14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
14 August 1947 (from British India)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5%
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs
External Debt
$104,200,000,000 $
$55,980,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar - 70.64 (2008 est.), 60.6295 (2007), 60.35 (2006), 59.515 (2005), 58.258 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.400%
3.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Area
20,770 km sq
796,095 km sq
Coastline
273 km
1,046 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
