South Asia

=== 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>
|}