republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Independence date
1 October 1960 (from UK)
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Religions
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
External Debt
$10,430,000,000 $
$7,074,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 46.5281 (2008 est.), 50.0085 (2007), 51.689 (2006), 50 (2005), 48.5 (2004) note: data for 2004-06 are the public sector rate; data for 2002-03 are the parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut; the official rate for repaying loans was 11.25 Syrian pounds per US dollars during 2004-06,
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.500%
5.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
4
0
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Area
923,768 km sq
185,180 km sq
Coastline
853 km
193 km
Climate
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
