President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
President: Sebastian Pinera
Population
161,083,804
17,067,369
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
78.100 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Santiago
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Santiago (population: 4,837,300)
Human Development Index
0.524
0.874
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
$17,400 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
95.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
6.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
12.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Eliodoro Matte & family ($5.9bn US)
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
6.600%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished except for special circumstances
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
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
External Debt
$25,220,000,000 $
$99,400,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar - 509.02 (2008 est.), 526.25 (2007), 530.29 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.300%
2.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Area
143,998 km sq
756,102 km sq
Coastline
580 km
6,435 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
