How many countries are in East Asia?
There are 6 countries in East Asia: China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan. Sources that do not count Taiwan as a country say 5.
East Asia's six countries are China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan. Together they have about 1.64 billion people.
The count of six includes Taiwan, which has its own government, military and currency but is claimed by the People's Republic of China and recognised by only around a dozen countries. Sources that do not count Taiwan as a country give five. China's two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, are often listed separately in statistics, but they are not countries.
East Asian countries by population
| Country | Capital | Population | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Beijing | 1,416,096,094 | 9,596,961 |
| Japan | Tokyo | 123,103,479 | 377,975 |
| South Korea | Seoul | 51,667,029 | 100,363 |
| North Korea | Pyongyang | 26,571,036 | 120,538 |
| Taiwan | Taipei | 23,112,793 | 36,193 |
| Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar | 3,517,100 | 1,564,116 |
China accounts for about 86% of East Asia's people and most of its land. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are among the world's most advanced economies, and all three have very low birth rates and ageing populations. Mongolia has the region's second-largest land area but only about 3.5 million people. North Korea remains one of the world's most isolated states.
See the region on the East Asia map.
Population: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (2025 estimates). Area: total area including inland water, standard UN / national reference figures.
Related questions
Is Mongolia in East Asia or Central Asia?
The UN classes Mongolia as East Asian, and it borders only China and Russia. Culturally and historically it is often grouped with Inner or Central Asia as well.
Is Taiwan a country?
Taiwan governs itself and functions as a separate state, but its status is disputed: the People's Republic of China claims it, and most countries do not formally recognise it. We list it separately because it has its own government, borders and currency.