republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
republic; presidential, multiparty system
Independence date
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
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)
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area
56,785 km sq
26,338 km sq
Coastline
56 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
