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)
Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru Independent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$36,210,000,000 $
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
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Area
143,998 km sq
21 km sq
Coastline
580 km
30 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
