President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Population
30,419,928
161,083,804
Life Expectancy
49.720 years
70.060 years
Capital City
Kabul
Dhaka
Largest city
Kabul (population: 3,043,530)
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Human Development Index
0
0.524
GDP per capita
$1,000 US
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
28.1%
43.1%
Corruption Perception Index
1.5
2.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
25.9%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
35.000%
5.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
Islamic republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Religions
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$1,280,000,000 $
$25,220,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 50 (2007), 46 (2006), 47.7 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003)
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
652,230 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
0 km
580 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
