|
Country
|
Korea, South |
|
|
Leader
|
President: Lee Myung-bak
|
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Ralph Gonsalves
|
|
Population
|
48,860,500
| 103,537
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
79.300 years
| 74.390 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Seoul
|
|
|
Largest city
|
| Seoul (population: 10,349,300) | Kingstown (population: 24,518) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.928
| 0.766
|
| GDP per capita |
$32,100 US
|
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
97.9%
| 96%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
NA
| 6.5
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
13.7%
| 18.2%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
|
| Unemployment Rate |
3.400%
|
|
|
Death Penalty
|
NA
| Legal
|
| |
|
Political System
|
republic
| parliamentary democracy
|
|
Independence date
|
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
|
|
| Religions |
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)
| Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
|
| Languages |
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
| English, French patois
|
| Exports |
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
|
|
| External Debt |
$397,300,000,000 $
|
|
| Exchange Rate |
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,101.7 (2008 est.), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004)
|
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
2.700%
|
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
31
| 0
|
| Location |
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
| Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
|
| Area |
99,720 km sq
| 389 km sq
|
| Coastline |
2,413 km
| 84 km
|
| Climate |
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
| tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
|
|
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|
