President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Eternal president: Kim Il-sung (deceased) Chairman, National Defence Commission: Kim Jong-il
Population
161,083,804
24,589,122
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
69.200 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000)
Human Development Index
0.524
0
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
20.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
parliamentary democracy
Communist state one-man dictatorship
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)
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Korean
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
0
6
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Area
143,998 km sq
120,538 km sq
Coastline
580 km
2,495 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
