Map of Benin | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: 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.


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Location:

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total: 112,620 km²
Land: 110,620 km²

Land boundaries: total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773

Coastline: 121 km
Territorial sea: 200 nm

Maritime claims

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use
Arable land: 12%
Permanent crops: 4%
Meadows and pastures: 4%
Forest and woodland: 35%
Other: 45%

Irrigated land: 60 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 5,166,735 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 3.33% (1993 est.)

Nationality: noun: Beninese (singular and plural)

Ethnic groups:

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 3.33% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 48.09 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 14.8 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation; desertification
Current issues note: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no natural harbors

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 112.7 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 51.31 years
Male: 49.51 years
Female: 53.16 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 23%
Male: 32%
Female: 16%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Benin
Conventional short form: Benin
Local long form: Republique Populaire du Benin
Local short form: Benin
Former: Dahomey

Government type:

Capital: Porto-Novo

Administrative divisions:

Dependent areas

Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)

Constitution: 2 December 1990

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: president, cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU
In the us chancery: 2,737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: (202) 232-6,656
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS
From the us embassy: Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou
From the us mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
From the us fax: 229 30-14-39 and 30-19-74

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure. Agriculture accounts for about 35% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings. The industrial sector contributes only about 15% to GDP and employs 2% of the work force. Low prices in recent years have kept down hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3% (1991)

Real gdp per capita: $410 (1991)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 35% of GDP; small farms produce 90% of agricultural output; production is dominated by food crops - corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, rice; cash crops include cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry and livestock output has not kept up with consumption

Industries: textiles, cigarettes, construction materials, beverages, food production, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate -0.7% (1988; accounts for 15% of GDP

Labor force: 1.9 million (1987)
By occupation agriculture: 60%
By occupation transport commerce and public services: 38%
By occupation industry: less than 2%
Note: 49% of population of working age (1985)