OBJECTIVES: To determine the epidemiologic and economic burdens of tuberculosis(TB)in Asia.  METHODS: A systematically review of primary studies in Asia was conducted. We searched MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, Science Direct, CNKI from January 1, 2000 to July 15, 2012; and websites of relevant countries and international organizations.  RESULTS: TB prevalence, incidence and mortality in the region have declined since 1990 and status relate to the economy of the country. In 2010, there were 8.8 million incident cases of TB (128/100000 population). Most of the cases occurred in Asia (59%) and Africa (26%). India and China accounted for 40% of new and relapse TB cases. In 2006, TB caused India to lose a 23.7 billion US$. The mean direct cost was US$34.9 and mean indirect cost was $526.9. The total cost per patient was $562.7. In China, low income patients paid $149 to $724 for medical costs for a treatment course (42% to 119% of annual household income). In Philippines, the economic losses totaled PhP8 billion (US$145 million) and costs of treating all cases requires PhP475–1625 million (US$8–29 million) annually. In Cambodia, TB is the second largest cause of mortality. Monthly household costs were US$124/ patients ($135 for TB-HIV patients and $260 for resistant-TB patients); the average monthly income in Cambodia is $168. In Tajikistan, Patients and their households faced mean expenditures of US$ 396; (median US$ 282) related to a TB episode. CONCLUSIONS: Although most countries in Asia have done many efforts on TB control, the absolute number of patient is large that more efforts need to take to achieve the goal of 50% reduction in 2015 from 1990 set by WHO. More researches are recommended to study the economic burden in specific countries.