republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Independence date
17 August 1960 (from France)
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
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)
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Exports
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
External Debt
$2,726,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
