System of government: Republic Capital: Baghdad Location: Iraq has a short coastline on the Persian Gulf in the south-east. It is bounded by Turkey to the north, Iran to the north-east, Kuwait to the south-east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Jordan and Syria to the west Area: 434,924 sq km National composition: Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Armenians, Iranians, Turks Religion: …

System of government: Republic Capital: Tehran Location: In south-western Asia, Iran is bounded by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, the USSR to the north, and Iraq and Turkey to the west Area: 1,648,000 sq km National composition: Persian (Farsi), roughly two-thirds of the population; one-fourth Turki, some Kurds …

System of government: Republic Capital: Kabul Location: Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south-central Asia, with borders with the USSR to the north, China, Pakistan to the east and Iran to the west. Area: 647,497 sq km National composition: The population is mixed; Indo-European Pathans make up about 50 percent and Tadzhiks about 30 percent of the population. Other groups …

System of government: Federal republic Capital: Delhi Location: On the Indian subcontinent, between the Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south. India has borders with Pakistan in the West, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north, and Bangladesh and Burma in the east. India also includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, …

System of government: Republic Capital: Colombo Location: An island nation off the south-east coast of India Area: 65,610 sq km National composition: Sinhalese, Ceylon Tamils, Ceylon Moors, Indian Tamils and others Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity Official language: Sinhala Currency: Sri Lankan rupee = 100 cents Administrative divisions: Other major cities: Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia, Moratuwa, Jaffna Highest elevation: Pidurutalagala Climate: Tropical, …

System of government: Republic Capital: Male Location: An island nation formed by some 2,000 coral islands in the north-eastern Indian ocean. Only about 220 islands are inhabited Area: 298 sq km National composition: Maldivians Religion: Islam Official language: Divehi (Maldive) Currency: Maldive rupee (ruiyaa) = 100 laaris Administrative divisions: 19 districts Climate: Tropical, monsoon type The economy of the Maldives …

System of government: Monarchy Capital: Thimphu. In winter, the royal court moves to Punakha, which has a milder climate than Thimphu Location: Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas. It is sandwiched between India to the south and China to north Area: 47,000 sq km National composition: The Bhutias, who live in the eastern part of the country, migrated to Bhutan …

System of government: Republic Capital: Dhaka Location: On the Bay of Bengal; Bangladesh is bordered mainly by India, with Burma in the extreme south-east Area: 143,998 sq km National composition: Bengali (98%), Bihari and Tribes of the Tibeto – Burman language group Religions: Islam (80%), Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity Official languages: Bengali, English Currency: Taka = 100 poisha Administrative divisions: 4 …

System of government: Republic Capital: Rangoon Location: On the Bay of Bengal, Burma has borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand Area: 676,552 sq km National composition: Mostly Tibeto-Burmese, many hill tribes Religions: Mainly Buddhism; Islam, Christianity Official language: Burmese Currency: Kyat = 100 pyas Administrative divisions: Myanmar is divided into twenty-one administrative subdivisions Other major cities: Mandalay, Bassin, …

System of government: Republic Capital: Vientiane Location: Landlocked nation in south-eastern Asia, enclosed by China, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Thailand and Burma Area: 236,800 sq km National composition: Mostly Lao, with many small minority groups Religion: Buddhism Official language: Lao Currency: Kip = 100 ats Administrative divisions: 17 provinces and one prefecture Other major cities: Savannakhet, Pakse, Luang Prabang Highest elevation: Phu …