Hinduism in Asia

Hinduism is a major religion and one of the most-followed religions in Asia. In 2020, the total number of Hindus in Asia is more than 1.2 billion, more than 26.2% of Asia's total population. About 99.2% of the world's Hindus live in Asia, with India having 94% of the global Hindu population. Other Asian nations with a notable Hindu population include Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.

History


The roots of Hinduism started and emerged in the Indus River at the Indus Valley civilisation, nearly and spread through the Indian subcontinent, though the history of Hinduism overlaps or coincides with the development of religion in the Indian subcontinent since the Iron Age, with some of its traditions tracing back to prehistoric religions such as those of the Bronze Age Indus Valley civilization. It has thus been called the "oldest religion" in the world.

Hinduism spread in the South and Southeast Asia by the Hindu rulers and dynasties and the reign of Gupta Empire or Gupta era was considered as the "Golden period" for Hinduism and the religion also spread to Central Asia and Afghanistan through the Silk route. There were also many Hindu colonies in the middle-east Asia with significance of trade with the parts of the world. Though with the Spread of Islam and Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, the Hinduism started declining and shrunk in the Indian subcontinent religion.