Country Profiles

 Pakistan
Key industries Farm output accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 50% of the labor force and supports 75% of the population directly or indirectly. But agriculture is narrowly based, producing lots of cotton, wheat and rice, and little else. Industry contributes just under 30% of GDP, but depends on the farming sector for most of its raw materials: cotton for weaving, spinning and processing industries; leather for handicrafts and shoes; wool for carpet weaving.

Language Urdu and English are the official languages. Other major languages are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baluchi and Seraiki.

Ethnic composition The main ethnic groups are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Baluchi and Mohajirs (Muslim emigres from India). With the exception of Sindh, which has sizeable non-Sindhi groups in the cities of Karachi and Hyderabad, Pakistan's provinces have a relatively homogeneous ethnic population.

Major religions Over 95% of the population is Muslim. Christians and Hindus each account for less than 2% of the population.

India
Key industries India's agriculture sector accounts for about one-third of the country's economic output and employs the largest number of its citizens. 

Indian industry produces almost everything (although not always profitably), thanks to years of voluntary isolation from the world's exports. 

Main heavy industries include steel, chemicals and cement, while textiles and cut gems are the main light manufactures. 

But services account for the largest share of GDP, encompassing everything from government services to internet services to Bollywood films. 

Small companies are moving into high-technology products including computers, as well as traditional light engineering and textiles, and import controls have been relaxed on raw materials and services necessary for increased export trade. 

India has developed its own nuclear industry, has a considerable arms-making capability and is constructing its own space satellites. 

India's computer software development industry is booming. Low costs and high quality results have been enticing more foreign companies to put their software requirements in the hands of India-based developers; the advent of sophisticated data communications systems allows easy transmission of a developer's work to overseas clients. 

The automobile assembly industry is set to expand at a huge rate—the traditional large Indian car is now being challenged by an entire new market of 800cc and 1,000cc cars manufactured by the Suzuki joint venture Maruti. Small cars account for 70 per cent of sales and are currently growing by 10 per cent per annum. Competition is fierce—not only Maruti but Honda, Ford and Daewoo are racing each other to become the dominant manufacturer in a potentially huge market. 

Language Hindi and English are the official languages. There are many official languages in the various states, of which the most widely spoken are Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu and Gujarati. But there are over 1,000 languages spoken throughout the country. English is widely spoken in major cities and tourist areas.

Ethnic composition India is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. It is home to numerous religions and sects, castes and tribes, as well as to more than a dozen major and innumerable minor languages. Of the major ones Indo-Aryan's constitute nearly three-quarters of the population and Dravidian's another quarter.

Major religions Nearly every main religion is represented in India. The majority of Indians are Hindu. There are over 100m Muslims.

Nepal

Language Nepali is the official language, though dozens of other languages and dialects are also spoken.

Ethnic composition: Most Nepalese originally migrated from India, Tibet or Central Asia. It is home to numerous ethnic groups (such as the Gurungs, Magars, Rai and Limbu). Nepal also houses a large number of Tibetan refugees.

Major religions Hinduism, practiced by over 90% of Nepalese, is the state religion. Minor religions include Tibetan Buddhism, Islam and Jainism.

Bhutan
Key industries cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide

Language Dzongkha official language, Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Ethnic composition: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Major religions Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Hindu 25%