Benin

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

Internet users

total: 441,000 | percent of population: 4.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)

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 - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 200,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 10.8 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Television broadcast stations

6 (2007)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.885 billion | expenditures: $2.074 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010) | 4.25% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 88

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Current account balance

-$738 million (2014 est.) | -$871.4 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Debt - external

$2.458 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.224 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.5 (2003) | country comparison to the world: 84

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.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - | 491.2 (2014 est.) | 494.04 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.) | 471.87 (2011 est.) | 495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.045 billion (2014 est.) | $1.87 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Lebanon 21.7%, China 21.6%, India 18.5%, Niger 4.9%, Nigeria 4.9% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.701 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.8 billion (2014 est.) | $18.78 billion (2013 est.) | $17.77 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 142

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% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2014 est.) | $1,800 (2013 est.) | $1,700 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 205

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2014 est.) | 5.6% (2013 est.) | 5.4% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Gross national saving

10.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 9.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | 9.3% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.905 billion (2014 est.) | $2.659 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 37.1%, India 10.3%, US 7.5%, Malaysia 6.7%, Thailand 6.1%, France 4.4% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1% (2014 est.) | 1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

37.4% (2007 est.)

Public debt

30.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | 29.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$972.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $694.9 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Stock of broad money

$4.165 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Stock of domestic credit

$2.112 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.851 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Stock of narrow money

$2.509 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.268 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Taxes and other revenues

20.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

4.581 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - consumption

858 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - imports

925 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - installed generating capacity

171,000 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - production

146 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Refined petroleum products - consumption

34,410 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Refined petroleum products - imports

34,840 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Area

total: 112,622 sq km | land: 110,622 sq km | water: 2,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 102

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: 18.74 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

230.4 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

total: 2,123 km | border countries (4): Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km

Land use

agricultural land: 31.3% | arable land 22.9%; permanent crops 3.5%; permanent pasture 4.9% | forest: 40% | other: 28.7% (2011 est.)

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

26.39 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Capital

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

Constitution

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

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 Michael RAYNOR (since 24 May 2012) | embassy: Caporal Bernard Anani, 01 BP 2012, Cotonou | mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou | telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50 | FAX: [229] 21-30-66-82

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Omar AROUNA (since 21 May 2014) | 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 chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); Prime Minister Lionel ZINSOU (since 18 June 2015) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second 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 (FCBE) 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (PRD) 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); 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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in 2019) | 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

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)

National symbol(s)

leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red

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 S�HOU�TO]; 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

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 West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. | 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, who won a second five-year term in March 2011, has attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

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 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) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.03% of GDP (2012) | NA% (2011) | 1.03% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.42% (male 2,314,981/female 2,222,185) | 15-24 years: 20.19% (male 1,073,356/female 1,036,459) | 25-54 years: 30.04% (male 1,585,098/female 1,553,965) | 55-64 years: 3.53% (male 157,171/female 211,292) | 65 years and over: 2.82% (male 116,693/female 177,447) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

36.02 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 1,020,981 | percentage: 46% (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.2% (2006) | country comparison to the world: 30

Contraceptive prevalence rate

12.9% (2011/12)

Death rate

8.21 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 82% | youth dependency ratio: 76.7% | elderly dependency ratio: 5.3% | potential support ratio: 19% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 85.2% of population | rural: 72.1% of population | total: 77.9% of population | urban: 14.8% of population | rural: 27.9% of population | total: 22.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 64

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

1.13% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,700 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

73,900 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Health expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 154

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 55.68 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 58.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 52.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

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: 61.47 years | male: 60.11 years | female: 62.9 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 38.4% | male: 49.9% | female: 27.3% (2015 est.)

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 (2013)

Major urban areas - population

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

Median age

total: 17.7 years | male: 17.4 years | female: 18.1 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Beninese (singular and plural) | adjective: Beninese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 151

Physicians density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

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 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Population growth rate

2.78% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 35.6% of population | rural: 7.3% of population | total: 19.7% of population | urban: 64.4% of population | rural: 92.7% of population | total: 80.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years | male: 13 years | female: 9 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.74 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.95 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Urbanization

urban population: 44% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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)

Airports

6 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 171

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Cotonou | LNG terminal(s) (import): Cotonou

Railways

total: 438 km | narrow gauge: 438 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 114

Roadways

total: 16,000 km | paved: 1,400 km | unpaved: 14,600 km (2006) | country comparison to the world: 119

Waterways

150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 101