South Asia

Review of South Asia1

• Questions

• South Asia– Population Geography

• Physiological vs. arithmetic population density

• Demographic transition model

Population Geography

• Spatial view of demography– Study of population distribution, composition,

rates of growth, and patterns of flow

• Population density– Arithmetic– Physiologic

• Key measures– Rate of natural increase– Doubling time

Arithmetic vs.Physiologic Population Densities

• Arithmetic density:– Population/unit land area)

• Physiologic density:– Population/unit area of arable land

• Arable land– Land suitable for plowing and crop production– Land which can be cultivated– (does not include grazing land)

Arithmetic vs.Physiological Population Densities

Country Arithmetic density (per mi2)

Physiological density (per mi2)

Canada 8 164

Netherlands 1,029 4,955

Egypt 192 9,638

India 855 1,688

Bangladesh 2,510 3,800

POPULATION GROWTH

Doubling Time

• The 29th Day

• China: 60 years in 1985, now 82 years

• India: 31 years in 1985, now 42 years

• Family planning

'Simple answer for a healthy family:

The second child should come after three years'

During the National Emergency (1975-77), the emphasis on family planning posters was not to have more than two children. This was certainly unpalatable for the masses.

This poster seems a lot more democratic in conveying the underlying message.

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION MODEL

West PakistanEast Pakistan(Bangladesh after 1971)

India

PAKISTAN (AT PARTITION)

PAKISTAN

Pakistan• Islamic Republic of Pakistan• Population of 150 million• Official language:Urdu (Arabic+Farsi+Hindi)

– Urdu is written in Arabic script/Hindi is written in Devanagari• Capital: Karachi-Islamabad

– Forward capital• 80% Sunni Muslims; 16% Shia minority• Subregions:

– Punjab (2) – 60% of Palistani population – Punjabi– Sind – Hyderabad – 2 too!– Baluchistan– North west frontier

Kashmir• Independence & partition

– Jammu & Kashmir: Hindu India or Muslim Pakistan?

– Hindu Maharaja but Muslim majority

– Attempts to remain outside both India and Pakistan at Independence

• 1947 – Pakistani tribesmen invade

• January 1949 – U.N. Cease fire

• Kashmir was partitioned

• 1980-88 Muslims continue insurgency

• 1990-95: 10,000 killed

• 1998: Nuclear ‘tests’ by India and Pakistan

INDIA

INDIA

• Federation of 28 STATES, 6 Union Territories, & National Capital Territory

• Population: 1.27 billion – Is a billion 109 or 1012 ?

• 28% urbanized• 14 official languages

– numerous minor languages– Hindi is official language– English is lingua franca)

Why has India remained united?

• From a cultural/political standpoint:• Centripetal forces

– Forces that unite and bind together– Satisfaction with government– Sense of justice and shared opportunity

• Centrifugal forces– Forces that divide and encourage secession– Religious, racial, linguistic, political divisions

Centrifugal Forces

• 25 separate states

• 14 official languages

• 150 million Muslims– Largest minority in the world

• 20 million Sikhs

• Thousands of castes

Centripetal Forces

• Hinduism

• Government institutions

• Infrastructure

• Common opposition to British rule– Pacifism of Mahatma Ghandi

Economic Development

• GDP: US$450 per capita• 38% live below the poverty line• A mixture of traditional village farming and

modern agriculture• Handicrafts, old and new branches of industry• Multitude of support services and nuclear

power• Textiles & clothing• IT services