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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.bj

Internet users [time series]

10,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios [time series]

620,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

36,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4,295 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (one privately-owned) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

60,000 (1997)

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]

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

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XOF

Debt - external [time series]

$1.6 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$274.6 million (1997)

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 averaged a sound 5% in 1996-99, but a rapid population rise offset much of this growth. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation in recent years. While high fuel prices constrained growth in 2000, increased cotton production - enabled by a major restructuring program - and an expansion of the Cotonou port, may lead to increased growth in 2001.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

510.2 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

300 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

226 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 24.78% hydro: 75.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Exports [time series]

$396 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 37.9% industry: 13.5% services: 48.6% (1999)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.)

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

5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$566 million (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods

Imports - partners [time series]

France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.9% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Population below poverty line [time series]

37.2% (1999 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 [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: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

9 30 N, 2 15 E

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 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou; note - six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER 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

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 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 NA 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 SOGOLO (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, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO 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"

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, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), 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 30 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, E'toile 4, Alliance IPD 4, Car-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 1 August (1960)

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

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Sylvain Adekpedjou AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Cameleon Alliance or AC [leader NA]; Car-DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; 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]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Paul DOSSOU]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Francois Odjo TANKPINON]; Party Democratique du Benin or PDB [Col. Soule DANKORO]; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP [Dominique HOYMINOU, Dr. Giles Auguste MINONTIN]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Adamou N'Diaye MAMA] note: the Coalition of Democratic Forces is an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.

Military

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$27 million (FY96)

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

1.2% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,455,433 females age 15-49: 1,489,947 note: both sexes are liable for military service (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 743,980 females age 15-49: 755,149 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 70,088 females: 73,618 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47.32% (male 1,574,124; female 1,544,741) 15-64 years: 50.38% (male 1,607,900; female 1,712,360) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 64,756; female 86,901) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

2.45% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

5,600 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

70,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 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: 49.94 years male: 49.02 years female: 50.88 years (2001 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.5% male: 52.2% female: 23.6% (2000)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

6,590,782 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 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.97% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

5 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 6,787 km paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,430 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2000 est.)

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 (2000)

Waterways [time series]

streams navigable along small sections, important only locally