|
Country
|
 Australia | Dominican Republic |
|
Leader
|

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
|

President: Danilo Medina
|
|
Population
|
22,015,576
| 10,088,598
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
81.900 years
| 77.440 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Canberra
| Santo Domingo
|
|
Largest city
|
| Sydney (population: 4,394,580) | Juan Dolio (population: 8,581,480) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.965
| 0.768
|
| GDP per capita |
$40,800 US
| $9,400 US
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
99%
| 87%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
8.7
| 3
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
29.6%
| 17.1%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
| NA
|
| Unemployment Rate |
5.100%
| 13.100%
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Abolished
| Abolished
|
| |
|
Political System
|
federal parliamentary democracy
| democratic republic
|
|
Independence date
|
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
| 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
|
| Religions |
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
| Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
|
| Languages |
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
| Spanish
|
| Exports |
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
| ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods
|
| External Debt |
$1,376,000,000,000 $
| $14,420,000,000 US
|
| Exchange Rate |
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
| Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 34.775 (2008 est.), 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006), 30.409 (2005), 42.12 (2004)
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
3.000%
| 0.700%
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
46
| 2
|
| Location |
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
| Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
|
| Area |
7,741,220 km sq
| 48,670 km sq
|
| Coastline |
25,760 km
| 1,288 km
|
| Climate |
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
| tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
|
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