Benin

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

republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 1 August 1960 (from France)

Benin as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 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 is the official capital

Position9 30 N, 2 15 E

Area112,620 sq km land: 110,620 sq km water: 2,000 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

6.59 million July 2001 est. · 4.67m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.97% 2001 est. · 3.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

49.94 years 2001 est. · 51.31 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.23 children per woman 2001 est. · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

89.68 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 121 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,030 2000 est. · $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 2000 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.

Geography

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

18 fields

Coastline

121km

territorial sea: 200 NM

Irrigated land

100sq km

(1993 est.)

Location

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

Area

total: 112,620 sq km land: 110,620 sq km water: 2,000 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 31% other: 48% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water;
poaching threatens wildlife populations;
deforestation;
desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

no natural harbors

People

18 fields

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

44.23Death

14.51Net migration

Religions

indigenous beliefs 50%Christian 30%Muslim 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.45%

(1999 est.)

Population

6,590,782 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS;
this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.32% (male 1,574,124; female 1,544,741) 15-64 years: 50.38% (male 1,607,900; female 1,712,360) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 64,756; female 86,901) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.97% (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 49.94 years male: 49.02 years female: 50.88 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

70,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups

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)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.5% male: 52.2% female: 23.6% (2000)

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule; President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996)

20 fields

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 83 seatsone dot, one seat

RB 27PRD 11FARD-ALAFIA 10PSD 9MADEP 6E'toile 4Alliance IPD 4Car-DUNYA 3MERCI 2other 7

Country name

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

Government 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 is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

Administrative divisions

6 provinces;
Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou;
note - six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed;
they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau;
moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Constitution

December 1990

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006) election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president;
percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9% note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first round presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%;
the second round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud;
this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, E'toile 4, Alliance IPD 4, Car-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle;
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Sylvain Adekpedjou AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Cameleon Alliance or AC [leader NA];

Car-DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI];

Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Paul DOSSOU]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Francois Odjo TANKPINON]; Party Democratique du Benin or PDB [Col. Soule DANKORO]; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP [Dominique HOYMINOU, Dr. Giles Auguste MINONTIN];

Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Adamou N'Diaye MAMA] note: the Coalition of Democratic Forces is an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER 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] 30-14-39, 30-19-74

Flag description

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.

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Real growth rate

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 6.9% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

37.2%

(1999 est.)

Debt - external

$1.6billion

(1998 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

France

38%

China

16%

14%

Brazil

Libya

Cote d'Ivoire

Indonesia

Italy

Exports $396 million (f.o.b., 1999)Imports $566 million (c.i.f., 1999)(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production

226 million (1999)Electricity consumption

510.2 million (1999)Electricity imports

300 million (1999)

Economy - overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output averaged a sound 5% in 1996-99, but a rapid population rise offset much of this growth. Inflation has subsided over the past several years.

Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation in recent years. While high fuel prices constrained growth in 2000, increased cotton production - enabled by a major restructuring program - and an expansion of the Cotonou port, may lead to increased growth in 2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 37.9% industry: 13.5% services: 48.6% (1999)

Labor force

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues: $299 million expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 24.78% hydro: 75.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Agriculture - products

corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock

Exports

$396 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Imports

$566 million (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods

Economic aid - recipient

$274.6 million (1997)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code

XOF

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996);
note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

4,295

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

36,000

(1997) · country code .bj

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable