first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language
Exports
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
External Debt
$20,030,000,000 $
$626,900,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.300%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
7
Location
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Area
283,561 km sq
43,094 km sq
Coastline
2,237 km
7,314 km
Climate
tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
