Benin

Republic of BeninRepublique Populaire du Benin

republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism DecemberIndependence 1 August 1960 (from France)

Benin as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 76 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

Area112,620 km2

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and Togo

Populationas each edition published it

5.17 million July 1993 est. · 4.67m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.33% 1993 est. · 3.26% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

51.31 years 1993 est. · 63 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.86 children per woman 1993 est. · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

112.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 121 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$410 1991 · $3,900 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1991 · 7.5% in 2025

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and Togo

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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

Irrigated land

60km2

(1989 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and Togo

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

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%

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

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Population

5,166,735

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 3.33% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

48.09Death

14.8Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years51.31

49.51 · 53.16

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy23%

32% · 16%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 70%Muslim 15%Christian 15%

Labor force

1.9million

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

Infant mortality rate

112.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Beninese

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism December

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

68%

Nicephore SOGLO 68%Mathieu KEREKOU 32%

Names

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

Type

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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of the Democratic Union for the Forces of Progress (UDFP), Timothee ADANLIN;
Movement for Democracy and Social Progress (MDPS), Jean-Roger AHOYO;
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 TEVOEDJRE;
National Rally for Democracy (RND), Joseph KEKE;
Alliance of the National Movement for Democracy and Development (MNDD), leader NA;
Movement for Solidarity, Union, and Progress (MSUP), Adebo ADENIYI;
Union for Democracy and National Reconstruction (UDRN), Azaria FAKOREDE;
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), Robert DOSSOU;
Bloc for Social Democracy (BSD), Michel MAGNIDE;
Alliance of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Akindes ADEKPEDJOU;
Democratic Union for Social Renewal (UDRS), Bio Gado Seko N'GOYE;
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Robert TAGNON;
Party for Progress and Democracy, Theophile NATA;
numerous other small parties

Elections

National Assembly:: last held 10 and 24 March 1991;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
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
President:: last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991)

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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU
chancery:: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 232-6656

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS
embassy:: Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou
mailing address:: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone:: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
FAX:: [229] 30-14-39 and 30-19-74

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.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$410

(1991)

Real growth rate

(1991)industrial production growth: growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 15% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

3.4%

(1990)

External debt

$1billion

(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 about 35% 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. Low prices in recent years have kept down hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1991)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$263.3 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa
partners:: FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%

Imports

$428 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%

Electricity

30,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 5 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 35% of GDP;
small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
production is dominated by food crops - corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, rice;
cash crops include cotton, palm oil, 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 (1970-89), $1,300 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)