republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
republic
Independence date
20 March 1956 (from France)
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 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)
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Exports
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
External Debt
$23,210,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
1
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Area
56,785 km sq
163,610 km sq
Coastline
56 km
1,148 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
