Asia is the largest continent in terms of size on the planet. It is also the most populous with over 4 billion residents. Because the area of Asia is so great, the political and physical climate differ vastly across this region. Asian financial hubs dominate Global Financial Centers Index with Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, and Tokyo all in the top 10 in the world. China accounts for a majority of the gross domestic product in Asia and controls a large number of bulk carriers, offshore vessels, and general cargo ships.
