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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bj

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

879 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

70,000 (2003)

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: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

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

66,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

236,200 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $698.9 million expenditures: $613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

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

Current account balance [time series]

$-112 million (2003)

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)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$485 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

China 21.1%, India 18%, Thailand 6.8%, Ghana 5.8%, Niger 4.4%, Indonesia 4.1% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 36.4% industry: 14.5% services: 49.1% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)

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

5.5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$726 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003)

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]

1.5% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

NA (1996)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002)

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 (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

37% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$636 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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: 18.08% permanent crops: 2.4% other: 79.52% (2001)

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

Government

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

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 chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

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 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"

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, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007) 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

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]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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

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

Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$98.3 million (2003)

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

2.7% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,638,010 females age 15-49: 1,647,850 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 835,561 females age 15-49: 835,633 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 77,552 females: 81,841 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46.8% (male 1,711,075; female 1,679,439) 15-64 years: 51% (male 1,802,990; female 1,890,915) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 68,890; female 96,724) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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]

1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

5,800 (2003 est.)

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

68,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 85.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 90.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 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: 50.81 years male: 50.25 years female: 51.39 years (2004 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: 16.5 years male: 16 years female: 16.9 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

7,250,033 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.89% (2004 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

5 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Railways [time series]

total: 578 km narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)