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 The Republic of India, is bounded on the north by Afghanistan, China, Nepal, and Bhutan; on the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the Bay of Bengal; on the south by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannār (which separates it from Sri Lanka) and the Indian Ocean; and on the west by the Arabian Sea and Pakistan. India is divided into 28 states and 7 union territories (including the National Capital Territory of Delhi). New Delhi is the country’s capital.
The sub-continent, 3200km (2000 miles) from the Himalayas in the north to the tropical Kerala in the south, is home to one sixth of the world’s population, a diverse culture and an rich history.
INDIA FACT SHEET
Full Name: Republic of India
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Land Boundaries: 14,103 km
Border Countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline: 7,000 km
Area: 3,287,590 sq. km
Population: 1,045,845,226 (2002)
Capital City: New Delhi
People: Indian
Ethenic Groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)
Religion: Secular state. Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jain 0.5%, Zoroastrian and others 0.4%
Language: 18 official languages, 1652 dialects. English is widely spoken.
Government: Federal Republic
Climate: Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain: Upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0m, highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
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