Benin

dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989Independence 1 August 1960 (from France

Benin as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPorto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)

Area112,620 km2

Populationas each edition published it

4.67 million July 1990 · 15.19m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 3.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 51.31 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.1 children per woman 1990 · 5.3 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

121 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 51.6 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 3% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

112,620km2

land area: 110,620 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Coastline

121km

Territorial sea: 200 nm

Land boundaries

1,989km total

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

Climate

tropical;
hot, humid in south;
semiarid in north

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use

12% arable land;
4% permanent crops;
4% meadows and pastures;
35% forest and woodland;
45% other;
includes NEGL% irrigated

Environment

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter;
deforestation;
desertification

Note

recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no natural harbors

People

14 fields

Population

4,673,964

(July 1990), growth rate 3.3% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

50Death

Religion

indigenous beliefs 70%Muslim 15%Christian 15%

Labor force

1,900,000

(1987); 60% agriculture, 38% transport, commerce, and public services, less than 2% industry; 49% of population of working age (1985)

Literacy

25.9%

Nationality

noun--Beninese (sing., pl.); adjective--Beninese

Ethnic divisions

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

Language

French (official);
Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in south;
at least six major tribal languages in north

Government

Dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989

17 fields

Type

dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989;
democratic reforms adopted February 1990;
transition to multiparty system by 1991 planned

Capital

Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)

Administrative divisions

6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)

Constitution

23 May 1977 (nullified 1 March 1990); new constitution to be drafted by April 1990

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Revolutionary Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Revolutionnaire) dissolved 1 March 1990 and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Republic during the transition period

Judicial branch

Central People's Court (Cour Central Populaire) Chief of State and Head of Government--President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 27 October 1972)

Political parties and leaders

only party--People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB), President Mathieu Kerekou, chairman of the Central Committee

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held July 1989 (next to be held July 1994);
results--President Mathieu Kerekou was reelected by the National Revolutionary Assembly;
National Revolutionary Assembly--dissolved 1 March 1990 and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Republic with legislative elections for new institutions planned for February 1991

ACP, AfDB, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Theophile NATA;
Chancery at 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 232-6656;
US--Ambassador Harriet ISOM;
Embassy at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou (mailing address is B. P. 2012, Cotonou);
telephone [229] 30-06-50

Flag

green with a red five-pointed star in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$1.7billion

per capita $335; real growth rate 1.8% (1988)

Inflation, consumer prices

4.3%

(1988)

External debt

$1.0billion

(December 1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$168 millionExpenditures

$317 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $97 million (1989)

Overview

Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure. Agriculture accounts for almost 45% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings. The industrial sector contributes only about 15% to GDP and employs 2% of the work force.

Persistently low prices in recent years have limited hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.

Unemployment

Exports

$226 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa;
partners--FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 7%

Imports

$413 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods;
partners--France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 5%

Industrial production

growth rate - 0.7% (1988)

Electricity

28,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced, 5 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

palm oil and palm kernel oil processing, textiles, beverages, petroleum

Agriculture

small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
production is dominated by food crops--corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, and rice;
cash crops include cotton, palm oil, and peanuts;
poultry and livestock output has not kept up with consumption

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $41 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.0 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $101 million

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)