President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Population
1,386,914
161,083,804
Life Expectancy
49.420 years
70.060 years
Capital City
Mbabane
Dhaka
Largest city
Manzini (population: 110,537)
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Human Development Index
0.542
0.524
GDP per capita
$5,400 US
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
81.6%
43.1%
Corruption Perception Index
3.6
2.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
40.000%
5.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
monarchy
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
6 September 1968 (from UK)
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Religions
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$703,100,000 $
$25,220,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.700%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
17,364 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
0 km
580 km
Climate
varies from tropical to near temperate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
