Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
1,608,321
316,182
Life Expectancy
52.290 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Libreville
Nassau
Largest city
Libreville (population: 578,156)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.729
NA
GDP per capita
$16,400 US
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
63.2%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
16.1%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
21.000%
14.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
NA
Political System
republic; multiparty presidential regime
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
17 August 1960 (from France)
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$2,726,000,000 $
$342,600,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
267,667 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
885 km
3,542 km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
