ARCHIVE // BJ // 2015
Benin
2015 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
[time series]
state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels providing a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2007)
Internet country code
[time series]
.bj
Internet users
[time series]
total: 441,000 | percent of population: 4.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment | domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly | international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; long distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 200,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total: 10.8 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
6 (2007)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $1.885 billion | expenditures: $2.074 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Central bank discount rate
[time series]
4.25% (31 December 2010) | 4.25% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 88
Commercial bank prime lending rate
[time series]
NA%
Current account balance
[time series]
-$738 million (2014 est.) | -$871.4 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Debt - external
[time series]
$2.458 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.224 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
(Distribution of family income - Gini index)
[time series]
36.5 (2003) | country comparison to the world: 84
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 had averaged almost 4% before the global recession and it has exceeded that level in 2013-14. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth, 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. Specific projects to improve the business climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture. An insufficient electrical supply continues to hamper Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for the majority of investment in infrastructure projects. Cotton, a key export, suffered from flooding in 2010-11, but high prices supported export earnings. Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory. In 2012, Benin became eligible for a second Compact under the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which is expected to be signed in 2015.
Exchange rates
[time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - | 491.2 (2014 est.) | 494.04 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.) | 471.87 (2011 est.) | 495.28 (2010 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$2.045 billion (2014 est.) | $1.87 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144
Exports - commodities
[time series]
cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood
Exports - partners
[time series]
Lebanon 21.7%, China 21.6%, India 18.5%, Niger 4.9%, Nigeria 4.9% (2013)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$8.701 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$19.8 billion (2014 est.) | $18.78 billion (2013 est.) | $17.77 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 142
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 76.8% | government consumption: 11.7% | investment in fixed capital: 17.4% | investment in inventories: 6.8% | exports of goods and services: 12.5% | imports of goods and services: -25.2% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 31.8% | industry: 12.3% | services: 55.9% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$1,900 (2014 est.) | $1,800 (2013 est.) | $1,700 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 205
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
5.5% (2014 est.) | 5.6% (2013 est.) | 5.4% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
Gross national saving
[time series]
10.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 9.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | 9.3% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 3.1% | highest 10%: 29% (2003)
Imports
[time series]
$2.905 billion (2014 est.) | $2.659 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152
Imports - commodities
[time series]
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners
[time series]
China 37.1%, India 10.3%, US 7.5%, Malaysia 6.7%, Thailand 6.1%, France 4.4% (2013)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
3.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89
Industries
[time series]
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
-1% (2014 est.) | 1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
Labor force
[time series]
3.662 million (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97
Market value of publicly traded shares
[time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line
[time series]
37.4% (2007 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
30.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | 29.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$972.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $694.9 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Stock of broad money
[time series]
$4.165 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136
Stock of domestic credit
[time series]
$2.112 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.851 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Stock of narrow money
[time series]
$2.509 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.268 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
20.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Unemployment rate
[time series]
NA%
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions
(Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy)
[time series]
4.581 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Crude oil - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Crude oil - imports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Crude oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Crude oil - proved reserves
[time series]
8 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
858 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - from fossil fuels
[time series]
99.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
[time series]
0.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - from other renewable sources
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - imports
[time series]
925 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - installed generating capacity
[time series]
171,000 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - production
[time series]
146 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - consumption
[time series]
34,410 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112
Refined petroleum products - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Refined petroleum products - imports
[time series]
34,840 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 112,622 sq km | land: 110,622 sq km | water: 2,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 102
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, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Total water withdrawal
(Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural))
[time series]
total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%) | per capita: 18.74 cu m/yr (2001)
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]
230.4 sq km (2008)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 2,123 km | border countries (4): Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 31.3% | arable land 22.9%; permanent crops 3.5%; permanent pasture 4.9% | forest: 40% | other: 28.7% (2011 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
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
26.39 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Capital
[time series]
name: Porto-Novo (official capital); note - Cotonou (seat of government) | geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E | time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution
[time series]
previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 (2012)
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 Michael RAYNOR (since 24 May 2012) | embassy: Caporal Bernard Anani, 01 BP 2012, Cotonou | mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou | telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50 | FAX: [229] 21-30-66-82
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Omar AROUNA (since 21 May 2014) | 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 Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); Prime Minister Lionel ZINSOU (since 18 June 2015) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in April 2016) | election results: Thomas YAYI Boni reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni (FCBE) 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (PRD) 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage | note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Government type
[time series]
republic
Independence
[time series]
1 August 1960 (from France)
International law organization participation
[time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the national president upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the national president; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; High Court of Justice "other" members elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA | subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts
Legal system
[time series]
civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - FCBE 30.2%, UN 14.4%, PRD 10.6%, ; seats by party - FCBE 32, UN 15, PRD 10, RB-RP 7, other 19
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) | lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON | note: adopted 1960
National holiday
[time series]
National Day, 1 August (1960)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare S�HOU�TO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Patriotic Awakening or RP [Janvier YAHOUEDEOU]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (superceded Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD) | note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. | 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. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI, who won a second five-year term in March 2011, has attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.
Military
Manpower available for military service
[time series]
males age 16-49: 2,095,373 | females age 16-49: 2,038,351 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
[time series]
males age 16-49: 1,385,065 | females age 16-49: 1,400,045 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
[time series]
male: 108,496 | female: 104,526 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
Benin Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin Air Force (Force Aerienne du Benin, FAB) (2013)
Military expenditures
[time series]
1.03% of GDP (2012) | NA% (2011) | 1.03% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 99
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2013)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 43.42% (male 2,314,981/female 2,222,185) | 15-24 years: 20.19% (male 1,073,356/female 1,036,459) | 25-54 years: 30.04% (male 1,585,098/female 1,553,965) | 55-64 years: 3.53% (male 157,171/female 211,292) | 65 years and over: 2.82% (male 116,693/female 177,447) (2015 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
36.02 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20
Child labor - children ages 5-14
[time series]
total number: 1,020,981 | percentage: 46% (2006 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
20.2% (2006) | country comparison to the world: 30
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
12.9% (2011/12)
Death rate
[time series]
8.21 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 82% | youth dependency ratio: 76.7% | elderly dependency ratio: 5.3% | potential support ratio: 19% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
urban: 85.2% of population | rural: 72.1% of population | total: 77.9% of population | urban: 14.8% of population | rural: 27.9% of population | total: 22.1% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
5.3% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 64
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
1.13% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
2,700 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
73,900 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Health expenditure
(Health expenditures)
[time series]
4.6% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 154
Hospital bed density
[time series]
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 55.68 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 58.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 52.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26
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: 61.47 years | male: 60.11 years | female: 62.9 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 38.4% | male: 49.9% | female: 27.3% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
PORTO-NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015)
Median age
[time series]
total: 17.7 years | male: 17.4 years | female: 18.1 years (2014 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Beninese (singular and plural) | adjective: Beninese
Net migration rate
[time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
8.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 151
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Population
[time series]
10,448,647 | 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.78% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Religions
[time series]
Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
urban: 35.6% of population | rural: 7.3% of population | total: 19.7% of population | urban: 64.4% of population | rural: 92.7% of population | total: 80.3% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 11 years | male: 13 years | female: 9 years (2011)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.74 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
4.95 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 44% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualou; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved
Illicit drugs
[time series]
transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
6 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 171
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 5 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
major seaport(s): Cotonou | LNG terminal(s) (import): Cotonou
Railways
[time series]
total: 438 km | narrow gauge: 438 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 114
Roadways
[time series]
total: 16,000 km | paved: 1,400 km | unpaved: 14,600 km (2006) | country comparison to the world: 119
Waterways
[time series]
150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 101