President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
President: Alpha Conde
Population
161,083,804
10,884,958
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
58.610 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Camayenne (population: 1,871,240)
Human Development Index
0.524
0.423
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
29.5%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
1.6
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
19.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
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
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$25,220,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Area
143,998 km sq
245,857 km sq
Coastline
580 km
320 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
