2010 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

land

110,622 sq km

total

112,622 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

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, 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)

per capita

15 cu m/yr (2001)

total

0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%)

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

border countries

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

total

1,989 km

Land use

arable land

23.53%

other

74.1% (2005)

permanent crops

2.37%

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

38.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2007)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,300 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

64,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

66.51 deaths/1,000 live births

total

63.13 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

60.68 years (2010 est.)

male

58.21 years

total population

59.42 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

23.3% (2002 census)

male

47.9%

total population

34.7%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and yellow fever

Median age

female

17.8 years (2010 est.)

male

16.9 years

total

17.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Beninese

noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

9,056,010 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.944% (2010 est.)

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)

female

6 years (2005)

male

10 years

total

9 years

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: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.4 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

41% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 29 N, 2 37 E

name

Porto-Novo (official capital)

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

former

Dahomey

local long form

Republique du Benin

local short form

Benin

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James A. KNIGHT

embassy

Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou

FAX

[229] 21-30-03-84

mailing address

01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou

telephone

[229] 21-30-06-50

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

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

election results

Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); runoff election held on 19 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2011)

head of government

President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

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, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WAEMU, 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18

elections

last held on 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gilbert Jean DAGNON note: adopted 1960

name

"L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Political parties and leaders

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; 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 Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU] 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

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$582 million (2010 est.) -$644 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.894 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $986.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.5 (2003)

Economy - overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output had averaged about 4% before the global recession, but fell to 2.5% in 2009 and 3% in 2010. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth, 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. As result of these reforms, Benin has become the most competitive country in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, according to the World Economic Forum. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G-8 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.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

588 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

124 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$1.125 billion (2010 est.) $994 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 19.72%, China 13.18%, Niger 6.94%, Nigeria 6.56%, Indonesia 5.73%, Togo 5.63%, Namibia 4.17% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

33.2%

industry

14.5%

services

52.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2010 est.) $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2010 est.) 2.7% (2009 est.) 5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.494 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.2 billion (2010 est.) $13.79 billion (2009 est.) $13.42 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.812 billion (2010 est.) $1.703 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 35.62%, US 7.51%, France 7.38%, Thailand 6.71%, Malaysia 6.13%, Netherlands 4.83%, Belgium 4.02% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2010 est.) 2.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

37.4% (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.254 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.424 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.517 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.269 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.551 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.619 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it a wide broadcast reach; several privately-owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2007)

Internet country code

.bj

Internet hosts

1,286 (2010)

Internet users

200,100 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly

general assessment

inadequate system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment

international

country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; long distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

127,100 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.033 million (2009)

Airports

5 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

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 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cotonou

Railways

narrow gauge

578 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total

578 km

Roadways

paved

1,400 km

total

16,000 km

unpaved

14,600 km (2006)

Waterways

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,023,449 females age 16-49: 1,971,788 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,331,242 females age 16-49: 1,345,145 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

101,603 (2010 est.)

male

105,468

Military branches

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)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2009)

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 January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

9,444 (Togo) (2007)