Micronesia, in the western Pacific, consists of some 600 islands grouped into four states: Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk) and Yap.
Population
48,810,427
106,487
Life Expectancy
49.410 years
71.800 years
Capital City
Pretoria (administrative capital)
Largest city
Cape Town (population: 3,433,440)
Weno (population: 17,624)
Human Development Index
0.67
NA
GDP per capita
$11,100 US
Literacy Rate
86.4%
89%
Corruption Perception Index
4.9
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
33.9%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Nicky Oppenheimer & family ($5.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
24.900%
Death Penalty
Abolished
NA
Political System
republic
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Independence date
31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared) 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
Religions
Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Languages
IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census)
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Exports
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
External Debt
$46,070,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 7.9576 (2008 est.), 7.05 (2007), 6.7649 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Area
1,219,090 km sq
702 km sq
Coastline
2,798 km
6,112 km
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
