The largest continent in the world, both in area and population, is:

Asia is the largest continent by both area and population. It covers about 44.6 million square km, about 30 percent of the Earth's land area, and is home to about 4.8 billion people, nearly 60 percent of the world's population.

Extent of Asia:

It stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, and from the Mediterranean and Black Sea region in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.

It is separated from Europe by the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea and the Turkish straits. Europe and Asia together form the landmass of Eurasia.

Records held by Asia:

• Highest point on Earth: Mount Everest (8,849 metres), on the Nepal-China border.
• Lowest point on land: the shore of the Dead Sea (about 430 metres below sea level), between Jordan and Israel.
• Largest country: Russia (partly in Asia and partly in Europe).
• Most populous countries: India and China.
• Largest lake: the Caspian Sea, which is technically a lake.
• Deepest lake: Lake Baikal in Siberia.

Cultural importance:

• Asia was home to some of the world's earliest civilisations, such as the Mesopotamian, Indus Valley and Chinese civilisations.
• Major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, originated in Asia.

Regions of Asia:

East Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and North Asia (Siberia).

Continents by area:

Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia (Oceania).

Continents by population:

Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica (which has no permanent population).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Africa is the second largest continent in both area and population.
• ✗North America is the third largest by area.
• ✗Europe is the second smallest by area.