Statistical information Benin 1999

Benin in the World
Benin - Introduction 1999
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 112,620 km²
Land: 110,620 km²
Water: 2,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundariesTotal: 1,989 km
Border countries: (4) Burkina Faso 306 km;
, Niger 266 km;
, Nigeria 773 km;
, Togo 644 kmCoastline: 121 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea:200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land useArable land: 13%
Permanent crops: 4%
Permanent pastures: 4%
Forests and woodland: 31%
Other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
GeographyNote: no natural harbors
top of pagePopulation: 6,305,567 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Beninese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
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 profileAge structure0-14 years: 48% (male 1,510,703; female 1,501,437)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,511,114; female 1,637,155)
65 years and over: 2% (male 62,459; female 82,699) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.37 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.4 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 97.76 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 54.08 years
Male: 51.98 years
Female: 56.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 37%
Male: 48.7%
Female: 25.8% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Benin
Conventional short form: Benin
Local long form: Republique du Benin
Local short form: Benin
Former: Dahomey
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Administrative divisions: 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"
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)
Constitution: December 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief 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 elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
Election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote_Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held 28 March 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PRB 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC 1, RDP 1, other 17
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
In the us chancery: 2,737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 232-6,656
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
From the us embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
From the us mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
From the us telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
From the us FAX: [229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74
Flag description
: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1990-95 and 5% in 1996-98. Rapid population growth has offset much of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program since 1991.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.4% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,300 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 34%
Industry: 14%
Services: 52% (1997)
Agriculture products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $299 million
Expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 11%, Morocco 10%, Libya 6%, France (1997)
Imports: $314 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
Partners: France 21%, UK 9%, Thailand 9%, Hong Kong 8%, China (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.6 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1_566.36 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 6 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 251 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 245 million kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaBenin - Communication 1999
top of pageTelephones: 38,354 (6,286 cellular telephone subscribers) (1998 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $27 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (1996)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsBenin - Transportation 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 5 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 578 km (single track)
Narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
RoadwaysWaterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally
Merchant marine: none
Ports and terminalsBenin - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US