Benin

Republic of BeninRepublique du Benin

republic under multiparty democratic rule droppedIndependence 1 August 1960 (from France)

Benin as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 81 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 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between

Populationas each edition published it

5.52 million July 1995 est. · 4.67m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.33% 1995 est. · 3.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.24 years 1995 est. · 51.31 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.72 children per woman 1995 est. · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

107.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 121 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,260 1994 est. · $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1994 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Area

112,620sq km

land area: 110,620 sq kmcomparative 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

60sq km

(1989 est.)

Location

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

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

current issues:: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north;
inadequate supplies of potable water;
poaching threatens wildlife populations;
deforestation;
desertification
natural hazards:: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

5,522,677

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 3.33% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

47.25Death

13.93Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years52.24

50.34 · 54.2

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy23%

32% · 16%

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

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%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 48% (female 1,324,553; male 1,333,673)
15-64 years:: 49% (female 1,431,630; male 1,299,180)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 74,119; male 59,522) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

107.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

68%

Nicephore SOGLO 68%Mathieu KEREKOU 32%

Legislature, 83 seatsone dot, one seat

Renaissance Party and allies 20PRD 19FARD-ALAFIA 10PSD 7NCC 3RDL-VIVOTEN 3Communist Party 2Alliance Chameleon 1RDP 1ADP 1other 16

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Benin
conventional short form:: Benin
local long form:: Republique 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

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991);
election last held 10 and 24 March 1991 (next election 1996);
results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%
cabinet:: Executive Council; appointed by the president

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 28 March 1995;
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (83 total) Renaissance Party and allies 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2, Alliance Chameleon 1, RDP 1, ADP 1, other 16

Political parties and leaders

as of August 1994, 72 political parties were officially recognized; the following are among the most

important:: 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 for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU;
Bloc for Social Democracy (BSD), Michel MAGNIDE;
Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Akindes ADEKPEDJOU, and the 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;
FARD-ALAFIA, Mathieu KEREKOU;
The Renaissance Party, Nicephore SOGLO;
The Patriotic Union for the Republic (UPR), Jean-Marie ZAHOUN;
Union for the Conservation of Democracy, Bernard HOUEGNON

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery:: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

US diplomatic representation

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

FAX

[229] 41-15-22

Flag

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

Economy

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on | subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,260

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 10% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

35%

(1994 est.)

External debt

$1billion

(December 1990 est.)

Budget(1993 est.)

Revenues

$272 millionExpenditures

$375 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $84 million

Installed generating capacity, 30,000 kW

Electricity production

10 millionElectricity consumption per capita

25 (1993)

Overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1991-94 but this rate barely exceeds the rapid population growth of 3.3%. Inflation jumped to 35% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency devaluation in January.

Commercial and transport activities, which make up almost 36% of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in Nigeria as evidenced by decreased reexport trade in 1994 due to a severe contraction in Nigerian demand. The industrial sector accounts for less than 10% of GDP and mainly produces foods, beverages, cement, and textiles.

Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, is gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.7 billion (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$332 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

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

Imports

$571 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
partners:: France 20%, Thailand 8%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 35% of GDP;
small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
production is dominated by food crops - corn, sorghum, cassava, yams, beans, rice;
cash crops include cotton, palm oil, peanuts;
poultry and livestock output has not kept up with consumption

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US

Economic aid

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 - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990) 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

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 7 in all

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

8,435Railroads

578

Highways: paved: 1,038 km · unpaved: crushed stone 2,600 km; improved earth 1,530 km; unimproved earth 3,267 km · Railroads: (single track) · narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge