As home to more than 2 billion people, East Asia is a region full of diversity.
Culturally, the more than 1,800 ethno-linguistic people groups each have distinct traditions and customs.
Spiritually, Buddhism is the dominant religion with more than a billion followers. However, Islam prevails in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, animism is common among groups along the Mekong River and atheism is the belief of millions in Communist states (China, Laos and Vietnam).
Economically, East Asia ranges from the sophisticated, high-tech economies of Japan and South Korea to the more rural lifestyle found in places like Mongolia and Cambodia.
Geographically, the region boasts the highest mountains in the world – the Himalayans that border Tibet – while also having hot and humid tropical locales along the Pacific Rim.
Explore the vast world of East Asia in our People and Places section.
