Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor
Population
21,481,334
109,011
Life Expectancy
75.940 years
73.300 years
Capital City
Colombo
Largest city
Colombo (population: 648,034)
Saint George's (population: 7,500)
Human Development Index
0.742
0.774
GDP per capita
$5,700 US
Literacy Rate
90.7%
96%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
5.8%
21.4%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
4.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished in practice
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
4 February 1948 (from UK)
Religions
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
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
English (official), French patois
Exports
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
External Debt
$22,810,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
65,610 km sq
344 km sq
Coastline
1,340 km
121 km
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
