29/04/2025
South Asia is Asia's southern subregion, defined by geographical and ethnocultural characteristics. Home to over 2.04 billion people, it accounts for approximately 25% of the world’s population, making it one of the most densely inhabited regions on the planet.
The modern nations that comprise South Asia typically include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is also often associated with the region, although it is sometimes classified under Central Asia.
Geographically, South Asia is bordered by East Asia to the northeast, Central Asia to the northwest, West Asia to the west, and Southeast Asia to the east. Uniquely, Maritime South Asia—excluding Southeast Asia—is the only Asian subregion that lies partially in the Southern Hemisphere, with parts of the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory situated entirely below the equator.
The region is topographically dominated by the Indian subcontinent, flanked by the vast Indian Ocean to the south and the towering Himalayas, Karakoram, and Pamir Mountains to the north.
