1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Belarusian, Russian, other
Exports
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
External Debt
$548,300,000,000 $
$33,730,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2,130 (2008 est.), 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006), 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.300%
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
19
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Area
92,090 km sq
207,600 km sq
Coastline
1,793 km
0 km
Climate
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
