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Communications

Airports [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 8,435 km paved: 1,038 km unpaved: crushed stone 2,600 km; improved earth 1,530 km; unimproved earth 3,267 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

navigable along small sections, important only locally

Ports [time series]

Cotonou

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

578 km, all 1.000-meter gauge, single track

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Affiliation [time series]

(dependent territory of the UK)

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

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

Manpower availability [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $218 million expenditures: $355 million, including capital expenditures of $100 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 30,000 kW production: 25 million kWh consumption per capita: 5 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$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%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1 billion (December 1990 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$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%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 10% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.4% (1990)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,200 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1991)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 112,620 sq km land area: 110,620 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline [time series]

121 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

60 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 35% other: 45%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural resources [time series]

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Porto-Novo

Constitution [time series]

2 December 1990

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[229] 30-14-39 and 30-19-74

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

1 August 1960 (from France)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 1 August (1990)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Birth rate [time series]

47.67 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 51.77 years male: 49.92 years female: 53.68 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 23% male: 32% female: 16%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

5,341,710 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.33% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)