no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
Independence date
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Sunni Muslim
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Area
2 km sq
637,657 km sq
Coastline
4 km
3,025 km
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
