Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Languages
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Exports
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
External Debt
$729,900,000 $
$22,810,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
maloti (LSL) per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.25 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
2.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Area
30,355 km sq
65,610 km sq
Coastline
0 km
1,340 km
Climate
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
