Benin

Benin

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: 102 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 (2008)

Total renewable water resources

25.8 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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)

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)

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

410 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36

Infant mortality rate

total: 61.56 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 31 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: 186 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

Health expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 157

Physicians density

0.059 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 170

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)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

60,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.2% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 37

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 116

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)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 0.8%
country comparison to the world: 130 male:1.1%
female:0.6% (2002)

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)

Prime Minister Pascal KOUPAKI (since 28 May 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World 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 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

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, UNMISS, 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 symbol(s)

leopard

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: 137 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: 35.8%
industry:6.1%
services:58.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

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: 86

Investment (gross fixed)

22% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Budget

revenues: $1.218 billion
expenditures:$1.418 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 2.2% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%
NA%

Stock of narrow money

$1.619 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125 $1.679 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.389 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142 $2.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.204 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 $1.316 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: 119

Electricity – production

128 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity – consumption

653 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

651 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Oil – consumption

25,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Oil – exports

10,840 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Oil – imports

33,410 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Oil – proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Current account balance

-$485.1 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111 -$523.4 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.254 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149 $1.13 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

India 26.4%, China 21.4%, Niger 6.5%, Nigeria 5.6%, Indonesia 4.4% (2010)

Imports

$1.781 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158 $1.646 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports – partners

China 35.2%, France 8%, US 7.2%, Malaysia 5.9%, UK 4.8%, Netherlands 4.3%, India 4.1%, Thailand 4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$953 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136 $1.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$2.894 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

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)

Transportation

Airports

5 (2010)
country comparison to the world:179

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

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 (2011)

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: 127

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)