republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
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)
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
