1. Countries of South Asia1

2. 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 2

3. 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 3

4. 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 4

5. 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 5

6. Many U.S. jobs have moved to India because of lower wages.
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 infrastructure needed by the technology industry. 6

7. 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 7

8. 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 8

9. The Maldives Population - 350,000 GDP Per capita - $4,603
Languages – Dhivehi
Primarily Muslim
Encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islands

10. 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. 10