Country
Kenya Mauritania
Leader
Population
43,013,341 3,359,185
Life Expectancy
63.070 years 61.530 years
Capital City
Nairobi Nouakchott
Largest city
Nairobi (population: 2,750,550) Nouakchott (population: 661,400)
Human Development Index
0.532 0.557 GDP per capita $1,800 US $2,200 US
Literacy Rate
85.1% 51.2%
Corruption Perception Index
2.1 2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
9.8% 19.9% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 40.000% 30.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice Abolished in practice
Political System
republic military junta
Independence date
12 December 1963 (from UK) 28 November 1960 (from France) Religions Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2% note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely Muslim 100% Languages English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya Exports tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum External Debt $8,947,000,000 $ $2,816,000,000 US Exchange Rate Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 68.358 (2008 est.), 68.309 (2007), 72.101 (2006), 75.554 (2005), 79.174 (2004) ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 2.800% 5.500% Beijing Olympics Medal Count 14 0 Location Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara Area 580,367 km sq 1,030,700 km sq Coastline 536 km 754 km Climate varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
