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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$1.7 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy-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% during 1990-95, rose to 5.5% in 1996 and was targeted at 4.8% for 1997. Rapid population growth 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 has subsided over the past three years, with a target of 3.5% inflation in 1997. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. 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 - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

15,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

45 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

6 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) 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]

total value: $192 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 14%, Morocco, Libya, France

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$11.3 billion (1997 est.)

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

agriculture: 34% industry: 14% services: 52% (1995)

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

purchasing power parity-$1,900 (1997 est.)

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

5.8% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $693 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods partners: France 27%, Thailand 9%, China, Hong Kong

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

3.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline [time series]

121 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Tanekas 641 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

no natural harbors

Irrigated land [time series]

100 sq km (1993 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: 13% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 31% other: 48% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

2 December 1990

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [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

Diplomatic representation in the 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: 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; Prime Minister Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (since 9 April 1996) acts as assistant to the president; a prime minister is not provided for in the constitution but was appointed by President KEREKOU with the permission of the constitutional court cabinet: Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister; all are appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001) election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote-Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%

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 (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government 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

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, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RB 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC 1, RDP 1, other 17

Capital (National capital) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 1 August (1990)

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

Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development or PNDD and the Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Pascal Chabi KAO]; Action for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Mathieu KEREKOU]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Alliance Chameleon or AC; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Adekpedjon AKINDES]; Alliance for Social Democracy or ASD [Robert DOSSOU]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal TODJINOU, first secretary]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Albert TEVOEDJRE]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; The Renaissance Party of Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO] note: as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officially recognized

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$33 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

3.2% (1994)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,311,490 females age 15-49: 1,378,979 (1998 est.) note: both sexes are liable for military service

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 671,230 females: 698,290 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 65,498 females: 65,112 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 1,465,067; female 1,455,852) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,455,224; female 1,582,880) 65 years and over: 2% (male 61,523; female 80,253) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.82 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.77 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

100.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 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: 53.61 years male: 51.56 years female: 55.72 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

6,100,799 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.31% (1998 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 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.48 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US BERMUDA (dependent territory of the UK)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

6 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 6,787 km paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

navigable along small sections, important only locally