Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Population
685,991
287,733
Life Expectancy
62.750 years
74.520 years
Capital City
Malabo
Bridgetown
Largest city
Bata (population: 173,046)
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Human Development Index
0.717
0.889
GDP per capita
$19,600 US
$23,700 US
Literacy Rate
87%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
1.7
7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
6%
13.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
22.300%
12.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
30 November 1966 (from UK)
Religions
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
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.)
Languages
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
English
Exports
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
External Debt
$1,051,000,000 $
$668,000,000 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)
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.100%
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
