President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
President: Ram Baran Yadav
Population
161,083,804
29,890,686
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
66.510 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Kathmandu
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Kathmandu (population: 1,442,270)
Human Development Index
0.524
0.53
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
$1,300 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
48.6%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
2.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
33.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
46.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy
federal democratic 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
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) note: only official Hindu state in the world
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
