2. El Salvador Head of state: Republic. President – Antonio Saca Ethnic Groups: Mestizo – 90%, White – 9%, Amerindian – 1% Languages: Spanish (Castellano), English extremely popular at school Religions: Christian nation (57% Roman Catholic) Literacy rate: Age 10+ can read and write. 80.2% of population literate Life expectancy: 72.33 years Human Development index rank: #103 Population: 7, 066, 403 Population below poverty line: 30.7% Currency: Adopted the U.S dollar in 2001.
3. Colombia Head of State: Bicameral Congress. President – Alvaro Uribe Ethnic groups: Mestizo – 58%, White – 20%, Mulatto – 14%, Black – 4%, Amerindian – 1% Languages: Spanish Religions: Roman Catholic – 90%, Other – 10% Literacy rate: age 15+ can read and write. 90.4% of population Human Development index rank: #75 Population: 45 million (growing 1.4% anually) -> growth rate decreasing due to people fleeing country from drug/violence Currency: Columbian peso Population below poverty line: 49.2%
4. Dominican Republic Head of state: Democratic Republic. President – LeonalFernandes Reyna Ethnic groups: Mixed – 73%, White – 16%, Black – 11% Languages: Spanish Religions: Catholic – 95% Literacy rate: 87% Life expectancy: 73.7 years Human Development index rank: 90 Population: 9,650,054 Currency: Dominican peso Population below poverty line: 42.2%
5. Chile Head of state: Multiparty Democracy. President – (female!) Michelle Bachelet Ethnic groups: White and Amerindian white – 95.4%, Mapuche – 4%, Other indigenous – 0.6% Languages: Spanish (Castellano) Religions: Catholic – 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, other – 8.3% Literacy rate: age 15+ can read and write. 95.7% Life expectancy: 77.34 years Human Development index rank: #40 Population: 16,601,707 Currency: Chilean peso Population below poverty line: 18.2%
