Asia is the largest continental economy by both GDP Nominal and PPP in the world. The Asian economy, comprising 48 economies, in 2021 is projected around US$36.8 trillion in nominal terms, calculated by taking figures from the IMF. Asia accounts for 39% of the world GDP. In ppp terms, its shares go close to 47.5% with Int. $68.7 trillion. Asia is the largest continental economy since the year 2010 after overtaking Europe. Asia is ahead of 2nd ranked North America by $10 trillion in nominal terms. In ppp terms, GDP of Asia is more than double of 2nd ranked Europe.

The Eastern Asia region accounts for over two-thirds percent of the Asian economy as it hosts China and Japan, the 2nd most and 3rd largest economies in the world. Southern Asia overtook Western Asia in 2015 to become the 2nd largest subregion of Asia. 13.09% of the Asian gdp distributed in Southern Asia, 9.11% in Western Asia, 9.04% in South-Eastern Asia, and 0.89% in Central Asia.

With $3,723 billion, Asia will be the top contributor to the total global gdp increment in 2021. In ppp terms, Asia accounts for 57% of the total global increase. Eastern Asia accounts for 70% of the total increase in Asia's GDP.

As per the UN, Asia's share had increased from 15.09% in 1970 to 37.83% in 2019. In constant 2015 prices, which gives a better idea about expansion over the years, the Asian economy has expanded from $2.9 tn in 1970 to $32 tn in 2019 or 11x.

The Highest increment in Asian wealth was seen in 2010 when it has grown by $1,472 bn approx at constant 2015 prices, while the lowest increment of $86 bn was in 1974. At current prices, the maximum increment was in the year 2011 of $3.3 tn, while the biggest decline was in 1998 ($782 bn). The figure moved in the downward direction in seven years.

Grouping of continents and subregions are as per United Nations Statistics Division.

  • GDP
  • Share (%)

Asian subregions by gdp (IMF)

Subregion GDP (Nominal) (billions of $) Share (%) GDP (PPP) (billions of Int. $) Share (%)
20202021Net changeAsiaWorld 20202021Net changeAsiaWorld
Southern Asia4,881.4425,308.744427.30213.324.8219,895.52121,611.6181,716.09722.9511.11
Eastern Asia25,020.79425,467.251446.45763.8823.1446,461.14249,473.4913,012.34952.5425.43
South-Eastern Asia3,798.2453,984.594186.3499.993.6211,419.79412,227.039807.24512.996.28
Western Asia4,279.6674,591.704312.03711.524.178,912.9159,297.753384.8389.874.78
Central Asia468.520517.85849.3381.300.471,451.0351,547.55196.5161.640.80
Asia 38,448.668 39,870.151 1,421.483 36.22 88,140.407 94,157.452 6,017.045 48.39

Asian subregions by gdp (UN)

Subregion GDP (billions of $) Share (%) in Asia Share (%) in World
197020002019 197020002019197020002019
Central Asia - 41.98394.32- 0.441.04- 0.120.39
Southern Asia98.44739.824,761.9019.087.7212.532.882.194.72
Eastern Asia329.117,276.9225,047.2763.7975.9465.919.6121.5324.84
South-Eastern Asia37.75626.573,630.597.326.549.551.101.853.60
Western Asia50.63897.124,170.559.819.3610.971.482.654.14
Asia 516 9,582 38,005 15.07 28.36 37.69

Estimates by UN

Year GDP (billions of $) Share (%)
CurrentConstant (2015)
1970515.8002,897.80015.07
1971567.5203,083.43015.06
1972686.9203,329.31015.84
1973897.8903,607.47017.02
19741,090.8203,693.42018.25
19751,198.7803,800.34017.93
19761,340.4604,040.77018.56
19771,597.6804,256.26019.65
19782,018.6404,444.26020.96
19792,279.8004,679.53020.56
19802,527.3404,819.53020.42
19812,729.2805,001.86021.58
19822,642.7605,123.59021.05
19832,800.7705,339.09021.77
19842,915.2505,616.61022.03
19852,894.0605,883.65021.29
19863,605.9606,154.65023.02
19874,250.4806,528.47023.99
19885,056.2306,991.45025.51
19895,245.0107,320.89025.30
19905,575.4507,956.30024.20
19916,147.7208,306.77025.41
19926,735.8908,696.33026.03
19937,559.8009,041.00028.67
19948,126.0409,441.04028.80
19959,220.8609,968.21029.47
19968,996.07010,560.24028.15
19978,688.59011,010.05027.32
19987,906.13011,143.39025.01
19998,782.89011,542.59026.75
20009,493.27012,188.01028.09
20018,897.51012,555.25026.47
20029,117.51013,081.17026.10
200310,065.21013,785.48025.68
200411,357.05014,704.07025.73
200512,396.62015,630.88025.93
200613,435.85016,714.89025.93
200715,327.35017,973.58026.24
200817,687.08018,758.30027.59
200917,957.17019,252.62029.53
201020,965.67020,724.38031.46
201124,291.92021,940.25032.78
201225,745.69023,042.56034.02
201326,182.87024,279.48033.63
201427,056.30025,478.22033.91
201526,712.94026,712.94035.41
201627,735.63028,041.79036.17
201729,762.75029,484.32036.47
201832,112.98030,816.72037.09
201933,081.82032,010.92037.70