President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Prime minister: Denzil Douglas
Population
161,083,804
50,726
Life Expectancy
70.060 years
74.840 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Largest city
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Basseterre (population: 12,920)
Human Development Index
0.524
0.83
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
43.1%
97.8%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
6.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
parliamentary democracy
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)
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
English
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
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Area
143,998 km sq
261 km sq
Coastline
580 km
135 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
