Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and
Togo |
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Geographic coordinates:
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9 30 N, 2 15 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 112,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Pennsylvania |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria
773 km, Togo 644 km |
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Coastline:
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121 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m |
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Natural resources:
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small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber |
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Land use:
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arable land: 15.28%
permanent crops: 1.36%
other: 83.36% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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120 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to
March |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife
populations; deforestation; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors,
river mouths, or islands
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Population:
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7,041,490
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 and death rates,
lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution
of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 16.4 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 16.9 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.95% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 86.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 91.79 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 51.08 years
male: 50.35 years
female: 51.84 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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3.6% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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120,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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8,100 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese |
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Ethnic groups:
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African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba,
Bariba), Europeans 5,500 |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% |
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Languages:
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French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south),
tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.9%
male: 56.2%
female: 26.5% (2000)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
local long form: Republique du Benin |
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Government type:
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republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism
December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition
to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991 |
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Capital:
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Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
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Administrative divisions:
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12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines,
Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou |
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Independence:
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1 August 1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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National Day, 1 August (1960) |
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Constitution:
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December 1990 |
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Legal system:
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based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April
1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April
1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year
term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March
2006)
note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round
presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%,
Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National
Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State)
8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March
2001, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and HOUNGBEDJI
withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against
his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly
match"
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent
of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile,
and 5 other small parties) 31
elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March
2007) |
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Judicial branch:
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Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice |
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Political parties and leaders:
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African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement
for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance
of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition
of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic Renewal Party
or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or
FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy
or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential
Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and 4 other small parties); Renaissance
Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance
E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno
AMOUSSOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50
FAX: [229] 30-06-70 |
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Flag description:
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two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical
green band on the hoist side
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Economy - overview:
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The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence
agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real
output has averaged a stable 5% in the past six years, but rapid
population rise has offset much of this increase. Inflation has
subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still
further, 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. The 2001 privatization policy should
continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture
in spite of initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing
for speeded-up structural reforms. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 38%
industry: 15%
services: 47% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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37% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.3% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $377.4 million
expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001) |
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Industries:
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textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials
(2001) |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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8.3% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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274.3 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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631.1 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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376 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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700 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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4.105 million bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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608.8 million cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts,
livestock (2001) |
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Exports:
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$207 million f.o.b. (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa |
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Exports - partners:
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India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%,
Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$479 million c.i.f. (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products |
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Imports - partners:
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China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.6 billion (2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$342.6 million (2000) |
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States |
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Currency code:
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XOF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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streams navigable along small sections, important only locally |
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Ports and harbors:
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Cotonou, Porto-Novo |
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Merchant marine:
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none (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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5 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
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Military branches:
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Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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note: both sexes are liable for military service
females age 15-49: 1,536,036 (2003 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,597,562 |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49: 805,603
females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 75,021
females: 78,998 (2003 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$80.8 million (FY02) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.7% (FY02)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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