Head of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Population
34,206,710
716,896
Life Expectancy
62.570 years
67.880 years
Capital City
Khartoum
Thimphu
Largest city
Khartoum (population: 1,974,650)
Thimphu (population: 98,676)
Human Development Index
0.526
0.613
GDP per capita
$2,800 US
$6,200 US
Literacy Rate
61.1%
47%
Corruption Perception Index
1.6
5.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
16.8%
13.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
18.700%
4.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections in 2009
in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Independence date
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 2.1 (2008 est.), 2.06 (2007), 2.172 (2006), 2.4361 (2005), 2.5791 (2004) note: in October 2007 Sudan redenominated its currency by transforming 100 units of Sudanese dinar into one unit of Sudanese pound
ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003) note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.000%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Southern Asia, between China and India
Area
1,861,484 km sq
38,394 km sq
Coastline
853 km
0 km
Climate
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
