Festivities ranged from the release of thousands of silver balloons in Toyko in Japan, to the first countdown of a western new year in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of people gathered along Victoria Harbour to watch fireworks explode from the roofs of the city's most prominent buildings.

And in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, fireworks formed the shape of a dragon spiralling up the tallest skyscraper.

In Sydney, crowds watched what is hailed as the world's biggest New Year's Eve fireworks display.

Earlier, thousands of revellers took to the streets in New Zealand - the first major country to see in 2011.

Meanwhile, party-goers in Europe are gearing up for firework displays and other events planned across the continent.

A musical and fireworks are planned at the UK's London Eye big wheel - which is marking its 10th anniversary.

Crowds have also gathered in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square to take part in "Las Uvas" (The Grapes), a tradition in which people eat a grape for each of the 12 chimes of midnight.

And in the US, up to a million people are expected in New York to see the famous Times Square Ball drop at midnight.

The municipal authorities and warmer weather have combined to clear the streets following the snowstorm which blanketed the city this week.

The tiny Pacific nation of Kiribati was the first to welcome in the New Year at 10:00 GMT.