Head of state, prime minister: King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud
Queen: Margrethe II Prime Minister: Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Population
26,534,504
5,543,453
Life Expectancy
74.350 years
78.780 years
Capital City
Riyadh
Copenhagen
Largest city
Riyadh (population: 4,205,960)
Copenhagen (population: 1,153,620)
Human Development Index
0.835
0.952
GDP per capita
$24,500 US
$37,600 US
Literacy Rate
78.8%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3.5
9.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
38%
Wealthiest Citizens
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud ($13.3bn US)
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen ($2.1bn US)
Unemployment Rate
10.900%
6.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
monarchy
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
Religions
Muslim 100%
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
Languages
Arabic
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products 90%
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
External Debt
$105,900,000,000 $
$626,900,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar - 3.75 (2008 est.), 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004)
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
10.000%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
7
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Area
2,149,690 km sq
43,094 km sq
Coastline
2,640 km
7,314 km
Climate
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
