President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
President: Mohamed Nasheed
Population
161,083,804
394,451
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
74.690 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Male
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Male (population: 84,972)
Human Development Index
0.524
0.749
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
$8,800 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
96.3%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
12%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
14.500%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
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
26 July 1965 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Sunni Muslim
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
fish
External Debt
$25,220,000,000 $
$943,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.300%
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Area
143,998 km sq
298 km sq
Coastline
580 km
644 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
