Bangladesh has a strong agricultural base, engaging two-thirds of the workforce. Food crops include rice, wheat, fruit and pulses. The main industries produce fertilisers, iron and steel, paper and glass as well as agricultural, marine and timber products.
Brunei Darussalam
Population
330,689
Capital
Bandar Seri Begawan
Language
Malay, English, Chinese
Religion
Sunni Muslim, Buddhist, Christian
General
Brunei's two enclaves are surrounded by Malaysia. Tropical rainforest covers over two-thirds of Brunei. The economy is dominated by the oil and gas industries.
India
Population
986,611,000
Capital
New Delhi
Language
Hindi, English (official) and many regional languages
Religion
Hindu, Sunni Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist
General
Agriculture, forestry and fishing account for one third of national output and two thirds of employment. India is a major world producer of tea, sugar, jute, cotton, tobacco, chemical products and steel.
Malaysia
Population
21,820,143
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Language
Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil
Religion
Sunni Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, traditional beliefs
General
Malaysia has a tropical climate with heavy rainfall. It is the world's largest producer of tin, palm oil, pepper and tropical hardwoods. High economic growth recently has come from manufacturing. With over 7 million visitors a year, tourism is also a major industry.
Maldives
Population
278,000
Capital
Male
Language
Divehi (Maldivian), English
Religion
Sunni Muslim
General
The Maldive Archipelago comprises of 1,190 coral atolls (202 of which are inhabited), in the Indian Ocean, south-west of India. The climate is hot, humid and monsoonal. The islands depend mainly on fishing and fish processing, light manufacturing (chiefly clothing) and tourism.
Pakistan
Population
146,488,000
Capital
Islamabad
Language
Urdu (official), Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushtu, English
Religion
Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Christian, Hindu
General
Agriculture is the main sector of the economy, employing about half the workforce and accounting for over two-thirds of export earnings.
Singapore
Population
3,999,000
Capital
Singapore
Language
Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil
Religion
Christian, Hindu Buddhist, Taoist, Sunni Muslim
General
Manufacturing industries and services are the main sectors of the economy. The main industries include electronics, oil refining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, ship building, iron and steel, food processing and textiles. Singapore is a major financial centre and has one of the world's busiest ports.
Sri Lanka
Population
19,003,000
Capital
Colombo
Language
Sinhalese, Tamil, English
Religion
Buddhist, Hindu, Sunni Muslim, Roman Catholic
General
The climate is hot and monsoonal. Manufactures chiefly textiles and clothing, while tea, rubber, copra and gems are exported.
