Head of state: Emperor Akihito Prime minister: Yoshihiko Noda
President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Population
127,368,088
161,083,804
Life Expectancy
83.910 years
70.060 years
Capital City
Tokyo
Dhaka
Largest city
Tokyo (population: 8,336,600)
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Human Development Index
0.956
0.524
GDP per capita
$35,200 US
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
99%
43.1%
Corruption Perception Index
7.3
2.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Tadashi Yanai & family ($6.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.600%
5.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
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
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
Japanese
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$2,719,000,000,000 $
$25,220,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 103.58 (2008 est.), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (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
0.800%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
25
0
Location
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
377,915 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
29,751 km
580 km
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
