President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
President: Jorge Carlos Fonseca
Population
161,083,804
523,568
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
71.000 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Praia
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Praia (population: 113,364)
Human Development Index
0.524
0.705
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
$4,000 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
76.6%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
5.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
18.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
21.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy
republic
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
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
External Debt
$25,220,000,000 $
$657,700,000 US
Exchange Rate
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 73.84 (2008 est.), 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.300%
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Area
143,998 km sq
4,033 km sq
Coastline
580 km
965 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
