大概是全球人口最多的地理區域了。南亞的9 個國家總共住了全球四分之一的人口(19 億)，包含人口密度排名前六的孟加拉、擁有2 億人口的巴基斯坦，以及全球人口第二多的印度。也因為龐大的人口壓力，以及過度擁擠的都市，使得南亞成為繼非洲撒哈拉地區後全球最貧窮的區域之一。
相較其他地區有著同質性的信仰，南亞各國的宗教大相逕庭，有佛教為主的不丹和尼泊爾，也有信奉伊斯蘭教的伊朗、阿富汗和巴基斯坦。更不用說以印度教為主，卻擁有全球前二大穆斯林人口的印度。宗教的差異性，加上英國殖民後留下的主權爭議，南亞各國離和睦相處還有好大段距離。

*在聯合國編碼系統中，伊朗和阿富汗被歸類於南亞，但傳統上兩者大多被列為西亞。

South Asia is likely the most populated geographical area in the world. 

The nine countries in South Asia account for one quarter of the world’s population: 1.9 billion people, including Bangladesh, which ranks 6th in population density; Pakistan, which boasts a population of 200 million; and India, which is the second most populated country in the world. But due to its large population and overcrowded cities, South Asia is also one of the poorest areas in the world, second only to Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Whereas other areas are more religiously homogeneous, South Asian countries have very different religions, including Buddhism in Bhutan and Nepal, and Islam in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Not to mention the fact that India mainly follows Hinduism, yet has the second largest Muslim population in the world. With the differences in religions combined with sovereignty controversies, the legacy of British colonization, South Asia has a long way to go to reach peace and harmony between nations. 

(Iran and Afghanistan are categorized under South Asia as the United Nations M49 Standards, but traditionally, the two countries are listed as part of West Asia.)