South Asia

==Society==
{{See also|South Asian ethnic groups}}

===Population===
The population of South Asia is about 1.938&nbsp;billion which makes it the [[List of continents by population#Regional and continental (sub)totals in 2013|most populated region]] in the world.<ref>
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, custom data acquired via website. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/population.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404064129/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/population.htm |date=4 April 2013 }}
</ref> It is socially very mixed, consisting of many language groups and religions, and social practices in one region that are vastly different from those in another.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=249|isbn=978-1-107-50718-0}}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! rowspan="2" |Country
! rowspan="2" |[[List of countries by population|Population]] in thousands
(2023)<ref name="UN WPP 2019">{{Cite web |title=World Population prospects – Population division |url=https://population.un.org/wpp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205234912/https://population.un.org/wpp/ |archive-date=5 February 2019 |access-date=9 May 2023 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref><ref name="UN WPP 2019 2">{{Cite web|title=Overall total population|url=https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx|access-date=16 July 2019|publisher=United Nations|format=xlsx}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" |% of South Asia
! rowspan="2" |% of world<ref>{{cite web|title=World Population Prospects 2017 Key Findings|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2017_KeyFindings.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216180720/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2017_KeyFindings.pdf|archive-date=16 December 2017|access-date=29 October 2019|publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" |[[List of countries by population density|Density]] (per km<sup>2</sup>)
! colspan="3" |Population growth rate<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=United Nations Population Div, World Population Prospects 2017, File: Population Growth Rate, retrieved 5/20/18|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927210437/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/|archive-date=27 September 2016}}</ref>
! colspan="7" |Population projection (in thousands)<ref name="UN WPP 2019" /><ref name="UN WPP 2019 2" />
|-
!2005–10
!2010–15
!2015–20
!1950
!1975
!2000
!2025
!2050
!2075
!2100
|-
| align="left" |{{AFG}}
|42,240
|2.17%
|0.525%
|61.8
|2.78
|3.16
|2.41
|7,752
|12,689
|20,779
|44,516
|74,075
|98,732
|110,855
|-
| align="left" |{{BAN}}
|172,954
|8.92%
|2.15%
|1301
|1.18
|1.16
|1.04
|37,895
|70,066
|127,658
|170,937
|203,905
|201,891
|176,366
|-
| align="left" |{{BHU}}
|787
|0.04%
|0.00978%
|20.3
|2.05
|1.58
|1.18
|177
|348
|591
|797
|874
|803
|654
|-
| align="left" |{{IND}}
|1,428,628
|73.7%
|17.5%
|473.4
|1.46
|1.23
|1.10
|376,325
|623,103
|1,056,576
|1,454,607
|1,670,491
|1,676,035
|1,529,850
|-
| align="left" |{{MDV}}
|521
|0.03%
|0.00647%
|1738.2
|2.68
|2.76
|1.85
|74
|136
|279
|515
|570
|543
|469
|-
| align="left" |{{NEP}}
|30,897
|1.59%
|0.384%
|204.1
|1.05
|1.17
|1.09
|8,483
|13,420
|23,941
|31,577
|37,401
|38,189
|33,770
|-
| align="left" |{{PAK}}
|240,486
|12.4%
|2.98%
|300.2
|2.05
|2.09
|1.91
|37,542
|66,817
|142,344
|249,949
|367,808
|453,262
|487,017
|-
| align="left" |{{SRI}}
|21,894
|1.13%
|0.272%
|347.2
|0.68
|0.50
|0.35
|7,971
|13,755
|18,778
|22,000
|21,815
|19,000
|14,695
|-
!South Asia
!'''1,938,407'''
!'''100%'''
!24.094%
!'''377.5'''
!-
!-
!-
!476,220
!800,335
!1,390,946
!1,974,898
!2,376,939
!2,488,455
!2,353,676
|-
| colspan="15" |<small>Population of South Asian countries in 1950, 1975, 2000, 2025, 2050, 2075 and 2100 projection from the United Nations has been displayed in table. The given population projections are based on medium fertility index. With India and Bangladesh approaching [[Sub-replacement fertility|replacement rates]] fast, population growth in South Asia is facing steep decline and may turn negative in mid 21st century.<ref name="UN WPP 2019" /><ref name="UN WPP 2019 2" /></small>
|}

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of South Asia}}

[[File:South Asian Language Families.png|thumb|right|Ethno-linguistic distribution map of South Asia]]<imagemap>
File:States of South Asia by language.png|thumb|400px|A clickable map of the main language spoken in each state/province of South Asia excluding Afghanistan and the Maldives. Indo-Aryan languages are in green, Iranic languages in dark green, Dravidian languages in purple, and Tibeto-Burman languages in red.

rect 195 200 245 285 [[w:Sindh]]
rect 190 280 300 355 [[w:Gujarat]]
rect 90 120 235 300 [[w:Balochistan, Pakistan]]
rect 235 120 335 190 [[w:Punjab]]
rect 230 50 290 180 [[w:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
rect 255 230 530 330 [[w:Hindi belt]]
rect 325 120 395 275 [[w:Hindi belt]]
rect 290 50 410 170 [[w:Kashmir]]
rect 540 165 605 240 [[w:Bhutan]]
rect 410 160 535 250 [[w:Nepal]]
rect 530 250 600 345 [[w:Bengal]]
rect 535 155 700 330 [[w:Northeast India]]
rect 350 390 440 490 [[w:Telugu states]]
rect 280 350 400 415 [[w:Maharashtra]]
rect 440 330 550 400 [[w:Odisha]]
rect 290 430 350 540 [[w:Karnataka]]
rect 290 540 345 620 [[w:Kerala]]
rect 325 500 395 590 [[w:Tamil Nadu]]
rect 390 550 440 580 [[w:Sri Lankan Tamils]]
rect 390 580 460 720 [[w:Sinhalese people]]
</imagemap>There are numerous languages in South Asia. The spoken languages of the region are largely based on geography and shared across religious boundaries, but the written script is sharply divided by religious boundaries. In particular, Muslims of South Asia such as in Afghanistan and Pakistan use the Arabic alphabet and Persian [[Nastaʿlīq script|Nastaliq]]. Till 1952, Muslim-majority Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) also mandated only the Nastaliq script, but after that adopted regional scripts and particularly Bengali, after the [[Bengali language movement|Language Movement]] for the adoption of Bengali as the official language of the then East Pakistan. Non-Muslims of South Asia, and some Muslims in India, on the other hand, use scripts such as those derived from [[Brahmi script]] for Indo-European languages and non-Brahmi scripts for [[Dravidian languages]] and others.{{sfn|Bhatia|2008|pp=122–127}}{{sfn|Pandharipande|2008|pp=419–423}}

The [[Nagari script]] has been the ''[[primus inter pares]]'' of the traditional South Asian scripts.<ref name=george>{{cite book |first1=George |last1=Cardona |first2=Dhanesh |last2=Jain |date=2003 |title=The Indo-Aryan Languages |publisher=Routledge |pages=75–77 |isbn=978-0-415-77294-5}}</ref> The [[Devanagari]] script is used for over 120 South Asian languages,<ref name=devasilusa>
[http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&key=Deva Devanagari (Nagari)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702003440/http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&key=Deva |date=2 July 2017 }}, Script Features and Description, [[SIL International]] (2013), United States
</ref> including [[Hindi]],<ref>
[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/hindi.htm Hindi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528075558/http://www.omniglot.com/writing/hindi.htm |date=28 May 2012 }}, Omniglot Encyclopedia of Writing Systems and Languages
</ref> [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Pali]], [[Konkani language|Konkani]], [[Bodo language|Bodo]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] and [[Maithili language|Maithili]] among other languages and dialects, making it one of the most used and [[List of writing systems by adoption|adopted writing systems]] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/devanagari.htm|title=Devanagari script|publisher=Omniglot|first=David|last=Templin|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401062015/http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/devanagari.htm|archive-date=1 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The Devanagari script is also used for classical Sanskrit texts.<ref name=devasilusa/>

The largest spoken language in this region is [[Hindustani language]], followed by Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, and Punjabi.{{sfn|Bhatia|2008|pp=122–127}}{{sfn|Pandharipande|2008|pp=419–423}} In the modern era, new syncretic languages developed in the region such as [[Urdu]] that are used by the Muslim community of [[northern South Asia]] (particularly Pakistan and northern states of India).<ref>
Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (2008), [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00fwp/srf/srf_symcretism_2008.pdf Urdu Literary Culture: The Syncretic Tradition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026133552/http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00fwp/srf/srf_symcretism_2008.pdf |date=26 October 2012 }}, Shibli Academy, Azamgarh
</ref> The Punjabi language spans three religions: Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism. The spoken language is similar, but it is written in three scripts. The [[Sikhs|Sikh]] use [[Gurmukhi alphabet]], [[Muslim Punjabi]]s in [[Pakistan]] use the Nastaliq script, while [[Hindu Punjabi]]s in India use the Gurmukhi or [[Nāgarī script]]. The Gurmukhi and Nagari scripts are distinct but close in their structure, but the Persian Nastaliq script is very different.<ref name="Bright1996p395">{{cite book|first1=Peter T.|last1=Daniels|first2=William|last2=Bright|title=The World's Writing Systems |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ospMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA395 |year=1996|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-507993-7|page=395}}</ref>

[[Sino-Tibetan]] languages are spoken across northern belts of the region in the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] areas, often using the [[Tibetan script]].<ref name="BRILL">{{cite book |last1=Zielser |first1=B |last2=Turin |first2=M |title=Himalayan Languages and Linguistics: Studies in Phonology, Semantics, Morphology and Syntax |date=21 April 2011 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-19448-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5MoDCJP3VPUC |access-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> These languages are predominantly spoken in Bhutan and Nepal as well as parts of Burma and northern India in the state of [[Sikkim]] and the [[Ladakh]] region.<ref name="Walter de Gruyter">{{cite book |last1=Saxena |first1=A |title=Himalayan Languages: Past and Present |date=2004 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-017841-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gdqy7PKHUXQC |access-date=12 January 2022}}</ref> The national language of Bhutan is [[Dzongkha]], while [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]], [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Gurung]], [[Magar language|Magar]], [[Rai languages|Rai]], [[Newar language|Newari]], [[Tamang language|Tamang]], [[Tshangla]], [[Thakali language|Thakali]] and [[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]] are also spoken in Bhutan, Nepal and Sikkim, and [[Ladakhi language|Ladakhi]] is spoken in Ladakh.<ref name="Walter de Gruyter"/> Both [[Buddhism]] and [[Bon]] are often predominant in areas where these languages are present.<ref name="Walter de Gruyter"/><ref name="BRILL"/> Some areas in [[Gilgit-Baltistan]] also speak [[Balti language]], however speakers write with the [[Urdu alphabet|Urdu script]].<ref name="BRILL"/> The Tibetan script fell out of use in Pakistani [[Baltistan]] hundreds of years ago upon the region's adoption of [[Islam]]<ref name="BRILL"/>

English, with British spelling, is commonly used in urban areas and is a major economic [[lingua franca]] of South Asia.{{sfn|Bhatia|Baumgardner|2008|pp=391–394}}

=== Religions ===
{{Main|Religion in South Asia}}
{{Further|Religion in Bangladesh|Religion in Bhutan|Religion in India|Religion in Nepal|Religion in Pakistan|Religion in Sri Lanka}}[[File:Religious Diversity in South Asia (2).png|thumb|Religious Diversity in South Asia by National Subdivision ]]
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in British India 1871–1872 Census  (includes modern-day India, Bangladesh, most of Pakistan and coastal Myanmar))<ref>{{Cite journal| url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/2339124 | title = The Census of British India of 1871–72 | journal = Journal of the Statistical Society of London | publisher = Journal of the Statistical Society of London Vol. 39, No. 2 | pages = 413 | date = June 1876| volume = 39 | issue = 2 | jstor = 2339124 }}</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism]]
|value1 = 73.07
|color1 = darkorange
|label2 = [[Islam]]
|value2 = 21.45
|color2= green
|label3 = [[Buddhism and Jainism]]
|value3 = 1.49
|color3= gold
|label4 = [[Sikhism]]
|value4 = 0.62
|color4= chartreuse
|label5 = Christianity
|value5  = 0.47
|colour5= blue
|label6 = Others
|value6  = 2.68
|colour6= Magenta
|label7 = Religion not known
|value7  = 0.22
|colour7= black
}}In 2010, South Asia had the world's largest population of [[Hindus]],<ref name="pewforum.org" /> about 510 million [[Muslims]],<ref name="pewforum.org" /> over 27 million Sikhs, 35&nbsp;million Christians and over 25&nbsp;million [[Buddhists]].<ref name="Pew Research 2012" /> Hindus make up about 68 percent or about 900&nbsp;million and Muslims at 31 percent or 510&nbsp;million of the overall South Asia population,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-regional-asia|title=Region: South Asia|access-date=1 January 2017|date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229210603/http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-regional-asia/|archive-date=29 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> while Buddhists, Jains, Christians and Sikhs constitute most of the rest. The Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Christians are concentrated in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while the Muslims are concentrated in Afghanistan (99%), Bangladesh (90%), Pakistan (96%) and Maldives (100%).<ref name="pewforum.org" /> With all major religions practised in the subcontinent, South Asia is known for its religious diversity and one of the most religiously diverse regions on earth.

[[Indian religions]] are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent; namely [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Sikhism]].<ref name = EB>
Adams, C. J., [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-38030/classification-of-religions Classification of religions: Geographical] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214003036/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-38030/classification-of-religions |date=14 December 2007 }}, [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2010; Quote: "Indian religions, including early Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and sometimes also Theravāda Buddhism and the Hindu- and Buddhist-inspired religions of South and Southeast Asia".</ref> The Indian religions are distinct yet share terminology, concepts, goals and ideas, and from South Asia spread into East Asia and southeast Asia.<ref name="EB"/> Early Christianity and Islam were introduced into coastal regions of South Asia by merchants who settled among the local populations. Later [[Sindh]], [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]], and parts of the [[Punjab region]] saw conquest by the [[Ummayad|Arab caliphates]] along with an influx of Muslims from Persia and Central Asia, which resulted in spread of both Shia and Sunni Islam in parts of northwestern region of South Asia. Subsequently, under the influence of Muslim rulers of the Islamic sultanates and the Mughal Empire, Islam spread in South Asia.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Alberts |editor1-first=Tara |editor2-last=Irving |editor2-first=D. R. M. |title=Intercultural Exchange in Southeast Asia: History and Society in the Early Modern World |date=2013 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |isbn=978-0-85772-283-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Lisa|last=Balabanlilar|title=Imperial Identity in Mughal Empire: Memory and Dynastic Politics in Early Modern Central Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PS6PrH3rtkC|year=2012|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-84885-726-1|pages=1–2, 7–10|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610154458/https://books.google.com/books?id=7PS6PrH3rtkC|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> About [[Islam in South Asia|one-third of the world's Muslims are from South Asia]].{{sfn|Ruffle|2013|p=193}}<ref name="pew2Apr2015">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/muslims/pf_15-04-02_projectionstables74/|title=10 Countries With the Largest Muslim Populations, 2010 and 2050|date=2 April 2015|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|access-date=7 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207115222/http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/muslims/pf_15-04-02_projectionstables74/|archive-date=7 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dip8Jan2016">{{Cite magazine |last=Pillalamarri |first=Akhilesh |date=8 January 2016 |title=How South Asia Will Save Global Islam |url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/how-south-asia-will-save-global-islam/ |magazine=The Diplomat |access-date=7 February 2017 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208040252/https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/how-south-asia-will-save-global-islam/ |archive-date=8 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan = "2" | Country
! rowspan = "2" | State religion
! colspan="8" |Religious population as a percentage of total population
|-
! [[Buddhism]]
! Christianity
! [[Hinduism]]
! [[Islam]]
! [[Kiratism]]
! [[Sikhism]]
! Others
! Year reported
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|AFG}}
| Islam
| –
| –
| –
| [[Islam in Afghanistan|99.7%]]
| –
| –
| 0.3%
| 2019<ref name="AfgCIA">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/afghanistan/ |title=CIA The World Factbook – Afghanistan |publisher=CIA |access-date=27 March 2012 }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|BGD}}
| Islam
| [[Buddhism in Bangladesh|0.6%]]
| [[Christianity in Bangladesh|0.4%]]
| [[Hinduism in Bangladesh|9.5%]]
| [[Islam in Bangladesh|90.4%]]
| –
| –
| –
| 2011<ref name="বাংলাদেশ">{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/256513.pdf |script-title=bn:জানুন |language=bn |trans-title=Bangladesh |publisher=US department of States |access-date=16 October 2019 }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|BHU}}
| [[Vajrayana]] Buddhism
| [[Buddhism in Bhutan|74.8%]]
| [[Christianity in Bhutan|0.5%]]
| [[Hinduism in Bhutan|22.6%]]
| 0.1%
| –
| –
| 2%
| 2010<ref name="IndCIA">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bhutan/ |title=CIA The World Factbook |publisher=CIA |access-date=27 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center – Global Religious Landscape 2010 – religious composition by country] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213072625/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf |date=13 December 2016 }}.</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|IND}}
| Secular 
| [[Buddhism in India|0.7%]]
| [[Christianity in India|2.3%]]
| [[Hinduism in India|79.8%]]
| [[Islam in India|14.2%]]
| –
| [[Sikhism in India|1.7%]]
| 1.3%
| 2011<ref name="Census2011religion">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |title=C −1 Population by religious community – 2011 |publisher=[[Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner]] |access-date=25 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref><ref>Ahmadiyyas are considered a sect of Islam in India. Other minorities are 0.4 [[Jainism|Jains]] and 0.23% irreligious population.</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in the|Maldives}}
| Islam
| –
| –
| –
| [[Islam in Maldives|100%]]
| –
| –
| –
|<ref name="MdvCIA">{{cite web |url=http://www.themaldives.com/Maldives/Maldives_Religion.htm |title=religion |publisher=Maldives |access-date=23 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928220750/http://www.themaldives.com/Maldives/Maldives_Religion.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=EmoryLaw>{{cite web |url=http://www.law.emory.edu/ifl/legal/maldives.htm |title=Maldives |publisher=Law.emory.edu |date=21 February 1920 |access-date=23 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211221153/http://www.law.emory.edu/ifl/legal/maldives.htm |archive-date=11 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>
[http://countrystudies.us/maldives/7.htm Maldives – Religion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207024431/http://countrystudies.us/maldives/7.htm |date=7 December 2010 }}, ''countrystudies.us''
</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|NEP}}
| Secular 
| [[Buddhism in Nepal|9%]]
| [[Christianity in Nepal|1.3%]]
| [[Hinduism in Nepal|81.3%]]
| [[Islam in Nepal|4.4%]]
| 3%
| –
| 0.8%
| 2013<ref>{{cite book|title=Statistical Yearbook of Nepal – 2013|date=2013|publisher=Central Bureau of Statistics|location=Kathmandu|page=23|url=http://cbs.gov.np/publications/statisticalyearbook_2013|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-date=18 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918034634/http://cbs.gov.np/publications/statisticalyearbook_2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|PAK}}
| Islam
| –
| [[Christianity in Pakistan|1.59%]]
| [[Hinduism in Pakistan|1.85%]]
| [[Islam in Pakistan|96.28%]]
| –
| –
| 0.07%
| 2010<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Population by Religion|url=http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//tables/POPULATION%20BY%20RELIGION.pdf|journal=Pakistan Burau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan|pages=1|access-date=3 October 2022|archive-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329204115/http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/tables/POPULATION%20BY%20RELIGION.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag+link|Religion in|Sri Lanka}}
| [[Theravada]] Buddhism
| [[Buddhism in Sri Lanka|70.2%]]
| [[Christianity in Sri Lanka|6.2%]]
| [[Hinduism in Sri Lanka|12.6%]]
| [[Islam in Sri Lanka|9.7%]]
| –
| –
| 1.4%
| 2011<ref name="2011census">{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing 2011 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=SriLanka&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |publisher=Department of Census and Statistic |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=6 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106095548/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=SriLanka&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

===Largest urban areas===
South Asia is home to some of the most populated urban areas in the world. According to the 2023 edition of ''Demographia World Urban Areas'', the region contains 8 of the world's 35 megacities (urban areas over 10&nbsp;million population):<ref name="demographia1">{{cite web |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |title=Demographia World Urban Areas |last=Cox |first=Wendell |author-link=Wendell Cox |date=June 2020 |publisher=[[Demographia]] |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
!Rank
!Urban Area
!State/Province
!Country
!Skyline
!Population<ref name="demographia1" />
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="demographia1"/>
!Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="demographia1"/>
|-
||1||[[Delhi]]
|[[National Capital Region (India)|National Capital Region]]||{{Country|India}}||[[File:Skyline of Cannaught Place, New Delhi.jpg|center|100x100px]]||31,190,000||2,344||13,307
|-
||2||[[Mumbai]]
|[[Maharashtra]]||{{Country|India}}||[[File:ওরলির গগনরৈখিক দৃশ্য.jpg|center|100x100px]]||25,189,000||1,046||24,073
|-
||3||[[Kolkata]]
|[[West Bengal]]|||{{Country|India}}||[[File:Kolkata Skyline pic.jpg|center|100x100px]]||21,747,000 ||1,352 ||16,085
|-
||4||[[Karachi]]
|[[Sindh]]||{{Country|Pakistan}}||[[File:Sadar Neighborhood Karachi.jpg|center|100x100px]]||20,249,000 ||1,124 ||18,014
|-
||5||[[Dhaka]]
|[[Dhaka Division]]||{{Country|Bangladesh}}||[[File:Dhaka Skyline at Night.jpg|center|100x100px]] |||19,134,000||619||30,911
|-
||6||[[Bangalore]]
|[[Karnataka]]||{{Country|India}}||[[File:Ubcity2.jpg|center|100x100px]]||15,257,000||1,743||8,753
|-
||7||[[Lahore]]
|[[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]||{{Country|Pakistan}}||[[File:Eye Of Lahore (Minar e Pakistan) evening.jpg|center|100x100px]]||13,504,000||945||14,285
|-
||8||[[Chennai]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]||{{Country|India}}||[[File:Chennai skyline.JPG|center|100x100px]]||11,570,000||1,225||9,444
|-
||9||[[Hyderabad]]
|[[Telangana]]||{{Country|India}}||[[File:High Rise buildings in Madhapur from Golkonda hill.jpg|center|100x100px]]||9,797,000 ||1,689||5,802
|-
||10||[[Ahmedabad]]
|[[Gujarat]]||{{Country|India}}||[[File:SG Highway Skyline.jpg|center|100x100px]]||8,006,000||505||15,852
|}

=== Diaspora ===
{{Excerpt|South Asian diaspora|paragraphs=1|files=0}}