| Himalayan states | |
|---|---|
 Satellite imagery of theHimalayas, with state borders overlaid | |
| Countries |  Afghanistan (sometimes included) Bhutan China India Myanmar (sometimes included) Nepal Pakistan |
The termHimalayan states is used to group countries thatstraddle theHimalayas. It primarily denotesBhutan,China,India,Nepal, andPakistan; some definitions also includeAfghanistan andMyanmar.[1][2] Two countries—Bhutan and Nepal—are located almost entirely within the mountain range, which also coverssouthern Tibet, theIndian Himalayan Region, andnorthern Pakistan.[3]
The inhabitants of this region are mostly speakers of theIndo-Aryan languages and theTibeto-Burman languages.[4]
Some of the world's majortransboundary rivers originate in the territory of the Himalayan states, including theBrahmaputra, theGanges, theIndus, and theIrrawaddy.[5]