republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Independence date
9 November 1953 (from France)
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
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)