republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
republic
Independence date
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Exports
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
External Debt
$7,336,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
drams (AMD) per US dollar - 303.93 (2008 est.), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
6
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
