South Asian Countries are well known for their culture, vacation destinations and vast business opportunities. Each South Asian country also has its uniqueness. 

Below we will discuss each of the uniqueness of South Asian countries. 

Introduction to South Asian Countries

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The southern subregion of Asia, known as South Asia, is characterized by its geographical and ethnic-cultural aspects. South Asia countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

History of South Asian Countries

South Asian Countries have a lot of history going through them from ancient civilizations, the verdict period, royalty, and colonization which later resulted in independence in some South Asian countries, to the Sri Lankan war in 2009.

Economy and Business in South Asian Countries

Economy and business in South Asia are diverse and dynamic, with a range of economic activities, industries, and challenges.

Some key industries in South Asian countries are agriculture, information technology (IT), textiles and garments, manufacturing, and services.

1. Afghanistan

Afghanistan, one of South Asian countries covers a land area of 652,000 km2, making it the 41st largest country in the world. The country is known for its bilingualism, with Pashto and Dari being the official languages. 

Both languages belong to the Indo-European languages sub-family and are of Iranian origin. Dari is considered the prestige language and is widely used for inter-ethnic communication. 

2. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the South Asia countries, that shares borders with India to the west, north, and east, and with Burma to the southeast.

The majority of Bangladeshis, over 98%, speak Bengali as their mother tongue. In addition to Bengali, English is also utilized as a second language by the middle and upper classes, and it is extensively employed in higher education and the legal system.

3. Bhutan

Bhutan, like Afghanistan, is a landlocked country in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas. 

The national language of Bhutan is Bhutanese (Dzongkha). However, English is used as the medium of instruction in schools.

 In a global survey conducted in 2006, Bhutan was ranked as the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world.

4. India

India is the largest among South Asia countries and the seventh-largest in the world by area, does not have a national language due to its vastness and diverse cultures across states. 

Nevertheless, Hindi serves as the official language of the government and is widely spoken. Additionally, English holds the status of an official language and is extensively used in higher education, business, and education.

5. Maldives

The Indian Ocean-Arabian Sea area is home to the island nation of Maldives, which holds the title of being the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area. 

The Indo-Aryan language of Dhivehi is the official and commonly spoken language of the country, with English also being widely utilized in commerce and education.

6. Nepal

Nepal, situated in the Himalayas, is among the three South Asian countries that are landlocked. 

Its northern border is shared with the People’s Republic of China, while the Republic of India borders it to the south, east, and west. 

The official national language of Nepal is Nepali, which is spoken by nearly half of the population (44.6%). English is commonly used in government and business affairs.

7. Pakistan

Nepal, situated in the Himalayas, is among the three South Asian countries that are landlocked. Its northern border is shared with the People’s Republic of China, while the Republic of India borders it to the south, east, and west. 

The official national language of Nepal is Nepali, which is spoken by nearly half of the population (44.6%). English is commonly used in government and business affairs.

8. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, located in South Asia, shares borders with India and Maldives. 

Sinhalese and Tamil are the official languages, while English serves as a common language for education, science, and business throughout the country.