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

4 (2002)

Internet country code [time series]

.bj

Internet users [time series]

25,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

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]

51,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

55,500 (2000)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1;; (2001)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)

Budget [time series]

revenues: $377.4 million expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

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 (2000)

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

$342.6 million (2000)

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 has averaged a stable 5% in the past six years, but rapid population rise has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for speeded-up structural reforms.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

631.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

376 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

274.3 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 14.2% hydro: 85.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$207 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 38% industry: 15% services: 47% (2002 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)

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

6% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$479 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8.3% (2001 est.)

Industries [time series]

textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

608.8 million cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

4.105 million bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

37% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

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

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Irrigated land [time series]

120 sq km (1998 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: 15.28% permanent crops: 1.36% other: 83.36% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, 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 from December to March

Natural resources [time series]

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

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 short form: Benin former: Dahomey local long form: Republique du Benin

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50 FAX: [229] 30-06-70

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

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) 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 2001, 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" election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%

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]

ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, 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) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31 elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 1 August (1960)

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

African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; 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]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and 4 other small parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU] note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$80.8 million (FY02)

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

2.7% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

note: both sexes are liable for military service females age 15-49: 1,536,036 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 1,597,562

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 805,603 females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 75,021 females: 78,998 (2003 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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]

3.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

8,100 (2001 est.)

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

120,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 86.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 91.79 deaths/1,000 live births

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: 51.08 years male: 50.35 years female: 51.84 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.9% male: 56.2% female: 26.5% (2000)

Median age [time series]

total: 16.4 years male: 15.9 years female: 16.9 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

7,041,490 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 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.95% (2003 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: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

two villages are in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, but states accept 2001 arbitration over disputed Niger River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved the boundary stones - joint commission presently resurveying the boundary

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure

Airports [time series]

5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

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 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 6,787 km paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways [time series]

total: 578 km narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

Waterways [time series]

streams navigable along small sections, important only locally