INDIA Capital: New Delhi Currency: Indian Rupee Government: Multi-Party Democracy Population: Approx. 1.1 billion Religions: 80% Hindu, 12% Muslim, 2-4% Christian, 2% Sikh, 1% other Languages: English and Hindi, plus 14 other official languages
Welcome to India, a country that is just slightly smaller than the European Union, but contains more than 1 billion people and over 1,600 languages and dialects. With a billion people, 35 states and territories, several major religions, a complex caste system, and a tremendously diverse topography ranging from desert to tropical rainforest to some of the highest mountains in the world, "Indian culture" is difficult to describe. Click on the links below to learn more about this incredible nation and home to EMI's South Asia office.
PAKISTAN Capital: Islamabad Currency: Pakistani Rupee Government: Multi-Party Islamic Republic Population: 165.8 million (2006 est.) Religions: 97% Muslim, 3% other (Christian, Hindu, etc.) Languages: Urdu & English (official), more than 8 others
“Land of the Pure” in Urdu, the nation of Pakistan is the 6th most populous country in the world, and 2nd among officially Muslim nations. Located on a cross-road between several of history's great civilizations, the region has been influenced by cultures as diverse as the Arabs, Persians, Greeks and British. Since its formation in 1947, when it split away from India, Pakistan has seen alternating periods of instability and economic growth. The land itself ranges from beaches to deserts to the world’s second highest mountain, K2. Click on the links below to learn more about the nation of Pakistan.
NEPAL Capital: Kathmandu Currency: Nepali Rupee Government: Democratic Republic Population: 28.3 million (July 2006 est.) Religions: 80.6% Hindu, 10.7% Buddhist, 4.2% Muslim, 4.5% Other Languages: Nepali (Official), over 40 languages & dialects
This beautiful Himalayan nation holds the current title for the world’s youngest republic. Though Nepal had been a Hindu monarchy for most of its history, a 10-year civil war and popular uprising led to the ousting of the royal family and establishment of a federal democratic republic in 2008. Despite it’s relatively small size, Nepal‘s innumerable and remote mountain ranges are home to at least 92 different languages and cultures. To learn more about Nepal, follow the links below.
BHUTAN Capital: Thimphu Currency: Ngultrum Government: Monarchy, special treaty with India Population: 673,000 (2005 est.) Religions: 75% Buddhist, 25% Hindu Languages: Dzongkha (official), various Tibetan and Nepalese dialects
Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is one of the most isolated nations in the world, and one of the least densely populated, with 72% of the nation’s land under forest cover. The monarchy holds nearly absolute power over the people, and foreign influences are heavily regulated to preserve Bhutan’s traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture. Bhutan’s monarchy is perhaps most famous for promoting the concept of “Gross National Happiness (GNH).” The economy is one of the world’s least developed, with small-scale agriculture and forestry providing a living for more than 90% of the population.
BANGLADESH Capital: Dhaka Currency: Bangladeshi Taka Government: Parliamentary Democracy Population: 147.37 million (July 2006 est.) Religions: 83% Muslim, 16% Hindu, 1% other Languages: Bangla (official, also called Bengali), English
Formerly known as East Pakistan, Bangladesh separated from Pakistan in 1971 through a bloody war. It now ranks 7th in terms of population, and is one of the most densely populated nations in the world. Located in the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra river delta, the region suffers from annual flooding and cyclones which prevent large-scale economic development. Most Bangladeshis live in rural areas and carry out subsistence farming. Since the restoration of democracy in 1991 after years of military rule, health and literacy levels have improved and poverty levels are decreasing. Some analysts now consider Bangladesh one of Asia’s emerging economies.
MYANMAR Capital: Yangon (formerly Rangoon) Currency: Kyat Government: Military junta Population: 47.4 million (2006 est.) Religions: 89% Buddhist, 4% Christian, 4% Muslim, 1% animist, 2% other Languages: Burmese (official), English & others
The largest of Southeast Asia’s mainland nations and a former British colony, Burma gained independence in 1948 and set up a parliamentary democracy. This soon came to an end, when a 1962 military coup set up a dictatorship and enacted harsh reforms. In 1989, the military government officially changed Burma’s name to Myanmar. The regime has a questionable human rights record and exercises strict control over the media. Political opposition is not tolerated. Today Myanmar is one of the poorest nations in the world, despite having land that is rich in natural resources.
SRI LANKA Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte & Colombo Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee Government: Republic Population: 20.2 million Religions: 69% Buddhist, 7.6% Muslim, 7.1% Hindu, 6.2% Christian, 10% other Languages: Sinhala (official), Tamil, English & others
Named the “venerable island,” Sri Lanka has been called the closest thing to heaven on earth. Sri Lanka is a bio-diversity hot-spot with the one of the world’s highest densities of animal species. Despite its tremendous natural resources, Sri Lanka has been wracked with violence for over two decades by sporadic conflict between the (predominantly Sinhalese) government and the ethnically Tamil “Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam” (LTTE). In May, 2009, the government declared an end to the bloodshed following the death of several LTTE senior officials. To learn more about Sri Lanka, follow the links below.
