221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established)
1 October 1960 (from UK)
Religions
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2% note: officially atheist (2002 est.)
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Exports
electrical and other machinery, including data processing equipment, apparel, textile, iron and steel, optical and medical equipment
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
External Debt
$697,200,000,000 $
$10,430,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar - 6.9385 (2008 est.), 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004)
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.300%
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
100
4
Location
Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Area
9,596,961 km sq
923,768 km sq
Coastline
14,500 km
853 km
Climate
extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
