16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Religions
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$2,758,000,000 $
$36,210,000,000 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)
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.800%
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
267,667 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
885 km
580 km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
