Countries of South Asia 1
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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. 10