India: A Growing Population

India’s Growing Population

Current Indian Population Each year, India adds more people to the population of the world than any other nation.

1336.7 1189.1 313.2

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce: Economics and Statistics Administration, India will surpass China in size by 2050.

99% 73.4% Men 47.8% Women Literacy Rates United States India (CIA World Factbook2011) 73.4% Men 47.8% Women (Rates for 2011, CIA World Factbook)

India’s Occupations Industry: Agriculture Industry Service % of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 16% 28% 55% % of Indian Workforce in Each Field 52% 14% Products or Services Offered rice, wheat, cotton, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes; dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry; fish textiles, steel, cement, mining, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals, electronics : i-Pod, Samsung, htc Informational Technologies (tech support), Business Process Outsourcing (human resources, financing, accounting) Many businesses are relocating all or some of their businesses to India. Why? Because India has a “large pool of low-cost, skilled, educated, English-speaking workers.” (U.S. Department of Commerce: Economic and Statistics Administration)

Overpopulation: “the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash”

Overpopulation “Global population continues to rise at a rate of roughly 78 million people per year. Most of the growth is taking place in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South and Western Asia—areas least able to afford more people. Not coincidentally, the same places are plagued by deforestation and other unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.” (NationalGeographic.com)

The United Nations estimates that as the 21st century begins, more than a billion people lack basic needs. Out of an estimated 4.8 billion people in developing nations: (NationalGeographic.com)

India’s Economy 2/3 of people rely on farming Most live in poverty Need land reform- redistribute land more evenly Green Revolution Scientists researched new farming techniques to increase production Industry Mumbai is India’s most prosperous city Major producer of iron and steel, chemicals, machinery, food products

Pakistan and Bangladesh Economy Depend primarily on agriculture Most live in poverty Climates ruin crops Q1: What climates would ruin their crops? Pakistan: arid region Bangladesh: monsoons Neither are highly industrialized Microcredit introduced = small loans available to poorer entrepreneurs

Nepal and Bhutan’s Economy Q2: Why would topography limit economic development here? Isolation and difficult topography have limited economic development Based on agriculture Problems: mountainous, poor soil, erosion Timber industry very profitable Increasing tourism

Sri Lanka and the Maldives’ Economy Based on agriculture Highest per capita income in South Asia Tea, rubber, coconuts, fishing Famous for precious stones (mining) Increasing tourism Civil war in 1980s in Sri Lanka decreased tourism Global Warming: most of the Maldives lie right at sea level. Any rise in sea level could cause them to flood completely

Extreme Weather Monsoons Political Tension Physical Impact: rains in the summer months are critical to agriculture Flooding Cyclones can cause devastation Droughts in winter monsoons Economic Impact: Crops are ruined in drought and flood People lose their families and homes Political Tension India constructed the Farakka dam across the Ganges The dam left little water to run into Bangladesh

Kashmir Strategic location at the foot of the Himalayas Indus river flows through the region (extremely important) Since 1947, India and Pakistan have been fighting over this territory Kashmir’s majority was Muslim but ruled by Hindus

Kashmir and Nuclear Weapons 1998- began testing nuclear weapons 1999- last war takes place (no nuclear weapons used) Q7: What is the MAJOR problem with this (besides nuclear devastation)? Money spent on troops, arms, and nuclear weapons could have been spent on the education/ending social issues/ defeating poverty.