President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
President: Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz
Population
5,353,494
3,359,185
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
61.530 years
Capital City
Singapore
Nouakchott
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Nouakchott (population: 661,400)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.557
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
$2,200 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
51.2%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
2.8
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
19.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
30.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary republic
military junta
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
28 November 1960 (from France)
Religions
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
Muslim 100%
Languages
Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 $
$2,816,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.415 (2008 est.), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004)
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.900%
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Area
697 km sq
1,030,700 km sq
Coastline
193 km
754 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
