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.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

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

Land boundaries: total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Coastline: 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

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.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter

Geography
Note: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no natural harbors

Population: 5,341,710 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.33% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Beninese (singular and plural)

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%

Population growth rate: 3.33% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 47.67 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 14.36 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited supply of safe drinking water; illegal hunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 110.1 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 51.77 years
Male: 49.92 years
Female: 53.68 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Benin
Conventional short form:
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

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991; election last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%

Legislative branch: Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
National Assembly Assemblee Nationale: elections last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8, NCC 7, RND 7, MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2, UNDP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS
From the us chancery: 2,737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
From the us fax: (202) 265-1996
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

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 10% 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, primarily cotton. A World Bank supported structural adjustment program begun in 1989 has helped strengthen the economy through such measures as trimming the government payroll, reforming the tax system, and encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign. Benin has experienced 3 consecutive years of moderate growth as a result.

Real gdp growth rate: 3% (1991)

Real gdp per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.)

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: -0.7% (1988; accounts for 10% of GDP

Labor force: 1.9 million (1987)
By occupation agriculture: 60%
By occupation transport commerce andpublicservices: 38%
By occupation industrylessthan: 2%
By occupation note: 49% of population of working age (1985)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues:$218 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $328.8 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodities: crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa
Partners: FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%

Imports: $482.3 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
Partners: France 20%, Thailand 8%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%

Debt external: $1 billion (December 1990 est.)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989)
Note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Electricity
Capacity: 30,000 kW
Production: 25 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 5 kWh (1991)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

Airports: 7
Usable: 6
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 3

Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally

Disputes international: none