Background:

Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N 2 15 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 112,622 km²
Land: 110,622 km²
Water: 2000 km²
Rank: 102
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Total: 2,123 km
Border countries: (4) Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits limestone marble timber

Land use
Agricultural land: 31.3%
Forest: 40%
Other: 28.7%

Irrigated land: 230.4 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 26.39 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: hot dry dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Geography
Note: sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors river mouths or islands

Population: 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
Rank: 88
Growth rate: 2.78% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 17
Below poverty line: 37.4% (2007 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Beninese
Adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups: 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)

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

Religions: 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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.42%
15-24 years: 20.19%
25-54 years: 30.04%
55-64 years: 3.53%
65 years and over: 2.82% (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 82%
Youth dependency ratio: 76.7%
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.3%
Potential support ratio: 19%

Median age
Total: 17.7 years
Male: 17.4 years
Female: 18.1 years

Population growth rate: 2.78% (2015 est.)
Rank: 17

Birth rate: 36.02 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 20

Death rate: 8.21 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 84

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 104

Urbanization
Urban population: 44% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: PORTO-NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015)

Environment
Current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
International agreements 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male/female
55-64 years: 0.74 male/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female

Infant mortality rate
Total: 55.68 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 58.8 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 52.4 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 26

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 61.47 years
Male: 60.11 years
Female: 62.9 years
Rank: 192

Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 16

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 12.9% (2011/12)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.06 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 0.5 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.13% (2013 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 38
People living with hivaids: 73,900 (2013 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 48
Deaths: 2,700 (2013 est.)
Deaths rank: 50

Major infectious diseases
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

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 8.1% (2014)
Rank: 151

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 20.2% (2006)
Rank: 30

Education expenditures: 5.3% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 64

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 38.4%
Male: 49.9%
Female: 27.3%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 11 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 9 years

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

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Porto-Novo ; note - Cotonou (seat of government)
Geographic coordinates: 6 29 N 2 37 E
Time difference: UTC+1

Administrative divisions: 12 departments; Alibori Atacora Atlantique Borgou Collines Couffo Donga Littoral Mono Oueme Plateau Zou

Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day 1 August (1960)

Constitution: previous 1946 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990 promulgated 11 December 1990 (2012)

Legal system: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni ; Prime Minister Lionel ZINSOU (since 18 June 2015)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year 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 53.1% Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (PRD) 35.6% Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1% other 5.2%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
Elections: last held on 26 April 2015
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

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme ; 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

Political parties and leaders: 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 SÈHOUÉTO]; 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

International organization participation: 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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Omar AROUNA
In the us chancery: 2,124 Kalorama Road NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 232-6,656
In the us FAX: [1] 265-1996
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR
From the us embassy: Caporal Bernard Anani 01 BP 2012 Cotonou
From the us mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012 Cotonou
From the us telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
From the us FAX: [229] 21-30-66-82

Flag description: 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

National symbols: leopard; national colors: green yellow red

National anthem
Name: 'L'Aube Nouvelle'
Lyrics and music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
Note: adopted 1960

Economy overview: 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 142

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 45

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 205

Gross national saving:
Rank: 147

Gdp composition by end use
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
Agriculture: 31.8%
Industry: 12.3%
Services: 55.9%

Agriculture products: cotton corn cassava (manioc tapioca) yams beans palm oil peanuts cashews; livestock

Industries: textiles food processing construction materials cement

Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2014 est.)
Rank: 89

Labor force: 3.662 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 97

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: 37.4% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.1%
Highest 10: 29%

Distribution of family income gini index: 36.5 (2003)
Rank: 84

Budget
Revenues: $1.885 billion
Expenditures: $2.074 billion
Surplus or deficit: -2% of GDP (2014 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 83

Taxes and other revenues: 20.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 157

Public debt:
Rank: 123

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 6

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 88

Commercial bank prime lending rate: NA%

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 123

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 136

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 138

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance:
Rank: 117

Exports:
Rank: 144
Commodities: cotton cashews shea butter textiles palm products seafood
Partners: Lebanon 21.7% China 21.6% India 18.5% Niger 4.9% Nigeria 4.9% (2013)

Imports:
Rank: 152
Commodities: foodstuffs capital goods petroleum products
Partners: China 37.1% India 10.3% US 7.5% Malaysia 6.7% Thailand 6.1% France 4.4% (2013)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 137

Debt external:
Rank: 145

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 146 million kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 191
Consumption: 858 million kWh (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 159
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 112
Imports: 925 million kWh (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 67
Installed generating capacity: 171,000 kW (2011 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 162
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 49
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 54
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 143
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 161

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 157
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 86
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 163
Crude oil proven reserves: 8 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 94

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 124
Products consumption: 34,410 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products consumption rank: 112
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 156
Products imports: 34,840 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 87

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 108
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 122
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 65
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 164
Proven reserves: 1.133 billion m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 101

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 4.581 million Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 130

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 200,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2
Fixed lines rank: 127
Mobile cellular total: 10.8 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106
Mobile cellular rank: 82

Telephone system
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 (2008)

Broadcast media: 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: .bj
Users total: 441,000
Users percent of population: 4.3%
Users rank: 132

Military expenditures:
Rank: 99

Military service age and obligation: 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)

Airports: 6 (2013)
Rank: 171
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 5
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2

Railways
Total: 438 km
Narrow gauge: 438 km 1.000-m gauge
Rank: 114

Roadways
Total: 16,000 km
Paved: 1400 km
Unpaved: 14,600 km
Rank: 119

Waterways: 150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011)
Rank: 101

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Cotonou
LNG terminal: Cotonou

Disputes international: 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: transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008)