Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Exports
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
External Debt
$22,810,000,000 $
$11,080,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.47 (2008 est.), 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Area
65,610 km sq
69,700 km sq
Coastline
1,340 km
310 km
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
