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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

NA telephones; fair system of open wire and microwave radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and open wire international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station, submarine cable

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 2 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $33 million, 3.2% of GDP (1994) BERMUDA (dependent territory of the UK)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,165,463; females age 15-49 1,249,234; males fit for military service 596,956; females fit for military service 631,780; males reach military age (18) annually 60,282 (1995 est.); females reach military age (18) annually 58,770 (1995 est.) note: 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, yams, beans, rice; cash crops include cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry and livestock output has not kept up with consumption

Budget [time series]

revenues: $272 million (1993 est.) expenditures: $375 million, including capital expenditures of $84 million (1993 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: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: 25 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$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%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1 billion (December 1990 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$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%

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, petroleum

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

35% (1994 est.)

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

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

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

$1,260 (1994 est.)

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

4% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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.

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: 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

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

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural resources [time series]

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Note [time series]

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

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 (next election 1996); results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32% cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the president

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

[1] (202) 265-1996

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

[229] 41-15-22

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, 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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

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

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

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 1 August (1990)

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

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

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 Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

47.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 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]

107.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.9 million (1987) by occupation: agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%

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: 52.24 years male: 50.34 years female: 54.2 years (1995 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 (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

5,522,677 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.33% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 7 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 578 km (single track) narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge