República de
Colombia (Spanish)
Republic of
Colombia
|
|
 |
 |
|
Flag |
Coat of arms |
|
Motto: "Libertad
y Orden" (Spanish)
"Liberty and Order" |
|
Anthem: "Oh,
Gloria Inmarcesible!" (Spanish) |
|
|
 |
|
Location
of Colombia |
|
Capital
(and largest city) |
Bogotá
 4°39′N,
74°3′W |
|
Official languages |
Spanish |
|
Demonym |
Colombian |
|
Government |
Presidential
republic |
|
- |
President |
Álvaro Uribe Velez |
|
- |
Vice President |
Francisco Santos |
|
- |
President of
Congress |
Nancy Gutiérrez |
|
- |
President of the
Supreme Court |
César Valencia |
|
Independence |
from
Spain |
|
- |
Declared |
July 20,
1810 |
|
- |
Recognized |
August 7,
1819 |
|
Area |
|
- |
Total |
1,141,748 km² (26th)
440,839 sq mi |
|
- |
Water (%) |
8.8 |
|
|
Population |
|
- |
April 2008 estimate |
44,087,000 (29th) |
|
- |
2005 census |
42,888,592 |
|
- |
Density |
40/km² (161st)
104/sq mi |
|
GDP (PPP) |
2005 estimate |
|
- |
Total |
$337.286
billion (29th) |
|
- |
Per capita |
$7,565 (81st) |
|
Gini (2006) |
52 (high) |
|
HDI (2007) |
▲ 0.791 (medium) (75th) |
|
Currency |
Colombian peso (COP) |
|
Time zone |
(UTC-5) |
|
Internet TLD |
.co |
|
Calling code |
+57 |
|
Malaysia (pronounced /məˈleɪʒə/
or /məˈleɪziə/) is a country
that consists of thirteen states
and three federal territories in
Southeast Asia with a total
landmass of 329,847 square
kilometres
(127,355 sq mi).[1][2] The
capital city is Kuala Lumpur,
while Putrajaya is the seat of
the federal government. The
population stands at over 25
million.[2] The country is
separated into two regions —
Peninsular Malaysia and
Malaysian Borneo — by the South
China Sea. [2] Malaysia borders
Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore,
Brunei and the Philippines.[2]
The country is located near the
equator and experiences a
tropical climate.[2] Malaysia is
headed by the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong and politically led by a
Prime Minister.[3][4] The
government is closely modeled
after the Westminster
parliamentary system.
Malaysia as a unified state did
not exist until 1963.
Previously, a set of colonies
were established by the United
Kingdom from the late-18th
century, and the western half of
modern Malaysia was composed of
several separate kingdoms. This
group of colonies was known as
British Malaya until its
dissolution in 1946, when it was
reorganised as the Federation of
Malaya and later recognised as
an independent nation in
1957.[6] Singapore, Sarawak,
British North Borneo and the
Federation of Malaya joined to
form Malaysia on 16 September
1963.[7] The early years of the
new union were marred by an
armed conflict with Indonesia
and the expulsion of
Singapore.[8][9] The Southeast
Asian nation experienced an
economic boom and underwent
rapid development during the
late-20th century. With a GDP
per capita standing at
USD14,400, it has, from time to
time, been considered a newly
industrialised country.[10][11]
As one of three countries that
control the Strait of Malacca,
international trade plays a
large role in its economy.[12]
At one time, it was the largest
producer of tin, rubber and palm
oil in the world.[13][14]
Manufacturing has a large
influence in the country's
economy.
The Malays form the majority of
the population. Some Malays are
of Arab descent and there are
sizable Chinese and Indian
communities. Islam is the
largest as well as the official
religion of the
federation.[2][16] The Malay
language is the official
language.[17] Malay was
originally written in Jawi,
based on Arabic script, but
nowadays, the Roman alphabet (Rumi)
is more often used.
Malaysia is a founding member of
the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and participates
in many international
organisations such as the United
Nations.[18][19] As a former
British colony, it is also a
member of the Commonwealth of
Nations.[20] It is also a member
of the Developing 8 Countries.