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Communications

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)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,212,440 females age 15-49: 1,290,773 males fit for military service: 620,923 females fit for military service: 653,094 males reach military age (18) annually: 62,526 females reach military age (18) annually: 60,968 (1996 est.) note: both sexes are liable for military service

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

16,200 (1986 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

20,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

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 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output, which had averaged a sound 4% in 1990-94, rose to 6% in 1995. Rapid population growth, now 3.3% per year, offset much of this growth in output. Inflation jumped to 55% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency devaluation in January 1994, but subsided gradually in 1995. Commercial and transport activities, which make up 37% 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. 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, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program since 1991.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 30,000 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: 25 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991) 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]

$310 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa partners: France, Morocco 37%, Portugal 14%, Spain, Italy, UK, US, Libya

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 36.8% industry: 12.6% services: 50.6% (1993)

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

$1,380 (1995 est.)

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

6% (1995 est.)

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]

$439 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods partners: France 24%, Thailand 12%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%, China, Hong Kong

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

55% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

no natural harbors

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

60 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 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

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Tanekas 641 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Porto-Novo

Constitution [time series]

2 December 1990

Data code [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 Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001); results - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51% 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] 30-14-39, 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)

International organization participation [time series]

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

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

Country name (Name of country) [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 (next to be held NA); 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 February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officially recognized; the following are represented in the National Assembly: Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development (PNDD) and the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Pascal Chabi KAO; Action for Renewal and Development (FARD-ALAFIA), Mathieu KEREKOU; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress (UNSP), Bruno AMOUSSOU; Alliance Chameleon; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Adekpedjon AKINDES; Alliance for Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction (RDL), Severin ADJOVI; Communist Party of Benin, Pascal FATONDJI, First Secretary; Our Common Cause (NCC), Albert TEVOEDJRE; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP); The Renaissance Party, Nicephore SOGLO

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [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 John M. YATES 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% (male 1,376,531; female 1,367,394) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,349,386; female 1,480,251) 65 years and over: 2% (male 60,030; female 75,937) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

46.76 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.53 deaths/1,000 population (1996 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]

105.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

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: 52.69 years male: 50.74 years female: 54.7 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 37% male: 48.7% female: 25.8%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

5,709,529 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.32% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.64 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 5 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 6,070 km paved: 1,214 km unpaved: 4,856 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways [time series]

total: 578 km (single track) (1995 est.) narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

navigable along small sections, important only locally