2009 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. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI has begun a high profile fight against corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Area

total: 112,622 sq km country comparison to the world: 101 land: 110,622 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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%) per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Land use

arable land: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources

25.8 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.2% (male 2,028,493/female 1,948,353) 15-64 years: 52.1% (male 2,275,662/female 2,308,945) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 94,569/female 135,810) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

39.22 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Death rate

9.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 91

Ethnic groups

Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,300 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

64,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Infant mortality rate

total: 64.64 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 34 male: 68.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 61.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 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

total population: 59 years country comparison to the world: 185 male: 57.83 years female: 60.23 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 34.7% male: 47.9% female: 23.3% (2002 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age

total: 17.2 years male: 16.8 years female: 17.7 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Population

8,791,832 country comparison to the world: 90 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

2.977% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Religions

Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years male: 9 years female: 6 years (2001)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.49 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Urbanization

urban population: 41% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Porto-Novo (official capital) geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Cotonou (seat of government)

Constitution

adopted by referendum 2 December 1990

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656

Executive branch

chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

[229] 21-30-03-84

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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) elections: last held 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SEHOUETO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA] note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.407 billion expenditures: $1.291 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA

Current account balance

-$735 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 -$407 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.2 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 150

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.5 (2003) country comparison to the world: 82

Economy - overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past seven years, but rapid population growth 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. Specific projects to improve the business climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture though the government annulled the privatization of Benin's state cotton company in November 2007 after the discovery of irregularities in the bidding process. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production.

Electricity - consumption

597 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

588 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

124 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Exports

$1.127 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $819 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Exports - partners

China 15.6%, India 12%, Japan 8.5%, Niger 4.9%, US 4.6%, Nigeria 4.3% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 33.2% industry: 14.5% services: 52.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 $1,500 (2007 est.) $1,500 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 4.5% (2007 est.) 3.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.712 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.86 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $12.28 billion (2007 est.) $11.75 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29% (2003)

Imports

$1.843 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $1.194 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 35.9%, US 13.2%, Thailand 6.5%, France 6.5%, Malaysia 6.2%, India 4.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 1.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Oil - consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Oil - exports

8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - imports

28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Oil - proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Population below poverty line

37.4% (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.261 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $1.209 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008) $520.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$NA (31 December 2008) $1.324 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$NA (31 December 2008) $627.2 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet country code

.bj

Internet hosts

1,155 (2009) country comparison to the world: 157

Internet users

160,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 141

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)

Telephone system

general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment with fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly domestic: system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; multiple mobile-cellular providers international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

159,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 131

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.435 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 100

Television broadcast stations

6 (2007)

Airports

5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 177

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

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 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Cotonou

Railways

total: 578 km country comparison to the world: 113 narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 16,000 km country comparison to the world: 121 paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)

Waterways

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2007) country comparison to the world: 102

Benin Armed Forces (FAB)

Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People's Air Force (Force Aerienne Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,908,457 females age 16-49: 1,882,421 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,279,053 females age 16-49: 1,292,438 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 101,549 female: 97,856 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 96

Military service 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 (2006)

Disputes - international

in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005 ICJ decision; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival cross-border gang clashes; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River

Illicit drugs

transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008) page last updated on November 11, 2009

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)