===
* The [[West Asian Tennis Federation]] regulates the championships and leagues in the region.
* The [[West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation]] regulates the championships related to billiards and snooker, amongst which an annual tournament.
* The [[West Asian Games]] have been held in 1997, 2002 and 2005.
* The [[West Asian Football Federation]] was founded in 2001 and is one of the regional federations of the [[Asian Football Federation]]. They organize the [[WAFF Championship]].
* The [[West Asia Basketball Association]] organizes the [[WABA Championship]] since 1999.

== See also ==
{{columns-list|
<!-- {{main|Outline of West Asia|Index of West Asia-related articles}} -->
* [[Middle East]]
* [[Cinema of West Asia]]
* [[List of World Heritage Sites in Western Asia]]
* [[West Asian Games]]
* [[WABA Champions Cup|West Asian Basketball League]]
* [[West Asia Basketball Association]]
* [[West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation]]
* [[West Asian Tennis Federation]]
* [[West Asian Football Federation]]
}}
{{Portalbar|Geography<!-- |Eurasia -->|Asia<!-- |West Asia -->}}

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{Reflist|group=note}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{Cite book|last=Laing-Marshall|first=Andrea|chapter=Assyrians|title=Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities|year=2005|volume=1|location=New York-London|publisher=Routledge|pages=149–150|isbn=978-1-135-19388-1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXYKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA149}}

== Further reading ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Western Asia}}

{{Middle East}}
{{Asia topics}}
{{Regions of Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Asia| ]]
[[Category:Regions of Asia]]
[[Category:Geography of West Asia| ]]