Benin

Republic of BeninRepublique du Benin

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

Benin as the 2005 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 is the official capital

Position9 30 N, 2 15 E

Area112,620 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Populationas each edition published it

7.46 million July 2005 est. · 4.67m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.82% 2005 est. · 3.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

16.56 years 2005 est. · 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.66 years 2005 est. · 51.31 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.86 children per woman 2005 est. · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

85 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 121 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,200 2004 est. · $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 2004 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989.

Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

18 fields

Land useshare of 112,620 sq km

arable land 18.08%permanent crops 2.4%other 79.52% (2001)irrigated 120 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

112,620sq km

land: 110,620 sq kmwater: 2,000 sq kmslightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Coastline

121km

territorial sea: 200 nm

Highest point

658m

Mont Sokbarolowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

1,989km

border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references

Africa

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

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

People

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

70,367

65 and over2.3%

100,717

1,868,630

15-6451.2%

1,948,610

1,752,243

0-1446.5%

1,719,458

MaleFemale

Population

7,460,025

growth rate: 2.82% (2005 est.)

Note

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 2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

41.99Death

13.76Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)52.66

51.53 · 53.82Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)85

90 · 79.86

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2002 est.)33.6%

46.4% · 22.6%Median age years (2005 est.)16.56

16.12 · 17.01

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

indigenous beliefs 50%Christian 30%Muslim 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.9%

(2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

68,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:: very high
food or waterborne diseases:: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease:: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

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)

Government

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

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

84.1%

Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 83 seats, elected 30 March 2003one dot, one seat

Presidential Movement 52opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31

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

Capital

Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

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 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 SOGLO (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 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGLO 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 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY];
African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN];
Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU];
Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI];
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];
Key Force or FC [leader NA];
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and four small parties);
Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO];
The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA];
Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]

note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
chancery:: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX:: [1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Wayne NEILL
embassy:: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address:: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone:: [229] 30-06-50
FAX:: [229] 30-06-70

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) 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.

38 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$8.338billion

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

(2004 est.)industrial production growth: 8.3% (2001 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(2004 est.)

Population below poverty line

33%

(2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 36.3%industry 14.3%services 49.4% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

28.7%

China

32.2%

18.4%

India

France

13%

Thailand

6.7%

6.3%

Ghana

5.8%

Niger

Cote d'Ivoire

5.3%

4.2%

Indonesia

4.2%

Nigeria

Exports $720.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $934.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues

$869.4 millionExpenditures

$720.4 million (2004 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production

285.2 million (2002)Electricity consumption

565.2 million (2002)Electricity imports

300 million (2002)

Economy - overview

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

In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of initial government reluctance.

The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere. As a result, smuggling and criminality along the Benin-Nigeria border has been on the rise.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)

Labor force

NA (1996)

Unemployment rate

Investment (gross fixed)

19.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001)

Oil - production

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

Oil - imports

Oil - proved reserves

4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves

608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance

$-159.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports

$720.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Imports

$934.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$839.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$342.6 million (2000)

Currency (code)

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

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

236,200

(2003)

Internet users

879

(2004)

Fixed lines

66,500

(2003) · country code .bj

Telephone system

general assessment:: NA
domestic:: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections
international:: country code - 229;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Internet users

70,000 (2003)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

1,524 to 2,437 m

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

2,438 to 3,047 m

11,524 to 2,437 m

1914 to 1,523 m

Networkskm

Highways

6,787Railways

578Waterways

150 (2004)

Highways: paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) · unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) · Waterways: (on River Niger along northern border)

Railways

total:: 578 km
narrow gauge:: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways

total:: 6,787 km
paved:: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 5,430 km (1999 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.4%

(2004)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18;
both sexes are eligible for military service;
conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 21-49:: 1,207,071
females age 21-49:: 1,216,180 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 21-49:: 670,170
females age 21-49:: 630,078 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males:: 72,841
females:: 71,428 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$96.5 million (2004)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso;
accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars;
much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and the states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands;
a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty over seven villages along the Okpara River;
a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US;
vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure

Central Intelligence Agency. “Benin.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/benin/2005.

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