2004 Edition

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.

Area

land

110,620 sq km

total

112,620 sq km

water

2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

121 km

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

Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

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

Irrigated land

120 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

Togo 644 km

border countries

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

total

1,989 km

Land use

arable land

18.08%

other

79.52% (2001)

permanent crops

2.4%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.8% (male 1,711,075; female 1,679,439) 15-64 years: 51% (male 1,802,990; female 1,890,915) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 68,890; female 96,724) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

68,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

90.89 deaths/1,000 live births

total

85.88 deaths/1,000 live births

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

51.39 years (2004 est.)

male

50.25 years

total population

50.81 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

26.5% (2000)

male

56.2%

total population

40.9%

Major infectious diseases

typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever

overall degree of risk

very high (2004)

Median age

female

16.9 years (2004 est.)

male

16 years

total

16.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Beninese

noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

7,250,033

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 2004 est.)

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the

Population growth rate

2.89% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

December 1990

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Benin

conventional short form

Benin

former

Dahomey

local long form

Republique du Benin

local short form

Benin

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX: [229] 30-06-70

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

FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

chancery

2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656

Executive branch

note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)

Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"

vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);

election results

Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of

elections

president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;

head of government

President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);

note

the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round

presidential elections were

Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%,

Flag description

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

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

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

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)

Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -

elections

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

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

(2003)

expenditures

$613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA

revenues

$698.9 million

Currency

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

Currency code

XOF

Current account balance

$-112 million (2003)

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (2000)

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)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Exports

$485 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners

China 21.1%, India 18%, Thailand 6.8%, Ghana 5.8%, Niger 4.4%, Indonesia 4.1% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

36.4%

industry

14.5%

services

49.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$726 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $636 million (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

8.3% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

NA (1996)

Natural gas - proved reserves

608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002)

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 (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

37% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA

Internet country code

.bj

Internet hosts

879 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2002)

Internet users

70,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

Radios

660,000 (2000)

Telephone system

cellular connections

Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

domestic

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

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1

Telephones - main lines in use

66,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

236,200 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

66,000 (2000)

Airports

5 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

total

4

Highways

paved

1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)

total

6,787 km

unpaved

5,430 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways

narrow gauge

578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

total

578 km

Waterways

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)

Military branches

Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$98.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

females age 15-49

1,647,850 (2004 est.)

males age 15-49

1,638,010

Military manpower - fit for military service

females age 15-49

835,633 (2004 est.)

males age 15-49

835,561

Military manpower - military age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

females

81,841 (2004 est.)

males

77,552

Disputes - international

two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones

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 10 February, 2005 @Bermuda