Benin

Broadcast media

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it 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

Internet hosts

1,286 (2010) country comparison to the world: 165

Internet users

200,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 139

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 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

127,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 141

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.033 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 94

Agriculture - products

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 91 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$582 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 -$644 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.894 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $986.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.5 (2003) country comparison to the world: 82

Economy - overview

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output had averaged about 4% before the global recession, but fell to 2.5% in 2009 and 3% in 2010. 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. As result of these reforms, Benin has become the most competitive country in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, according to the World Economic Forum. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G-8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production.

Electricity - consumption

597 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

588 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

124 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$1.125 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $994 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Exports - partners

India 19.72%, China 13.18%, Niger 6.94%, Nigeria 6.56%, Indonesia 5.73%, Togo 5.63%, Namibia 4.17% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.494 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.2 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $13.79 billion (2009 est.) $13.42 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 33.2% industry: 14.5% services: 52.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 2.7% (2009 est.) 5.1% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29% (2003)

Imports

$1.812 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $1.703 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 35.62%, US 7.51%, France 7.38%, Thailand 6.71%, Malaysia 6.13%, Netherlands 4.83%, Belgium 4.02% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 2.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Oil - exports

8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - imports

28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Oil - proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Population below poverty line

37.4% (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.254 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $1.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.424 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $2.517 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.269 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.551 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 125 $1.619 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 112,622 sq km country comparison to the world: 101 land: 110,622 sq km water: 2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

121 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%) per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geography - note

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Irrigated land

120 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Land use

arable land: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Total renewable water resources

25.8 cu km (2001)

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Capital

name: Porto-Novo (official capital) geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Cotonou (seat of government)

Constitution

adopted by referendum 2 December 1990

Country name

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

chief of mission: Ambassador James A. KNIGHT embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50 FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

Executive branch

chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); runoff election held on 19 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2011) election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Legal system

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

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 on 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18

National anthem

name: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON note: adopted 1960

National holiday

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Political parties and leaders

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; 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; 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]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU] note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. 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 has begun a high profile fight against corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,023,449 females age 16-49: 1,971,788 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,331,242 females age 16-49: 1,345,145 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 105,468 female: 101,603 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Benin Armed Forces (FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People's Air Force (Force Aerienne Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 129

Military service age and obligation

21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2006)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.2% (male 2,028,493/female 1,948,353) 15-64 years: 52.1% (male 2,275,662/female 2,308,945) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 94,569/female 135,810) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

38.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Death rate

9.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 130

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,300 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

64,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Infant mortality rate

total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 30 male: 66.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.42 years country comparison to the world: 188 male: 58.21 years female: 60.68 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 34.7% male: 47.9% female: 23.3% (2002 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age

total: 17.3 years male: 16.9 years female: 17.8 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Population

9,056,010 country comparison to the world: 90 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.944% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Religions

Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 6 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.4 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Urbanization

urban population: 41% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005 ICJ decision; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival cross-border gang clashes; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)

Airports

5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 180

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cotonou

Railways

total: 578 km country comparison to the world: 112 narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 16,000 km country comparison to the world: 120 paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)

Waterways

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2007) country comparison to the world: 102