SOUTH ASIA’S SOUTH ASIA’S POPULATION PATTERNSPOPULATION PATTERNS

1.3 Billion live here (1/5) world’s 1.3 Billion live here (1/5) world’s pop.pop.Speak hundreds of languages & Speak hundreds of languages & practice several major religionspractice several major religions

INDIANSINDIANS Descendents ofDescendents of::

Dravidians Dravidians who who lived in area for lived in area for 8,000 years8,000 years

AryansAryans Indians will Indians will

identify identify themselves by themselves by religionsreligionsExamples: Examples:

Hindus, Muslims, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Sikhs, Jains and ChristiansChristians

Pakistan and BangladeshPakistan and Bangladesh

Most people Most people practice Islampractice Islam

Pakistani’s belong Pakistani’s belong to one of five major to one of five major ethnic grps.ethnic grps.

Bangladesh are Bangladesh are BengaliBengali

Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese TamilsSri Lanka’s Sinhalese Tamils

Buddhist SinhaleseBuddhist Sinhalese are the majority and are the majority and form the gov’tform the gov’t

VersusVersus Hindu TamilsHindu Tamils have been fighting for an have been fighting for an

independent state in N. Sri Lanka since the independent state in N. Sri Lanka since the 1980s.1980s. Fighting ended in 2009Fighting ended in 2009

Conflict has resulted in 1000s of Conflict has resulted in 1000s of deaths & disrupted the economydeaths & disrupted the economy

Bhutan & NepalBhutan & NepalDescendents from the MongoliansDescendents from the Mongolians Include Tibetan people and various ethnic groupsInclude Tibetan people and various ethnic groupsNepal once a federation of tiny kingdomsNepal once a federation of tiny kingdomsNepal’s Sherpas known for their mountaineering Nepal’s Sherpas known for their mountaineering

skillsskills

Population Density and Population Density and DistributionDistribution

Density is 7 times

the world’s averagel

South Asia will double its Population by 2050

Educational and EconomicAssistance have Slowed growth

rate

780 people per square mile

South Asia’s Population Density

REGIONAL VARIATION

Most People live in agricultural

areas such as Ganges Plain or

Along coasts

Desert & MountainAreas Are

thinlypopulated

MALDIVES is the world’s most Crowded country:

2,400 people per square mile

URBAN & RURAL LIFEURBAN & RURAL LIFE

RURAL LIFE: has changed little RURAL LIFE: has changed little over 100s of yearsover 100s of years

People farm, live in villages, & People farm, live in villages, & struggle to grow enough crops to struggle to grow enough crops to feed their families.feed their families.

South Asia is also home to nomadic South Asia is also home to nomadic grps. that herd camels, goats, or grps. that herd camels, goats, or yaks for a livingyaks for a living

Growing UrbanizationGrowing Urbanization Many S. Asians have moved to cities, Many S. Asians have moved to cities,

drawn by the hope of better jobsdrawn by the hope of better jobs Overpopulation causes shortages in Overpopulation causes shortages in

housing, health care, & educational housing, health care, & educational facilities, also serious pollutionfacilities, also serious pollution

South Asia’s CitiesSouth Asia’s Cities

Cities are the world’s most densely Cities are the world’s most densely populated urban areaspopulated urban areas

Important cities include: Important cities include: Mumbai (Bombay): port w/ pop. 19 millionMumbai (Bombay): port w/ pop. 19 millionCalcutta: port city on Ganges River, center Calcutta: port city on Ganges River, center

of India’s iron & steel industries, contrast of India’s iron & steel industries, contrast of rich & poorof rich & poor

Dhaka: capital of Bangladesh, 2Dhaka: capital of Bangladesh, 2ndnd world’s world’s largest urban arealargest urban area

Delhi: India’s 3Delhi: India’s 3rdrd largest city, part of a largest city, part of a megalopolis, dates back to 1600s, rural megalopolis, dates back to 1600s, rural newcomers have become pavement newcomers have become pavement dwellers—living in settlements in jhaggi dwellers—living in settlements in jhaggi bastisbastis

Karachi: booming port city of Pakistan Karachi: booming port city of Pakistan

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

WHAT MIGHT BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT MIGHT BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SO MANY ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN AN SO MANY ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN AN OVERCROWDED REGION?OVERCROWDED REGION?

WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS TO THE WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS TO THE REGION’S PROBLEMS OF OVERCROWDINGREGION’S PROBLEMS OF OVERCROWDING

GIVEN THE DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN GIVEN THE DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN AN OVERCROWDED URBAN AREAS, WHY AN OVERCROWDED URBAN AREAS, WHY DO PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE DO PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY FOR THE CITY?COUNTRY FOR THE CITY?