Countries of South AsiaCountries of South AsiaCountries of South AsiaCountries of South Asia

Bangladesh • Mostly a river plain. Prone to flooding.• A parliamentary democracy• Population: 151 million people• Languages: Bangla (Bengali) and English• Formerly known as East Pakistan.

Independent since 1971.• Primarily Muslim

• Per capital GDP: $2300

• 45% live below poverty line.

• Agriculture &Textiles are main industries.

• Growing rice most important agricultural activity.

• ONE OF THE WORLD’S POOREST AND LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

• Less than ½ million internet users

Pakistan• A federal republic• Population: 165 million people• Languages: Urdu and English,

however 48% speak Punjabi• Formerly known as West Pakistan.

Independent since 1947.• Primarily Muslim

• Per capita GDP: $2600

• 24% live below the poverty line.

• Agriculture & textiles are main industries.

• 12 million Internet users

Nepal• A parliamentary democracy • Population: 29 million people• Languages: Primarily Nepali• Primarily Hindu with

approximately 10%

Buddhist• Per capita GDP: $1,500• 31% live below poverty line• Tourism is a significant industry.• Only 250,000 Internet users

India• A federal republic • Population: 1.130 billion people• 30% Urbanized• 15 official languages. English and Hindi most

common. • Primarily Hindu

• GDP per capita: $3,800• 25% live below poverty line• A mix of traditional village farming and modern

agriculture• Clothing and handicrafts

are major industries• 60 million Internet users

• India has a fast developing high tech industry centered in the city of Bangalore.

• Many U.S. jobs have moved to India because of lower wages.

• India is struggling to develop the modern infrastructureneeded by the technology industry.

SRI LANKA• Republic • Population: 21 million

people• Languages: Sinhala and

Tamil • Primarily Buddhist (70%)

• GDP per capita: $4,700• 22% below poverty line• Rubber, tea and coconuts

are majors agricultural products.

• 428,000 Internet users

DIVISION:• SOUTH (80% of Population)

• ARYAN• BUDDHISTS• SPEAK SINHALA

• NORTH (18% of Population)• DRAVIDIAN• HINDU• TAMIL LANGUAGE

Bhutan• Absolute monarchy;

constitutional monarchy expected in 2008• Population: 2.3 million people• Official language: Dzongkha (pronounced “zonka”) • Primarily Buddhist (75%)• GDP per capita: $1,400• 32% live below poverty line• Agriculture, cement, wood products

& electricity are major industries• 30,000 Internet users

The Maldives•Population - 350,000 

•GDP Per capita - $4,603

•Languages – Dhivehi

•Primarily Muslim

•Encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islands

Major Issue: KASHMIR• INDEPENDENCE & PARTITION

– JAMMU & KASHMIR faced with the choice of joining either Hindu India or Muslim Pakistan.

– KASHMIR – Hindu Maharaja but Muslim population.

• 1947 – Pakistani tribesmen invade• Maharaja flees to Delhi and Indian

troops move in. • Fighting continues today although

there is an official cease-fire.