nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Exports
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$1,232,000,000 $
$4,344,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.100%
4.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
2
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Area
28,051 km sq
2,381,741 km sq
Coastline
296 km
998 km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer