17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)
Religions
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)
Languages
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals
External Debt
$14,930,000,000 $
$2,684,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6689 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.500%
1.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
28
Location
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Area
760 km sq
301,340 km sq
Coastline
161 km
7,600 km
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
