Far East

The term Far East means countries of East Asia, North Asia and Southeast Asia. It became used in the English language during the period of the British Empire for lands to the east of British India.

Before World War I, the Near East meant relatively nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire, Middle East northwestern South Asia and Central Asia, and Far East countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean. Many European languages have analogous terms, such as the French Extrême-Orient, Spanish Extremo Oriente, Portuguese Extremo Oriente, German Ferner Osten, Italian Estremo oriente, and Dutch Verre Oosten.

Far East is never used for the culturally Western nations of Australia and New Zealand, which lie even farther to the east of Europe than much of East Asia.

Territories and regions

Name of region and territory, with flag	Area (km²)	Population (1 July 2002 est.)	Population density (per km²)	Capital
Brunei	5,770	350,898	60.8	Bandar Seri Begawan
Cambodia	181,040	12,775,324	70.6	Phnom Penh
China	9,584,492	1,384,303,705	134.0	Beijing
Hong Kong (China)	1,092	7,303,334	6,688.0	—
Indonesia	1,419,588	227,026,560	159.9	Jakarta
Japan	377,835	126,974,628	336.1	Tokyo
Laos	236,800	5,777,180	24.4	Vientiane
Macau (China)	25	461,833	18,473.3	—
Malaysia	329,750	22,662,365	68.7	Kuala Lumpur
Mongolia	1,565,000	2,694,432	1.7	Ulaanbaatar
Myanmar (Burma)	678,500	42,238,224	62.3	Naypyidaw
North Korea	120,540	22,224,195	184.4	Pyongyang
Philippines	300,000	84,525,639	281.8	Manila
Russia	13,115,200	39,129,729	3.0	Moscow
Singapore	704	4,483,900	6,369.0	Singapore
South Korea	98,480	48,324,000	490.7	Seoul
Thailand	514,000	62,354,402	121.3	Bangkok
Timor-Leste (East Timor)	15,007	952,618	63.5	Dili
Taiwan	35,980	22,548,009	626.7	Taipei
Vietnam	329,560	81,098,416	246.1	Hanoi

Gallery

Related pages

References

↑ "AskOxford: Far East". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
↑ Continental regions as per UN categorisations (map), except 12. Depending on definitions, various territories cited below (notes 6, 11-13, 15, 17-19, 21-23) may be in one or both of Asia and Europe, Africa, or Oceania.
↑ The current state is formally known as the People's Republic of China (PRC), which is subsumed by the eponymous entity and civilisation (China). Figures given are for mainland China only, and do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
↑ Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the PRC.
↑ Indonesia is often considered a transcontinental country in Southeastern Asia and Oceania; figures do not include Irian Jaya and Maluku Islands, frequently reckoned in Oceania (Melanesia/Australasia).
↑ Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the PRC.
↑ The administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved from Yangon (Rangoon) to a militarised greenfield just west of Pyinmana on 6 November 2005.
↑ Russia is generally considered a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe (UN region) and Northern Asia; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
↑ Timor-Leste is often considered a transcontinental country in Southeastern Asia and Oceania.
↑ Figures are for the area under the de facto control of the Republic of China (ROC) government, frequently referred to as Taiwan. Claimed in whole by the PRC; see political status of Taiwan.

[1] "AskOxford: Far East". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-01-06.

[2] Continental regions as per UN categorisations (map), except 12. Depending on definitions, various territories cited below (notes 6, 11-13, 15, 17-19, 21-23) may be in one or both of Asia and Europe, Africa, or Oceania.

[3] The current state is formally known as the People's Republic of China (PRC), which is subsumed by the eponymous entity and civilisation (China). Figures given are for mainland China only, and do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

[4] Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the PRC.

[5] Indonesia is often considered a transcontinental country in Southeastern Asia and Oceania; figures do not include Irian Jaya and Maluku Islands, frequently reckoned in Oceania (Melanesia/Australasia).

[6] Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the PRC.

[7] The administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved from Yangon (Rangoon) to a militarised greenfield just west of Pyinmana on 6 November 2005.

[8] Russia is generally considered a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe (UN region) and Northern Asia; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.

[9] Timor-Leste is often considered a transcontinental country in Southeastern Asia and Oceania.

[10] Figures are for the area under the de facto control of the Republic of China (ROC) government, frequently referred to as Taiwan. Claimed in whole by the PRC; see political status of Taiwan.