Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
President, ruler of Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Population
287,733
5,314,317
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
76.710 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Abu Dhabi
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Dubai (population: 1,137,350)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.903
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$48,800 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
77.9%
Corruption Perception Index
7
5.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
22.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair & family ($7.8bn US)
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
2.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
2 December 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages
English
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2008 est.), 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
3.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
