India
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| Photo:
Rajendra Shaw/Oxfam GB |
India has a coastline of more than 6,400 kilometres, with vastly
different landscapes, from the Himalayas in the north to the lush
coconut groves of Kerala in the south. Most of India lies in the
tropics, and so stays warm throughout the year. However, it also
has the largest area of snow and glaciers outside the polar regions.
In many parts of India there is a rainy season between June and
September, known as the monsoon (meaning seasonal wind). The monsoon
brings very heavy rain, and in some areas, flooding.
India is one of the most important industrial countries in the
world. It has a huge computer industry and its own space programme.
It produces enough food to feed its people, and is the largest
democracy in the world.
India is the second most populated country in the world, after
China. Although three-quarters of people live in the countryside,
the number of people living in cities is growing rapidly. Despite
being a very rich country, many people in India live in poverty.
The country's programmes to fight poverty are the largest in the
world, but they do not reach all who need them.
Religion is an important part of people's life in India. Hinduism
is practised by 83 per cent of the population, while 11 per cent
are Muslim. There are also Buddhist and Christian minorities.
There are 18 officially recognised languages in India (of which
Hindi is the most widely spoken) and over 700 minor languages
and dialects.
| Capital |
New Delhi |
| Population |
1 billion |
| Area |
3,287,590 sq km |
| Language |
Hindi. There are 17 other official Indian
languages, of which English is not one, although it is widely
spoken. |
| GNP per capita |
$380 |
| Life expectancy |
62 years |
| People per doctor |
2,439 |
| Literacy |
66% male, 38% female |
| Percentage of population with access to
safe water |
81% |
| Urban population |
27.1% |
Statistics taken from
the Human Development Report 2000, published by the United Nations
Development Programme, and the World Guide 1999/2000, published
by New Internationalist Publications.
For more information
about India, see the India
feature on Cool Planet for Children.
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