Eternal president: Kim Il-sung (deceased) Chairman, National Defence Commission: Kim Jong-il
Population
1,248,348
24,589,122
Life Expectancy
78.290 years
69.200 years
Capital City
Manama
Largest city
Manama (population: 147,074)
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000)
Human Development Index
0.902
0
GDP per capita
$27,900 US
Literacy Rate
86.5%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
5.4
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.8%
20.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
constitutional monarchy
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Independence date
15 August 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Korean
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
External Debt
$14,930,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
6
Location
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Area
760 km sq
120,538 km sq
Coastline
161 km
2,495 km
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers