South Asia
26827
226179085
2008-07-17T04:57:45Z
Thegreyanomaly
348078
the ip vandal who committed the last few edits, misused the Goldstein book to push their POV. It didn't quite read like that. (I borrowed the book from the UC Berkeley lib sys; I am a Cal student)
<div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 2em; width: 20em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; font-family: lucida grande, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><!-- start of floated right section -->
<div style="border: 1px solid #ccd2d9; background: #f0f6fa; text-align: left; padding: 0.5em 1em; text-align: center;"><!-- start of slate grey box
-->
<big>'''South Asia'''</big>
<div align=center>
</div>[[Image:south asia.jpg|200px|Map of South Asia]]
{| style="background: transparent; text-align: left; table-layout: auto; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; font-size: 100%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Countries
| style="border-top: 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 7 to 10 (''[[South_Asia#Definitions_and_usage|see page]]'')
|-
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Territories
| style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 1 or 2 (''[[South_Asia#Definitions_and_usage|see page]]'')
|-
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | GDP
| style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" |
|-
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | GDP per capita
| style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" |
|-
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Languages
| style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[Assamese language|Assamese/Asomiya]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bodo language|Bodo]], [[Burmese language|Burmese]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Dari (Persian)|Dari]]<ref name="AfgCIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html#People |title= Afghanistan |date= December 13, 2007|work= [[The World Factbook]]|publisher= [[Central Intelligence Agency]]}}</ref>, [[Dhivehi language|Dhivehi]], [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[Dzongkha language|Dzongkha]], [[English language|English]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi]], [[Kannada language|Kannada]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Konkani language|Konkani]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Meitei language|Manipuri]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Oriya language|Oriya]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Santali language|Santhali]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Siraiki language|Siraiki]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]], and others
|-
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Time Zones
| style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | UTC +8:00 (Tibet) to UTC +3:30 (Iran)
|-
! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Largest Cities
| style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[Colombo]], [[Dhaka]], [[Diego Garcia]], [[Kabul]], [[Karachi]], [[Kathmandu]], [[Lhasa]], [[Malé]], [[Mumbai]], [[Tehran]], [[Thimpu]], and [[Yangon]]
|-
|}
</div><!-- end of slate grey box -->
</div><!-- end of floated right section; article starts here -->
[[Image:South Asia (ed)update.PNG|right|thumb|300px|Various definitions of South Asia.]]
[[Image:South Asia (ed).PNG|right|thumb|300px|[[United Nations geoscheme|UN Subregion]] of Southern Asia.]]
'''South Asia''', also known as '''Southern Asia''', is a [[south]]ern [[region]] of the [[Asia]]n [[continent]], which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities (see below), also includes the adjoining countries on the west and the east. It is surrounded (clockwise, from [[west]] to [[east]]) by [[Southwest Asia|Western Asia]], [[Central Asia]], [[East Asia|Eastern Asia]], and [[Southeast Asia|Southeastern Asia]].
== Definitions and usage ==
South Asia consists of the following countries and territories:
* {{BAN}}
* {{IOT}}
* {{BHU}}<ref name="BhuCIA">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html CIA - The World Factbook<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="WorldBank">South Asia: Data, Projects, and Research [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,menuPK:158937~pagePK:158889~piPK:146815~theSitePK:223547,00.html]</ref><ref name="USGS">MAPS SHOWING GEOLOGY, OIL AND GAS FIELDS AND GEOLOGICAL PROVINCES OF SOUTH ASIA [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-470/OF97-470C/asiaGmap.html] Includes Afghanistan and Bhutan</ref>
* {{IND}}
* {{MDV}}
* {{NEP}}
* {{PAK}}
* {{SRI}}
These countries, except the British Indian Ocean Territory, are also currently members of a regional co-operation group, the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]] (SAARC), which was jointly formed by them.
For assumed geographic, cultural, and/or historical reasons{{Fact|date=February 2008}}, the following countries and territories are often included in South Asia:
* {{AFG}}<ref name="AfgCIA">CIA world factbook, [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html#Geo Afghanistan - Geography (Location: Southern Asia)]</ref><ref name="Berkeley">Center for South Asia Studies: University of California, Berkeley [http://www.ias.berkeley.edu/southasia/aboutus.html]</ref><ref name="Madison">Center for South Asia Outreach UW-Madison [http://www.southasiaoutreach.wisc.edu/countries.htm]</ref><ref name="UPenn">Department of South Asia Studies: University of Pennsylvania [http://www.southasia.upenn.edu/home/views/languages.html]</ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2008}}<ref name="WorldBank">South Asia: Data, Projects, and Research [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,menuPK:158937~pagePK:158889~piPK:146815~theSitePK:223547,00.html]</ref><ref name="USGS">MAPS SHOWING GEOLOGY, OIL AND GAS FIELDS AND GEOLOGICAL PROVINCES OF SOUTH ASIA [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-470/OF97-470C/asiaGmap.html] Includes Afghanistan and Bhutan</ref><ref name="statedept">Afghanistan-Tajikistan Bridge Links Central, South Asia [http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=August&x=20070829160347saikceinawz0.2609064] Refers to Afghanistan as South Asian and Tajikistan as Central Asian</ref><ref name="uw">University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies: The South Asia Center http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/catalog/soasia-b.html</ref><ref name="syra">Syracruse University: The South Asia Center http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/moynihan/programs/sac/</ref><ref name="umich">[http://www.ii.umich.edu/csas/aboutus/contactus Center for South Asian Studies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="brandeis">http://www.brandeis.edu/registrar/catalog/one-subject.php?subject_id=6550 this sources admits in certain contexts that Tibet and Afghanistan are South Asian</ref><ref name="britac">http://www.britac.ac.uk/institutes/SSAS/about.htm Tibetan and Afghan flag shown</ref><ref name="oscar">[http://oscar.virginia.edu/asp/orgView.asp?txtId=26 Organization - Center for South Asian Studies - Oscar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="hawaii">[http://www.hawaii.edu/asiaref/sasia/sawebsites.htm University of Hawaii at Manoa | South Asia Collection<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="rutgers">[http://southasia.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers, SAS South Asian Studies: - Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>(Otherwise considered Central Asian or Middle-Eastern<ref name="AfgAlte">[http://web.utah.edu/meca/2007Conf/2007%20MECA-%20Final%20Program.pdf ''The 2007 Middle East & Central Asia Politics, Economics,and Society Conference'' University of Utah] [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2006/eng/01/mreo0506.pdf "Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East & Central Asia" May 2006, International Monetary Fund] [http://menic.utexas.edu/Countries_and_Regions/Afghanistan/ Middle East Network Information Center (MENIC), University of Texas at Austin] [http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_afghanistan.html ''Afghanistan Profile''], National Geographic (accessed [[20 January]] [[2006]]) [http://www.mideasti.org/country/afghanistan ''Afghanistan''], Middle East Institute (accessed [[20 January]] 2006)</ref>) (Now a member of [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]])
* {{MYA}}, (Prior to August 1947, for nearly a century, it was part of the [[British Raj]] region of South Asia proper.) (Otherwise considered [[Southeast Asia]]n{{Fact|date=February 2008}})
* [[Tibet]]<ref name="Berkeley">Center for South Asia Studies: University of California, Berkeley [http://www.ias.berkeley.edu/southasia/aboutus.html]</ref><ref name="Madison">Center for South Asia Outreach UW-Madison [http://www.southasiaoutreach.wisc.edu/countries.htm]</ref><ref name="umich">[http://www.ii.umich.edu/csas/aboutus/contactus Center for South Asian Studies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="brandeis">http://www.brandeis.edu/registrar/catalog/one-subject.php?subject_id=6550 this sources admits in certain contexts that Tibet and Afghanistan are South Asian</ref><ref name="britac">http://www.britac.ac.uk/institutes/SSAS/about.htm Tibetan and Afghan flag shown</ref><ref name="oscar">[http://oscar.virginia.edu/asp/orgView.asp?txtId=26 Organization - Center for South Asian Studies - Oscar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="hawaii">[http://www.hawaii.edu/asiaref/sasia/sawebsites.htm University of Hawaii at Manoa | South Asia Collection<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="rutgers">[http://southasia.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers, SAS South Asian Studies: - Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="emory">[http://www.asianstudies.emory.edu/sa/languages.htm South Asian Studies at Emory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (Otherwise considered Central Asian<ref name="Britannica">[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9117343/Tibet Tibet - Britannica Online Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) (The [[People's Republic of China]], which governs Tibet, is an observer member of [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]])
The [[United Nations]] also includes Iran, but not Tibet or Burma, as part of ''Southern Asia'':<ref>[http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings], United Nations website</ref>
* {{IRN}} (Iran is an observer nation in [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]]) (Otherwise considered [[Southwest Asia]])
Geophysically, the term ''[[Indian subcontinent]]'' is used to describe those regions which lie on the [[Indian Plate]], bordered on the north by the [[Eurasian Plate]]. However, a good proportion of the [[Pakistan]]i land mass is not on the Indian plate, but on the fringes of the [[Iranian plateau]]. As in the case of the [[Hindukush]] mountains, everything to the south-east of the Iranian Plateau is considered South Asia. But, geopolitically, ''Southern Asia'' subsumes the Indian subcontinent and includes both, the territories found internal to the Indian Plate and those in proximity to it. [[Afghanistan]], for instance, is sometimes grouped in this region due to socio-political, historical, and ethnic (Pashtun) ties to neighbouring Pakistan.
=== Differences in definitions ===
The definition of South Asia can vary greatly from person to person. Most sources accept Bangladesh, Bhutan, the [[Chagos]] Islands, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as South Asian. Most of the controversy originates over Afghanistan, Iran, and Tibet. Afghanistan and Tibet are often considered South Asian by the Departments of South Asian Studies of several universities, especially those referred to above; but this definition is by no means universal. Another controversy grows over Iran, for Iran is considered South Asian by the UN on the one hand, but none of those departments above on the other. The [[G8]]'s definition of the Greater Middle East further obfuscates matters by including both Pakistan and Afghanistan. See: [[Middle East]] and [[Greater Middle East]]. Controversial race researcher [[Richard Lynn]] has defined Southern Asia as "from Bangladesh in the east through India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, the [[Gulf states]], the near East, and Turkey".<ref>Race Differences in Intelligence by [[Richard Lynn]] pg 79, 2006</ref>
== Geography ==
[[Image:Natural vegetation South Asia.png|thumb|400px|right|Natural vegetation zones in UN Subregion of Southern Asia:{{crlf}}{{crlf}}
{| cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background:#F9F9F9; font-size:100%; width:100%; %border:1px #000000;"
|-
| {{legend|#808000|[[Tropical Rainforest]]}} || {{legend|#0066ff|[[Tundra]]}}
|-
| {{legend|#ffff00|[[Desert]]}} || {{legend|#b3ff80|[[Semi-desert]]}}
|-
| {{legend|#999999|[[Tropical]] Grassland and [[savanna]]}}
|-
|
|-
|
|
|}]]
=== Boundaries ===
The boundaries of South Asia vary based on how South Asia is defined. South Asia's north, east, and west boundaries vary based on definitions used. South Asia's southern border is the [[Indian Ocean]]. The UN subregion of Southern Asia's northern boundary would be the [[Himalayas]], its western boundary would be made up of the Iraq-Iran border, Turkey-Iran border, Georgia-Iran border, and the Azerbaijan-Iran border. Its eastern boundary would be the India-Myanmar border and the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
=== Climate ===
Mostly hot summers and rain, some parts are snowy and cold.
=== Environment ===
== Economy ==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=July 2008}}
The South Asian economy is characterised by chronic poverty, and inequality of wealth. While some elites in South Asia are incredibly rich and wealthy, more than 40 percent of their populations live below the Poverty Line, that is, just managing to survive, without the basic amenities of life. Corruption at all levels is highest among South Asian countries. While [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Sri Lanka]] are emerging economies, [[Nepal]], [[Myanmar]] and [[Iran]] are stagnating economies, marked by high inflation as a result of international isolation. Almost all South Asian countries were under direct or indirect Colonial subjugation at some point. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar were colonies of [[Great Britain]] from 1757 to 1947, almost 200 years. Iran was under direct American control from 1945 to 1979, and Nepal was a protectorate and sub-colony of [[Great Britain]] from 1840 to 1950. [[Tibet]] too was under the [[British Empire]]'s [[sphere of influence]] until the People's Republic of China invaded, divided, and annexed it.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}
== History ==
{{see|History of South Asia}}
The peoples of the region possess several distinguishing features that set them apart network of means of transportation and communication as well as banking and training of requisite workforce; the existing rail, post, telegraph, bank and education facilities have evolved out of the base established in the colonial era, often called the [[British Raj]]. Most of the region gained independence from Europe by the late [[1940s]].
Since [[1947]], most South Asian countries have achieved tremendous progress in all spheres. Most notable achievements are in the fields of education; industry; health care; information technology and services based on its applications; research in the fields of cutting edge sciences and technologies; defence related self-reliance projects; international/global trade and business enterprises and outsourcing of human resources. Areas of difficulty remain, however, including religious extremism, high levels of corruption, disagreements on political boundaries, and inequitable distribution of wealth.
== Ethnic groups==
{{main|Ethnic groups of South Asia}}
[[Image:South asia local lang.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Map of South Asia in [[native language]]s.]]
South Asia, which consists of the nations of [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[India]], [[Maldives]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Sri Lanka]], is [[Ethnic group|ethnically]] diverse, with more than 2,000 ethnic entities with populations ranging from hundreds of millions to small tribal groups. South Asia has been invaded and settled by many ethnic groups over the centuries including various [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]], [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] groups. The amalgamation of Dravidian, Indo-Aryan and local tribal cultures over the centuries created common culture, traditions and beliefs. The [[Vedic Sanskrit]] language and [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] combined Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and local tribal beliefs to give rise to the ancient South Asian religions of [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] and also [[Sikhism]], even though [[Sufi]] tradition of Islam had also significantly influenced nascent Sikhism and its holiest scripture. As a consequence, they share many similar cultural practices, festivals, and traditions. Throughout time, the traditions of different ethnic groups in South Asia have diverged, sometimes giving rise to strong local traditions, such as [[South India]]n culture in earlier times. Other ethnic groups, successively streaming in later mainly from Central Asia and Iran, e.g. [[Sakas]], [[Kushans]], [[Huns]] etc. influenced pre-existing south Asian cultures; the last of these new arrivals - the [[Turkic peoples|Turks]] and [[Pashtun people|Pathans]] - brought in much cultural influence and the [[Abrahamic religion]] of [[Islam]] to the [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]], [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]], [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], [[Baloch people|Baloch]] and [[Kashmiri people]] in the northwestern parts of South Asia, to North India and to [[Bangladesh]]{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. However, their Turkish/Persian languages have ceased to be prominent; replaced now by [[Urdu]], a syncretic language of combined Hindi-Persian-Turkic-Arabic heritage.
===Languages===
The largest spoken language in this region is now [[Hindi]], its speakers numbering almost 300 million{{Fact|date=March 2008}}; the second largest spoken language is [[Bengali language|Bengali]], with 240 million{{Fact|date=March 2008}} speakers. [[Urdu]] is also a major language spoken in the subcontinent, especially in [[Pakistan]] and [[India]], and is similar linguistically to [[Hindi]]. Other languages of this region fall into a few major linguistic groups: the [[Dravidian languages]] and the [[Indo-Aryan languages]], a sub-branch of the [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]] branch of the [[Indo-European languages]]. Many [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]] ethnic groups, who are speakers of their language-group, are found in northeast India, Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Other small groups, speaking [[Austro-Asiatic languages]], are also present in South Asia. [[English language|English]] is another language which dominates South Asia, especially as a medium of advanced education and government administration; ethnic Englishmen and other [[British people|Britons]] are now practically absent after their two centuries long colonial presence, although they have left an imprint of western culture in the elite society.
Most of South Asia writes using various [[abugida]]s of [[Brāhmī script|Brāhmī]]c origin while languages such as Urdu, Pashto, and Sindhi use derivatives of the [[Perso-Arabic script]]. Not all languages in South Asia follow this strict dichotomy though. For example, [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] is written in both the [[Perso-Arabic script]] and in the [[Devanagari]] script. The same can be said for [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], which is written in both [[Shahmukhi script|Shahmukhi]] and [[Gurmukhī script|Gurmukhī]]. [[Dhivehi language|Dhivehi]] is written in a script called [[Tāna]] that shows characteristics of both the [[Arabic alphabet]] and of an [[abugida]].
== Religion ==
{{see|Religion in India}}
{| class="wikitable"
|{{AFG}}<ref name="AfgCIA">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html#People CIA - The World Factbook - Afghanistan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Sunni Muslim (80%), Shi'a Muslim (19%), other (1%)
|-
|{{BAN}}<ref name="BanCIA">[http://www.banbeis.gov.bd/bd_pro.htm Bangladesh : AT A GLANCE<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Muslim (89.8%), Hindu (9.2%), Buddhist (1.6%), Christian (1.3%),Believers in tribal faiths (0.1%)
|-
|{{IOT}}<ref name="IOTCIA">[http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_32_1.asp The Association of Religion Data Archives | National Profiles<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Christian (45.55%), Hindu (38.55%), Muslim (9.25%), Non-Religious (6.50%), Atheist (0.10%), Other (0.05%)
|-
|{{BHU}}<ref name="BhuCIA">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html CIA - The World Factbook<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Buddhist (75%), Hindu (25%)
|-
|{{IND}}<ref name="IndCIA">[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/presentation_on_religion.pdf]</ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2008}}
|Hindu (80.5%), Muslim (13.4%), Christian (2.3%), Sikh (1.9%), Buddhist (0.8%), Jain (0.4%), Others (0.6%)
|-
|{{IRN}}<ref name="IrnCIA">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html#People CIA - The World Factbook<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Shi'a Muslim (89%), Sunni Muslim (9%), Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i (2%)
|-
|{{MDV}}<ref name="MdvCIA">[http://www.themaldives.com/Maldives/Maldives_Religion.htm Maldives - maldives religion<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Sunni Muslim (100%) (One must be a Sunni Muslim to be a citizen on the Maldives{{Fact|date=January 2008}})
|-
|{{MYA}}<ref name="MyaCIA">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html#People CIA - The World Factbook - Burma<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Theravada Buddhism (89%), Muslim (4%), Christian (4%) (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Animist (1%), others (including Hinduism) (2%)
|-
|{{NEP}}<ref name="NepCIA">[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf NEPAL<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Hindu (80.6%), Buddhist (10.7%), Muslim (4.2%), [[Kirat (Religion)|Kirat]] (3.6%)
|-
|{{PAK}}<ref name="PakCIA">http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_religion.pdf</ref>
|Muslim (96.28%), Hindu (1.85%), Christian (1.59%), [[Ahmadi]] (0.22%)
|-
|{{SRI}}<ref name="SriCIA">[http://www.statistics.gov.lk/census2001/population/ds_div/t001b.htm]</ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2008}}
|Theravada Buddhist (70.42%), Hindu (10.89%), Muslim (8.78%), Catholic (7.77%), Other Christian (1.96%), Other (0.13%)
|-
|[[Tibet]]
|Buddhist, Bön, Hindu, Muslim, and others {{Fact|date=February 2008}}
|}
== Territory and region data ==
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="references-small" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse"
|- bgcolor="#ECECEC"
! Name of [[country]]/[[region]], with [[flag]]
! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br/>(km²)
! [[List of countries by population|Population]]
! [[List of countries by population density|Population density]]<br/>(per km²)
! [[Capital]]
! [[GDP]] (Total)
! [[GDP]] (Per capita)
! [[Currency]]
! [[Government]]
! [[Official languages]]
! [[Coat of Arms]]
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}} (''[[South_Asia#Differences in definitions|see above]]'')
| align="right" | 647,500
| align="right" | 31,889,923
| align="right" | 46
| [[Kabul]]
| $32.4 billion
| $1,490
| [[Afghan afghani]]
| [[Islamic republic]]
| [[Dari (Persian)]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]] <ref name="AfgCIA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html#People |title= Afghanistan |date= December 13, 2007|work= [[The World Factbook]]|publisher= [[Central Intelligence Agency]]}}</ref>
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Afghanistan.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| align="right" | 144,000
| align="right" | 150,448,340
| align="right" | 1045
| [[Dhaka]]
| $331.9 billion
| $2,245
| [[Taka]]
| [[Parliamentary republic]]
| [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Bangladesh.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Bhutan}}
| align="right" | 47,000
| align="right" | 672,425
| align="right" | 45
| [[Thimphu]]
| $4.39 billion
| $5,477
| [[Ngultrum]], [[Indian rupee]]
| [[Constitutional monarchy]]
| [[Dzongkha language|Dzongkha]]
| [[Image:Bhutan emblem.png|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|British Indian Ocean Territory}}
| align="right" | 60
| align="right" | 3,500
| align="right" | 58.3
| [[Diego Garcia]]
|
|
| [[Pound sterling]]
| [[British Overseas Territory]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Image:British Indian Ocean Territory coat of arms.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|India}}
| align="right" | 3,287,590
| align="right" | 1,128,808,000
| align="right" | 329
| [[New Delhi]]
| $4042.268 billion
| $3690
| [[Indian rupee]]
| [[Federal republic]], [[Parliamentary democracy]]
| [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]] and [[Official languages of India|20 other official languages]]
| [[Image:Emblem of India.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Iran}} (''[[South_Asia#Differences in definitions|see above]]'')
| align="right" | 1,648,195
| align="right" | 71,208,000
| align="right" | 42
| [[Tehran]]
| $610 billion
| $8,887
| [[Iranian rial]]
| [[Islamic republic]]
| [[Persian language|Persian]], Constitutional status for regional languages <ref>[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/ir00000_.html ICL - Iran - Constitution<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Iran.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Maldives}}
| align="right" | 298
| align="right" | 298,842
| align="right" | 1,105
| [[Malé]]
| $2.569 billion
| $7,675
| [[Rufiyaa]]
| [[Republic]]
| [[Dhivehi language|Dhivehi]]
| [[Image:Maldives National Emblem.svg|60px]]
|-
| {{flag|Myanmar}} (''[[South_Asia#Differences in definitions|see above]]'')
| align="right" | 676,578
| align="right" | 55,400,000
| align="right" | 75
| [[Yangon]]
| $93.77 billion
| $1,691
| [[Myanmar kyat]]
| [[Military Junta]]
| [[Burmese language|Burmese]]; [[Jingpho language|Jingpho]], [[Shan language|Shan]], [[Karen language|Karen]], [[Mon language|Mon]], (Spoken in Myanmar's Autonomous States.)
| [[Image:Myanmar coa.png|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Nepal}}
| align="right" | 147,181
| align="right" | 28,901,790
| align="right" | 184
| [[Kathmandu]]
| $41.18 billion
| $1,500
| [[Nepalese rupee]]
| [[Interim government]]
| [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Nepal.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Pakistan}}
| align="right" | 880,940
| align="right" | 162,423,000
| align="right" | 206
| [[Islamabad]]
| $427.3 billion
| $2577.12
| [[Pakistani rupee]]
| [[Islamic Republic]]
| [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[English language|English]], [[Balochi language|Balochi]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Siraiki language|Siraiki]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]<ref name="mothertongues">{{cite web| url=http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_mother_tongue.pdf| title=Population by Mother Tongue| publisher=Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan| accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref>
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Pakistan.svg|50px]]
|-
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
| align="right" | 65,610
| align="right" | 19,668,000
| align="right" | 310
| [[Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte]]
| $86.72 billion
| $4,600
| [[Sri Lankan rupee]]
| [[Democratic Socialist]] [[Republic]]
| [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| [[Image:Coat of arms of Sri Lanka.svg|50px]]
|-
| [[Tibet Autonomous Region]] (''[[South_Asia#Differences in definitions|see above]]'')(claimed by [[Central Tibetan Administration|Tibetan Government in Exile]], controlled by [[People's Republic of China|China]])
| align="right" | 1,228,400
| align="right" | 2,740,000
| align="right" | 2.2
| [[Lhasa]]
| CNY 29.01 billion
| CNY 10,322
| [[Renminbi|Chinese yuan]]
| [[Autonomous region of China]]
| [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]]
|
|-
|}
== See also ==
{{portal|SAARC|Logo of SAARC.svg}}
* [[History of South Asia]]
* [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]]
* [[South Asian Economic Union]]
* [[Indosphere]]
* [[Greater India]]
* [[Indology]]
* [[India (disambiguation)]]
* [[Islamic conquest of South Asia]]
* [[List of South Asian stock exchanges]]
* [[South Asian cuisine]]
=== Other subregions in Asia ===
* [[East Asia]]
* [[Southeast Asia]]
* [[Central Asia]]
* [[North Asia]]
* [[West Asia]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,pagePK:158889~piPK:146815~theSitePK:223547,00.html World Bank, South Asia Region]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/default.stm BBC News South Asia]
* [http://www.himalmag.com/ Himal Southasian magazine]
* [http://www.southasian-note.blogspot.com/ South Asian Note]
* [http://www.birding.in/ Birding in South Asia]
* [http://www.saanconf.org/ South Asian Awareness Network Conference Website]
* [http://www.gmpublications.com/ Global Media Publications Website]
* [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/ Digital South Asia Library]
{{GeoSouthAsia}}
{{Countries of South Asia}}
{{Regions of the world}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:South Asia| ]]
[[Category:Regions of Asia]]
<!--Other languages-->
[[ar:جنوب آسيا]]
[[bn:দক্ষিণ এশিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Lâm-a]]
[[be-x-old:Паўднёвая Азія]]
[[bs:Južna Azija]]
[[cv:Кăнтăр Ази]]
[[cs:Jižní Asie]]
[[da:Sydasien]]
[[de:Südasien]]
[[dv:ދެކުނު އޭޝިޔާ]]
[[et:Lõuna-Aasia]]
[[es:Asia meridional]]
[[eu:Hegoaldeko Asia]]
[[ko:남아시아]]
[[hi:दक्षिण जंबूद्वीप]]
[[id:Asia Selatan]]
[[is:Suður-Asía]]
[[it:Asia meridionale]]
[[kw:Asi Soth]]
[[sw:Asia ya Kusini]]
[[lt:Pietų Azija]]
[[hu:Dél-Ázsia]]
[[ms:Asia Selatan]]
[[nl:Zuid-Azië]]
[[ja:南アジア]]
[[no:Sør-Asia]]
[[nn:Sør-Asia]]
[[pl:Azja Południowa]]
[[pt:Ásia Meridional]]
[[rmy:Sudutni Asiya]]
[[ru:Южная Азия]]
[[simple:South Asia]]
[[sr:Јужна Азија]]
[[fi:Etelä-Aasia]]
[[sv:Sydasien]]
[[tl:Timog Asya]]
[[ta:தெற்கு ஆசியா]]
[[th:เอเชียใต้]]
[[vi:Nam Á]]
[[ur:جنوبی ایشیاء]]
[[zh-yue:南亞]]
[[zh:南亚]]