President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Population
15,494,466
161,083,804
Life Expectancy
53.060 years
70.060 years
Capital City
Bamako
Dhaka
Largest city
Bamako (population: 1,297,280)
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Human Development Index
0.391
0.524
GDP per capita
$1,100 US
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
46.4%
43.1%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1
2.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
10.2%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
30.000%
5.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
22 September 1960 (from France)
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 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
cotton, gold, livestock
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$3,192,000,000 $
$25,220,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
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
1.900%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
1,240,192 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
0 km
580 km
Climate
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
