2015 Edition

Background

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.

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, who won a second five-year term in March 2011, has attempted to stem 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

18.74 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

230.4 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km

total

2,123 km

Land use

arable land 22.9%; permanent crops 3.5%; permanent pasture 4.9%

agricultural land

31.3%

forest

40%

other

28.7% (2011 est.)

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

26.39 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

43.42% (male 2,314,981/female 2,222,185)

15-24 years

20.19% (male 1,073,356/female 1,036,459)

25-54 years

30.04% (male 1,585,098/female 1,553,965)

55-64 years

3.53% (male 157,171/female 211,292)

65 years and over

2.82% (male 116,693/female 177,447) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

36.02 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

46% (2006 est.)

total number

1,020,981

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.2% (2006)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

12.9% (2011/12)

Death rate

8.21 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.3%

potential support ratio

19% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

82%

youth dependency ratio

76.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 85.2% of population

rural: 72.1% of population

total: 77.9% of population

urban: 14.8% of population

rural: 27.9% of population

total: 22.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2010)

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)

Health expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.13% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,700 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

73,900 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

52.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

58.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

55.68 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

62.9 years (2015 est.)

male

60.11 years

total population

61.47 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

27.3% (2015 est.)

male

49.9%

total population

38.4%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever

Major urban areas - population

PORTO-NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015)

Median age

female

18.1 years (2014 est.)

male

17.4 years

total

17.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Beninese

noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2014)

Physicians density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

10,448,647

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.78% (2015 est.)

Religions

Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 35.6% of population

rural: 7.3% of population

total: 19.7% of population

urban: 64.4% of population

rural: 92.7% of population

total: 80.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2011)

male

13 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.74 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.95 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.67% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

44% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 29 N, 2 37 E

name

Porto-Novo (official capital); note - Cotonou (seat of government)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 (2012)

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 Michael RAYNOR (since 24 May 2012)

embassy

Caporal Bernard Anani, 01 BP 2012, Cotonou

FAX

[229] 21-30-66-82

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 Omar AROUNA (since 21 May 2014)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

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

election results

Thomas YAYI Boni reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni (FCBE) 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (PRD) 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in April 2016)

head of government

President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); Prime Minister Lionel ZINSOU (since 18 June 2015)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the national president upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the national president; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; High Court of Justice "other" members elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

Legal system

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - FCBE 30.2%, UN 14.4%, PRD 10.6%, ; seats by party - FCBE 32, UN 15, PRD 10, RB-RP 7, other 19

elections

last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gilbert Jean DAGNON

name

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

note

adopted 1960

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; 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 [Yayi BONI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare S?HOU?TO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Patriotic Awakening or RP [Janvier YAHOUEDEOU]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (superceded Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD)

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 (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$2.074 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$1.885 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Current account balance

-$738 million (2014 est.)

-$871.4 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$2.458 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.224 billion (31 December 2013 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 almost 4% before the global recession and it has exceeded that level in 2013-14. 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. An insufficient electrical supply continues to hamper Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for the majority of investment in infrastructure projects. Cotton, a key export, suffered from flooding in 2010-11, but high prices supported export earnings. Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory. In 2012, Benin became eligible for a second Compact under the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which is expected to be signed in 2015.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

491.2 (2014 est.)

494.04 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.045 billion (2014 est.)

$1.87 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Lebanon 21.7%, China 21.6%, India 18.5%, Niger 4.9%, Nigeria 4.9% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

12.5%

government consumption

11.7%

household consumption

76.8%

imports of goods and services

-25.2%

investment in fixed capital

17.4%

investment in inventories

6.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

31.8%

industry

12.3%

services

55.9% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2014 est.)

$1,800 (2013 est.)

$1,700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2014 est.)

5.6% (2013 est.)

5.4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.701 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.8 billion (2014 est.)

$18.78 billion (2013 est.)

$17.77 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

10.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

9.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

9.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29% (2003)

lowest 10%

3.1%

Imports

$2.905 billion (2014 est.)

$2.659 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 37.1%, India 10.3%, US 7.5%, Malaysia 6.7%, Thailand 6.1%, France 4.4% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2014 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1% (2014 est.)

1% (2013 est.)

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

37.4% (2007 est.)

Public debt

30.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

29.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$972.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$694.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.165 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.112 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.851 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.509 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.268 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

4.581 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

858 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

925 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

171,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

146 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

34,410 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

34,840 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels providing 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 users

percent of population

4.3% (2014 est.)

total

441,000

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

200,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2014 est.)

total

10.8 million

Television broadcast stations

6 (2007)

Airports

6 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

total

5

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Cotonou

major seaport(s)

Cotonou

Railways

narrow gauge

438 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

total

438 km

Roadways

paved

1,400 km

total

16,000 km

unpaved

14,600 km (2006)

Waterways

150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,038,351 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,095,373

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,400,045 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,385,065

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

104,526 (2010 est.)

male

108,496

Military branches

Benin Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin Air Force (Force Aerienne du Benin, FAB) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.03% of GDP (2012)

NA% (2011)

1.03% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2013)

Disputes - international

talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualou; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved

Illicit drugs

transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008)