President, ruler of Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Population
21,481,334
5,314,317
Life Expectancy
75.940 years
76.710 years
Capital City
Colombo
Abu Dhabi
Largest city
Colombo (population: 648,034)
Dubai (population: 1,137,350)
Human Development Index
0.742
0.903
GDP per capita
$5,700 US
$48,800 US
Literacy Rate
90.7%
77.9%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2
5.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
5.8%
22.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair & family ($7.8bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.200%
2.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Independence date
4 February 1948 (from UK)
2 December 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
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
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Exports
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2008 est.), 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
3.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Area
65,610 km sq
83,600 km sq
Coastline
1,340 km
1,318 km
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
