Benin

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

Benin as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 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
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and
1994

Every edition of Benin

Populationas each edition published it
5.34 million July 1994 est. · 4.67m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.33% 1994 est. · 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
6.79 children per woman 1994 est. · 7.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
110.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 121 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,200 1993 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3% 1991 · 3% in 1993

Geography

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

22 fields
Land boundaries
1,989km
total · Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Irrigated land
60sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

112,620 sq km

land area

110,620 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

territorial sea

200 nm

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

arable land

12%

permanent crops

4%

meadows and pastures

4%

forest and woodland

35%

other

45%

current issues

  • limited supply of safe drinking water;
  • illegal hunting threatens wildlife populations;
  • deforestation;
  • desertification

natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter

international agreements

  • party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

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

People

22 fields
Population
5,341,710
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.33% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
47.67Death
14.36Net migration
0

Religions

indigenous beliefs 70%Muslim 15%Christian 15%
Labor force
1.9million
(1987)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

110.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

51.77 years

male

49.92 years

female

53.68 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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)

total population

23%

male

32%

female

16%

by occupation

agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%

note

49% of population of working age (1985)

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism

32 fields

Legislature, 64 seatsone dot, one seat

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

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

Capital

Porto-Novo

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1990)

Constitution

2 December 1990

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state and head of government

  • President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991);
  • election last held 10 and 24 March 1991;
  • results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%

cabinet

Executive Council; appointed by the president

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

  • elections 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

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, Thiophile NATA;
  • African Rally for Progress and Solidarity (RAPS), Florentin MITO-BABA;
  • The Benin Renaissance Party , Desire VIEYRA and Rosine SOGLO;
  • The Patriotic Union for the Republic (UPR), Jean-Marie ZAHOUN;
  • Union for the Conservation of Democracy, Bernard HOUEGNON

note

as of May 1994, Benin had about 60 political parties

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, 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

chief of mission

Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU

chancery

2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 232-6656

FAX

(202) 265-1996

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

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,200
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
3%
(1991)industrial production growth: growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 10% of GDP
External debt
$1billion
(December 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 10% 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, primarily cotton. A World Bank supported structural adjustment program begun in 1989 has helped strengthen the economy through such measures as trimming the government payroll, reforming the tax system, and encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign. Benin has experienced 3 consecutive years of moderate growth as a result.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.2 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$218 million

expenditures

$355 million, including capital expenditures of $100 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$328.8 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)

commodities

crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa

partners

FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%

Imports

$482.3 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)

commodities

foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods

partners

France 20%, Thailand 8%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%

capacity

30,000 kW

production

25 million kWh

consumption per capita

5 kWh (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

recipient

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $46 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3 billion;
  • 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 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989)

note

beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

13 fields

Railroads

578 km, all 1.000-meter gauge, single track

total

8,435 km

paved

1,038 km

unpaved

  • crushed stone 2,600 km;
  • improved earth 1,530 km;
  • unimproved earth 3,267 km

Inland waterways

navigable along small sections, important only locally

Ports

Cotonou

total

7

usable

6

with permanent-surface runways

2

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

1

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

3

Telecommunications

  • fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and radio relay microwave;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie

4 fields

Branches

Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 1,209,226;
  • females age 15-49 1,120,105;
  • males fit for military service 611,257;
  • females fit for military service 573,775;
  • males reach military age (18) annually 58,293 (1994 est.);
  • femalesreach military age (18) annually 56,735 (1994 est.);
  • both sexes are liable for miltary service

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

Affiliation

(dependent territory of the UK)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Benin.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/benin/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →