Country
Leader
President: Thomas Boni Yayi
President: Joyce Banda
Population
9,598,787 16,323,044
Life Expectancy
60.260 years 52.310 years
Capital City
Largest city
Cotonou (population: 690,584) Lilongwe (population: 646,750)
Human Development Index
0.459 0.457
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
34.7% 62.7%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1 2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
10.8% 13%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice Abolished in practice
Political System
republic multiparty democracy
Independence date
Religions
Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census) Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Area
112,622 km sq 118,484 km sq
Coastline
121 km 0 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)