Benin

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

Benin as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 67 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

4.83 million July 1991 · 4.67m in 1990

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 children per woman 1991 · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

119 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 121 in 1990

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

10 fields

Total area

112,620km2

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

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

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

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

4,831,823

(July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

49Death

16Net migration

Religion

indigenous beliefs 70%Muslim 15%Christian 15%

Labor force

1,900,000

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

Literacy

23%

(male 32%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

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

Presidential electionpercent of vote

68%

Nicephore SOGLO 68%Mathieu KEREKOU 32%10 and 24 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996)

National Assembly, 64 seats, elected 10 and 24 March 1991one dot, one seat

UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12PNDD/PRD 9PSD/UNSP 8NCC 7RND 7MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6UDS 5RDL 4ASD/BSD 3ADP/UDRS 2UNDP 1

Type

dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989;
democratic reforms adopted February 1990;
transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

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)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Chief of State and Head of Government--President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders

the People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB) headed by President Mathieu KEREKOU, chairman of the Central Committee, was dissolved 30 April 1990;
Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress (UDFP), Timothee ADANLIN;
Movement for Democracy and Social Progress (MDPS), Jean-Roger AHOYO;
and the Union for Liberty and Development (ULD), Marcellin DEGBE;
Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO;
Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU;
Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVEODJRE;
National Rally for Democracy (RND), Joseph KEKE;
Alliance of the National Movement for Democracy and Development (MNDD);
Movement for Solidarity, Union, and Progress (MSUP);
and Union for Democracy and National Reconstruction (UDRN), Bertin BORNA;
Union for Democracy and National Solidarity (UDS), Mama Amadou N'DIAYE;
Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI;
Alliance of the Alliance for Social Democracy (ASD) and Bloc for Social Democracy (BSD), Robert DOSSOU;
Alliance of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) and Democratic Union for Social Renewal (UDRS), Bio Gado Seko N'GOYE;
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Robert TAGNON;
numerous other small parties

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held 10 and 24 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996);
results--Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%;
National Assembly--last held 10 and 24 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996);
results--NA percent of the vote;
seats--(64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8, NCC 7, RND 7, MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2, UNDP 1

Communists

Communist Party of Dahomey (PCD) remains active

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU;
Charge d'Affaires Corneille MEHISSOU;
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

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

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

$2.0billion

per capita $400; real growth rate 2.6% (1990)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.0%

(1990)

External debt

$1.0billion

(December 1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$194 millionExpenditures

$390 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1990 est.)

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 40% 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

NA%

Exports

$250 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
commodities--crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa;
partners--FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%

Imports

$442 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods;
partners--France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 4%

Industrial production

growth rate - 0.7% (1988); accounts for 30% of GDP

Electricity

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

Industries

textiles,cigarettes, construction materials, beverages, food production, 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

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $46 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1.1 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $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--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)