1996 Edition

Description

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Location

9 30 N, 2 15 E -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

land area

110,620 sq km

total area

112,620 sq km

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

121 km

Environment

current issues

recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geographic note

no natural harbors

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

60 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

total

1,989 km

Land use

arable land

12%

forest and woodland

35%

meadows and pastures

4%

other

45%

permanent crops

4%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

highest point

Mount Tanekas 641 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 1,376,531; female 1,367,394) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,349,386; female 1,480,251) 65 years and over: 2% (male 60,030; female 75,937) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

46.76 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

13.53 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Infant mortality rate

105.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Life expectancy at birth

female

54.7 years (1996 est.)

male

50.74 years

total population

52.69 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

25.8%

male

48.7%

total population

37%

Nationality

adjective

Beninese

noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

5,709,529 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.32% (1996 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.64 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou

Capital

Porto-Novo

Constitution

2 December 1990

Data code

BN

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council, appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001); results - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

[229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74

Flag

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system

based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Benin

conventional short form

Benin

former

Dahomey

local long form

Republique du Benin

local short form

Benin

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (83 total) Renaissance Party and allies 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2, Alliance Chameleon 1, RDP 1, ADP 1, other 16

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1990)

Political parties and leaders

as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officially recognized; the following are

represented in the National Assembly

Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO; Action for Renewal and Development (FARD-ALAFIA), Mathieu KEREKOU; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU; Alliance Chameleon; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Adekpedjon AKINDES; Alliance for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Communist Party of Benin, Pascal FATONDJI, First Secretary; Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP); The Renaissance Party, Nicephore SOGLO

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador John M. YATES

embassy

Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou

mailing address

B. P. 2012, Cotonou

telephone

[229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92

Agriculture

corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock

Budget

expenditures

$375 million, including capital expenditures of $84 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$272 million (1993 est.)

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output, which had averaged a sound 4% in 1990-94, rose to 6% in 1995. Rapid population growth, now 3.3% per year, offset much of this growth in output. Inflation jumped to 55% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency devaluation in January 1994, but subsided gradually in 1995. Commercial and transport activities, which make up 37% of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in Nigeria as evidenced by decreased reexport trade in 1994 due to a severe contraction in Nigerian demand. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program since 1991.

Electricity

capacity

30,000 kW

consumption per capita

25 kWh (1993)

production

10 million kWh

Exchange rates

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)

note

beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Exports

$310 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

partners

France, Morocco 37%, Portugal 14%, Spain, Italy, UK, US, Libya

External debt

$1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

36.8%

industry

12.6%

services

50.6% (1993)

GDP per capita

$1,380 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US

Imports

$439 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities

foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods

partners

France 24%, Thailand 12%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%, China, Hong Kong

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

55% (1994 est.)

Labor force

1.9 million (1987)

by occupation

agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $33 million, 3.2% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

females age 15-49

1,290,773

females fit for military service

653,094

females reach military age (18) annually

60,968 (1996 est.)

males age 15-49

1,212,440

males fit for military service

620,923

males reach military age (18) annually

62,526

note

both sexes are liable for military service

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

fair system of open wire and microwave radio relay

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable

Telephones

16,200 (1986 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2

Televisions

20,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

5

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

1,214 km

total

6,070 km

unpaved

4,856 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways

narrow gauge

578 km 1.000-m gauge

total

578 km (single track) (1995 est.)

Waterways

navigable along small sections, important only locally