Introduction

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 attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`9 30 N, 2 15 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
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`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 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`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`120 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`25.8 cu km (2001)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%) per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March`
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`
Geography - note: |  |
`sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands`

People

Population: |  |
`9,325,032 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 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`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 44.7% (male 2,126,973/female 2,042,340) 15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,443,370/female 2,461,421) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 101,640/female 149,288) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 17.4 years male: 17 years female: 17.9 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.911% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 13`
Birth rate: |  |
`38.11 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 15`
Death rate: |  |
`9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 70`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 77`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 42% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`COTONOU (seat of government) 815,000; PORTO-NOVO (capital) 276,000 (2009)`
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 (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 61.56 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 30 male: 64.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 58.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 59.84 years country comparison to the world: 187 male: 58.61 years female: 61.14 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`5.31 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 14`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`1.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`60,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`2,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48`
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)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 84% of population rural: 69% of population total: 75% of population unimproved: urban: 16% of population rural: 31% of population total: 25% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 24% of population rural: 4% of population total: 12% of population unimproved: urban: 76% of population rural: 96% of population total: 88% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Beninese (singular and plural) 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)`
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)`
Languages: |  |
`French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 34.7% male: 47.9% female: 23.3% (2002 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 9 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2005)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`3.5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 117`

Government

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 (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)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou`
Independence: |  |
`1 August 1960 (from France)`
National holiday: |  |
`National Day, 1 August (1960)`
Constitution: |  |
`adopted by referendum 2 December 1990`
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 (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); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni re-elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%
`

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 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 41, UN 30, other 12`
Judicial branch: |  |

`
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (7 members; 4 appointed by the National Assembly, 3 appointed by the President; appointed for a 5-year term for one term); Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (President of the Supreme Court appointed by the President for a 5-year term); High Court of Justice (composed of members of the Constitutional Court and 6 members appointed by the National Assembly)
`

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 SÈHOUÉTO]; 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`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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`
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`
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`
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 anthem: |  |
`name: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON note: adopted 1960`

Economy

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 2.7% 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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$13.99 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $13.66 billion (2009 est.) $13.3 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$6.649 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 2.7% (2009 est.) 5% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 33.2% industry: 14.5% services: 52.3% (2007 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`3.662 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96`
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% (2003)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`36.5 (2003) country comparison to the world: 81`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`18.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $1.348 billion expenditures: $1.731 billion (2010 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 2.2% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 95 4.75% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`NA% NA%`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$1.551 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 $1.619 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$2.424 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $2.517 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$1.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.269 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock`
Industries: |  |
`textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110`
Electricity - production: |  |
`124 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`597 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`588 million kWh (2007 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
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: 94`
Oil - imports: |  |
`28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`8 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-582 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $-644 million (2009 est.)`
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)`
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)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$1.254 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $1.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$2.894 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $986.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 493.51 (2007) 522.59 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`127,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 142`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`5.033 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 94`
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)
`

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`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 178`
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)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 438 km country comparison to the world: 113 narrow gauge: 438 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 16,000 km country comparison to the world: 119 paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)`
Waterways: |  |
`150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2010) country comparison to the world: 102`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Cotonou`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Benin Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin Air Force (Force Aerienne du Benin, FAB) (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers eligible at age 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2006)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 2,095,373 females age 16-49: 2,038,351 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,385,065 females age 16-49: 1,400,045 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 108,496 female: 104,526 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 132`

Transnational Issues

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 around the town of Koualou; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved`
Refugees and internally displaced persons: |  |
`refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008)`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011