2003 Edition

Age structure

0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)

Area

land

110,620 sq km

total

112,620 sq km

water

2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Background

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. Geography Benin

Birth rate

43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

121 km

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Benin

conventional short form

Benin

former

Dahomey

local long form

Republique du Benin

local short form

Benin

Death rate

13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Sokbaro 658 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geography - note

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands People Benin

Government type

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

8,100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

120,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

91.79 deaths/1,000 live births

total

86.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

120 sq km (1998 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

15.28%

other

83.36% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1.36%

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

51.84 years (2003 est.)

male

50.35 years

total population

51.08 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

26.5% (2000) Government Benin

male

56.2%

total population

40.9%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 NM

Median age

female

16.9 years (2002)

male

15.9 years

total

16.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Beninese

noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

7,041,490

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.95% (2003 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Total fertility rate

6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Agriculture - products

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)

Airports

5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002) Military Benin

Budget

expenditures

$561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

revenues

$377.4 million

Constitution

December 1990

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code

XOF

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Wayne NEILL

embassy

Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou

mailing address

01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou

telephone

[229] 30-06-50

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN

Disputes - international

two villages are in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, but states accept 2001 arbitration over disputed Niger River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved the boundary stones - joint commission presently resurveying the boundary

Economic aid - recipient

$342.6 million (2000)

Economy - overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a stable 5% in the past six years, but rapid population rise has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for speeded-up structural reforms.

Electricity - consumption

631.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

376 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

274.3 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

14.2%

hydro

85.8%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Executive branch

chief of state

President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Exports

$207 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners

India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

[229] 30-06-70

chancery

2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Benin

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

38%

industry

15%

services

47% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)

total

6,787 km

unpaved

5,430 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$479 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

8.3% (2001 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.bj

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2002)

Internet users

25,000 (2002) Transportation Benin

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Labor force

NA

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31

elections

last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$80.8 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (FY02) Transnational Issues Benin

Military manpower - availability

females age 15-49

1,536,036 (2003 est.)

males age 15-49

1,597,562

note

both sexes are liable for military service

Military manpower - fit for military service

females age 15-49

809,961 (2003 est.)

males age 15-49

805,603

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

females

78,998 (2003 est.)

males

75,021

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Natural gas - proved reserves

608.8 million cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

4.105 million bbl (37257)

Political parties and leaders

African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and 4 other small parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]

note

approximately 20 additional minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population below poverty line

37% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

Radios

660,000 (2000)

Railways

narrow gauge

578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

total

578 km

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections

general assessment

NA

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

51,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

55,500 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

1;; (2001)

Televisions

66,000 (2000)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

streams navigable along small sections, important only locally