President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Population
4,140,289
161,083,804
Life Expectancy
75.230 years
70.060 years
Capital City
Dhaka
Largest city
Beirut (population: 1,916,100)
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Human Development Index
0.796
0.524
GDP per capita
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
87.4%
43.1%
Corruption Perception Index
3
2.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
4.7%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Najib Mikati ($2.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
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
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$25,220,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
10,400 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
225 km
580 km
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
