Asia contains more than 40 independent countries. The two most populated are China and India. Asia has the largest population of any of the continents on the Earth. More than half of the people in the world live in Asia. About two-thirds of the people of Asia earn a living by farming.
Rice is the major crop in many of the Asian countries.
Cotton is grown in the Middle East. Cattle, sheep, and reindeer are raised in areas that have poor soil. Oil is an important source of income for many of the middle eastern countries.