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
9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
External Debt
$36,210,000,000 $
$130,200,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.1636 (2008 est.), 3.1105 (2007), 3.0543 (2006), 2.9037 (2005), 2.9233 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Area
143,998 km sq
2,780,400 km sq
Coastline
580 km
4,989 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
