President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
President : Thein Sein
Population
161,083,804
54,584,650
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
65.240 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Rangoon (Yangon)
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Rangoon (population: 4,477,640)
Human Development Index
0.524
NA
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
$1,300 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
89.9%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
5.500%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
parliamentary democracy
military junta
Independence date
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
4 January 1948 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
kyats (MMK) per US dollar - 1,205 (2008 est.), 1,296 (2007), 1,280 (2006), 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004) note: unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by yearend 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar; data shown for 2003-05 are official exchange rates
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.300%
2.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Area
143,998 km sq
676,578 km sq
Coastline
580 km
1,930 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
