18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
Religions
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
German
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles
External Debt
$729,900,000 $
$5,624,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
41
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Area
30,355 km sq
357,022 km sq
Coastline
0 km
2,389 km
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
