Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general Prime minister: Baldwin Spencer
Population
22,005,222
89,018
Life Expectancy
64.000 years
75.690 years
Capital City
Saint John's
Largest city
Antananarivo (population: 1,391,430)
Saint John's (population: 24,226)
Human Development Index
0.533
0.83
GDP per capita
$18,200 US
Literacy Rate
68.9%
85.8%
Corruption Perception Index
3.4
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
9.4%
16.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
11.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Independence date
1 November 1981 (from UK)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Languages
English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)
English (official), local dialects
Exports
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
External Debt
$359,800,000 US
Exchange Rate
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Area
587,041 km sq
443 km sq
Coastline
4,828 km
153 km
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
