South Asia

South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, both a place of rich geography and deep cultural ties. It includes countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, with Afghanistan sometimes included. This area is home to over two billion people, which is a quarter of all the people in the world, making it the most crowded part of the world.

The lands of South Asia have seen some of the world's earliest civilisations, like the Indus Valley Civilisation, and have been shaped by many different cultures and religions over thousands of years. Major religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism all have deep roots here.

Today, South Asia is very important in the world. It has the largest numbers of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Zoroastrians. The region works together through groups like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to help its countries grow and cooperate. With its mix of history, culture, and people, South Asia remains one of the most fascinating parts of the world.

Definition

The definition of South Asia can be confusing because its borders are not clearly set. Geographically, South Asia is a peninsula resting on the Indian Plate. It is surrounded by the Himalayas to the north, the Hindu Kush to the west, and the Arakanese to the east. To the south, it extends into the Indian Ocean, bordered by the Arabian Sea to the southwest and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast.

Commonly, South Asia includes Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Sometimes Afghanistan is also included, though its classification can vary. Different groups and organizations may have slightly different definitions of what counts as South Asia.

History

Main article: Outline of South Asian history Main article: Timeline of South Asian history

The history of South Asia begins with evidence of human activity over 75,000 years ago. One of the world's earliest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilisation, flourished here from around 3300 to 1300 BCE. This was followed by the Vedic period, which saw the rise of early religious ideas and the formation of early states.

Later periods include the rise of powerful empires like the Maurya Empire and the Gupta Empire, and the spread of major religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. In the medieval era, Muslim empires such as the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire ruled much of the region.

In modern times, European colonial powers, especially the British, took control of South Asia. This period saw changes in society and economy, leading up to independence movements. In 1947, British rule ended, and the countries of India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh emerged. Since then, the region has seen growth, conflicts, and changing relationships with other world powers.

Geography

See also: Indian subcontinent § Geography

Further information: Geography of India, Geography of Pakistan, Geography of Afghanistan, Geography of Bangladesh, Geography of Bhutan, Geography of Sri Lanka, Geography of Nepal, and Geography of the Maldives

South Asia is a diverse region with many types of land, such as glaciers, rainforests, valleys, deserts, and grasslands. It is surrounded by water on three sides—the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. The climate varies widely, from tropical in the south to cold in the north, with monsoons bringing rain each year.

Most of South Asia sits on the Indian Plate, a large piece of Earth's crust that moved northward and pushed up the Himalayan range. This plate includes parts of many countries and many different landscapes. The region's weather changes with altitude and distance from the coast, creating many different climate zones. Some areas are very dry, while others are very wet, and the north gets cold winters and snow in the mountains.

Society

See also: South Asian ethnic groups

Population

The population of South Asia is about 1.938 billion, making it the most populated region in the world. It is a very mixed society with many different language groups and religions. Social practices can vary a lot from one region to another.

Languages

Main article: Languages of South Asia

See also: Hindustani-speaking world

South Asia has many languages. These languages are often based on where people live, but they are shared across different religions. Muslims in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan often use the Arabic alphabet. In Bangladesh, people mainly use the Bengali script after a movement to make it the official language.

The largest language is Hindustani language, followed by Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, and others. In modern times, new languages like Urdu have developed, especially among Muslims in northern South Asia.

Religions

Main article: Religion in South Asia

Further information: Religion in Bangladesh, Religion in Bhutan, Religion in India, Religion in Nepal, Religion in Pakistan, and Religion in Sri Lanka

South Asia is home to many religions. It has the world's largest population of Hindus and a large number of Muslims. Other religions such as Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Jainism are also practiced. The region is known for its religious diversity, with many different faiths coexisting.

Largest urban areas

South Asia has some of the world's most crowded cities. According to the 2023 edition of Demographia World Urban Areas, the region contains 8 of the world's 35 megacities (urban areas with over 10 million people).

Migration

See also: Immigration to Bangladesh, Immigration to India, and Immigration to Pakistan

People have moved into South Asia for thousands of years, shaping its demographics. Today, many people moving into South Asian countries come from other South Asian nations. For example, most migrants in India are from other South Asian countries, with many Bangladeshi migrants living near the border regions of India.

Culture

Main article: Culture of South Asia

See also: Category:Culture of South Asia

South Asia has a rich and diverse culture, with many people enjoying sports, movies, music, and special foods. One of the most popular sports is cricket, which many fans around the world love, especially in this area. There are also traditional games like kabaddi and kho-kho that people play and watch in competitions.

Main article: Music of South Asia

Economy

Main article: Economy of South Asia

Further information: Economy of Afghanistan, Economy of Bangladesh, Economy of Bhutan, Economy of India, Economy of the Maldives, Economy of Nepal, Economy of Pakistan, and Economy of Sri Lanka

South Asia has a large and growing economy, with India being the biggest. India’s economy is worth about US$4.18 trillion, making it the world’s 4th largest economy. India is also one of the fastest-growing economies, growing by 7.2% in 2022–23. Bangladesh follows as the next largest economy in the region, with a GDP of about $446 billion and strong growth as well.

Some parts of South Asia are much wealthier than others. For example, a few states in India are expected to produce nearly half of the country’s total economy by 2030. However, many people in South Asia still live in poverty. About 20% of the region’s people are considered poor, with Afghanistan having the highest percentage. India has made progress in reducing poverty, lifting millions of people out of it over the past years.

Education

See also: History of education in the Indian subcontinent

Education in South Asia faces many challenges due to the region's diverse countries and contexts. In 2018, millions of children were not in school, and many who were in school did not learn basic skills like reading and math. Only a small part of students reached the needed skill level.

Schools in South Asia often use strict teaching methods, and students may face unfair treatment. Each country has its own education system, and while some offer free education, others charge fees. Large countries like India and Bangladesh struggle to provide enough resources for all their students. Smaller countries like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Bhutan have better access to primary education but focus more on improving quality.

Girls often have a harder time getting an education, though some countries have made progress in recent years. India has the largest higher education system in the region, with many students attending universities and colleges. Other countries have smaller numbers of students in higher education.

Health and nutrition

South Asia faces significant health and nutrition challenges. Many children in the region suffer from malnutrition, with India having one of the highest numbers of malnourished children in the world. Rural areas are particularly affected, with most people relying on agriculture for their living.

Countries like Nepal and Bangladesh have made progress in reducing hunger, but Pakistan has seen an increase in the number of undernourished people over the past few decades. Improving nutrition requires attention to factors such as education, women's status, and government policies.

Governance and politics

See also: List of legislatures in South Asia and List of countries by system of government

India is a secular federative parliamentary republic with the prime minister as head of government. India has been stably sustaining the political system it adopted in 1950 with no regime change except that by democratic election. India leads the region in Democracy Index. It has a multi-party system.

Pakistan is a federal parliamentary Islamic republic. The nature of Pakistani politics can be characterised as a multi-party system.

Sri Lanka is the oldest sustained democracy in Asia with a multi-party system.

Bangladesh is a unitary parliamentary republic and a unitary state and parliamentary democracy. The nature of Bangladeshi politics can be characterised as a multi-party system.

Nepal became a secular democratic republic in 2008. The country has faced political instability with a huge turnover in the office of the Prime Minister of Nepal.

Afghanistan has been a unitary theocratic Islamic emirate since 2021.

Bhutan is a Buddhist state with a constitutional monarchy.

Maldives is a unitary presidential republic with Sunni Islam strictly as the state religion.

See also: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts, and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

India has been the dominant geopolitical power in the region. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are middle powers with sizeable populations and economies with significant impact on regional politics.