Asia is the largest and most populous continent in the world. Its current population of around 4.3 billion accounts for close to 60 percent of the world's total. It is also an extremely diverse continent with people living in hugely varied natural environments. Many Asian countries have their own distinctive histories, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and radically different political systems, and they have pursued markedly different routes to development. For these reasons Asian populations represent a striking array of demographic characteristics and stages of demographic...