2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Benin 
  adj  :  of  or  relating  to  or  characteristic  of  Benin  or  its  people; 
  "Benin  bronzes"  [syn:  {Beninese},  {Benin}] 
  n  :  formerly  part  of  French  West  Africa  [syn:  {Benin},  {Dahomey}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Benin 
 
  Benin:Geography 
 
  Location:  Western  Africa,  bordering  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean,  between 
  Nigeria  and  Togo 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  112,620  sq  km 
  land  area:  110,620  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  smaller  than  Pennsylvania 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,989  km  Burkina  306  km  Niger  266  km  Nigeria 
  773  km  Togo  644  km 
 
  Coastline:  121  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  territorial  sea:  200  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  none 
 
  Climate:  tropical;  hot,  humid  in  south;  semiarid  in  north 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  flat  to  undulating  plain;  some  hills  and  low  mountains 
 
  Natural  resources:  small  offshore  oil  deposits,  limestone,  marble, 
  timber 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  12% 
  permanent  crops:  4% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  4% 
  forest  and  woodland:  35% 
  other:  45% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  60  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  recent  droughts  have  severely  affected  marginal 
  agriculture  in  north;  inadequate  supplies  of  potable  water;  poaching 
  threatens  wildlife  populations;  deforestation;  desertification 
  natural  hazards:  hot,  dry,  dusty  harmattan  wind  may  affect  north  in 
  winter 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change, 
  Endangered  Species,  Environmental  Modification,  Nuclear  Test  Ban, 
  Ozone  Layer  Protection;  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Desertification 
  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  no  natural  harbors 
 
  Benin:People 
 
  Population:  5,522,677  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  48%  (female  1,324,553;  male  1,333,673) 
  15-64  years:  49%  (female  1,431,630;  male  1,299,180) 
  65  years  and  over:  3%  (female  74,119;  male  59,522)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  3.33%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  47.25  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  13.93  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  0  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  107.6  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  52.24  years 
  male:  50.34  years 
  female:  54.2  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  6.72  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Beninese  (singular  and  plural) 
  adjective:  Beninese 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  African  99%  (42  ethnic  groups,  most  important  being 
  Fon,  Adja,  Yoruba,  Bariba),  Europeans  5,500 
 
  Religions:  indigenous  beliefs  70%,  Muslim  15%,  Christian  15% 
 
  Languages:  French  (official),  Fon  and  Yoruba  (most  common  vernaculars 
  in  south),  tribal  languages  (at  least  six  major  ones  in  north) 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990  est.) 
  total  population:  23% 
  male:  32% 
  female:  16% 
 
  Labor  force:  1.9  million  (1987) 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  60%,  transport,  commerce,  and  public 
  services  38%,  industry  less  than  2% 
 
  Benin:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Benin 
  conventional  short  form:  Benin 
  local  long  form:  Republique  du  Benin 
  local  short  form:  Benin 
  former:  Dahomey 
 
  Digraph:  BN 
 
  Type:  republic  under  multiparty  democratic  rule  dropped 
  Marxism-Leninism  December  1989;  democratic  reforms  adopted  February 
  1990;  transition  to  multiparty  system  completed  4  April  1991 
 
  Capital:  Porto-Novo 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  6  provinces;  Atakora  Atlantique  Borgou 
  Mono,  Oueme  Zou 
 
  Independence:  1  August  1960  (from  France) 
 
  National  holiday:  National  Day  1  August  (1990) 
 
  Constitution:  2  December  1990 
 
  Legal  system:  based  on  French  civil  law  and  customary  law;  has  not 
  accepted  compulsory  ICJ  jurisdiction 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Nicephore  SOGLO 
  (since  4  April  1991);  election  last  held  10  and  24  March  1991  (next 
  election  1996);  results  -  Nicephore  SOGLO  68%,  Mathieu  KEREKOU  32% 
  cabinet:  Executive  Council;  appointed  by  the  president 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  National  Assembly  (Assemblee  Nationale):  elections  last  held  28  March 
  1995;  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  seats  -  (83  total) 
  Renaissance  Party  and  allies  20,  PRD  19,  FARD-ALAFIA  10,  PSD  7,  NCC  3, 
  RDL-VIVOTEN  3,  Communist  Party  2,  Alliance  Chameleon  1,  RDP  1,  ADP  1, 
  other  16 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court  (Cour  Supreme) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  as  of  August  1994,  72  political  parties 
  were  officially  recognized;  the  following  are  among  the  most 
  important:  Alliance  of  the  Democratic  Union  for  the  Forces  of  Progress 
  (UDFP),  Timothee  ADANLIN  Movement  for  Democracy  and  Social  Progress 
  (MDPS),  Jean-Roger  AHOYO  Union  for  Liberty  and  Development  (ULD), 
  Marcellin  DEGBE  Alliance  of  the  National  Party  for  Democracy  and 
  Development  PNDD  and  the  Democratic  Renewal  Party  (PRD),  Pascal 
  Chabi  KAO;  Alliance  of  the  Social  Democratic  Party  (PSD)  and  the 
  National  Union  for  Solidarity  and  Progress  (UNSP),  Bruno  AMOUSSOU  Our 
  Common  Cause  (NCC),  Albert  TEVOEDJRE  National  Rally  for  Democracy 
  (RND),  Joseph  KEKE;  Alliance  of  the  National  Movement  for  Democracy 
  and  Development  (MNDD),  leader  NA  Movement  for  Solidarity,  Union,  and 
  Progress  (MSUP),  Adebo  ADENIYI  Union  for  Democracy  and  National 
  Reconstruction  (UDRN),  Azaria  FAKOREDE  Union  for  Democracy  and 
  National  Solidarity  (UDS),  Mama  Amadou  N'DIAYE;  Assembly  of  Liberal 
  Democrats  for  National  Reconstruction  (RDL),  Severin  ADJOVI  Alliance 
  for  Social  Democracy  (ASD),  Robert  DOSSOU  Bloc  for  Social  Democracy 
  (BSD),  Michel  MAGNIDE  Alliance  for  Democracy  and  Progress  (ADP), 
  Akindes  ADEKPEDJOU  and  the  Democratic  Union  for  Social  Renewal 
  (UDRS),  Bio  Gado  Seko  N'GOYE;  National  Union  for  Democracy  and 
  Progress  (UNDP),  Robert  TAGNON  Party  for  Progress  and  Democracy, 
  Thiophile  NATA;  FARD-ALAFIA,  Mathieu  KEREKOU  The  Renaissance  Party, 
  Nicephore  SOGLO;  The  Patriotic  Union  for  the  Republic  (UPR), 
  Jean-Marie  ZAHOUN  Union  for  the  Conservation  of  Democracy,  Bernard 
  HOUEGNON 
 
  Member  of:  ACCT,  ACP,  AfDB  CEAO,  ECA,  ECOWAS  Entente,  FAO,  FZ  G-77, 
  GATT,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IDB,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF, 
  IMO,  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  ITU,  NAM,  OAU,  OIC,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO, 
  UNIDO  UPU,  WADB,  WCL,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Lucien  Edgar  TONOUKOUIN 
  chancery:  2737  Cathedral  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  232-6656,  6657,  6658 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  265-1996 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Ruth  A.  DAVIS 
  embassy:  Rue  Caporal  Bernard  Anani,  Cotonou 
  mailing  address:  B.  P.  2012,  Cotonou 
  telephone:  [229]  30-06-50,  30-05-13,  30-17-92 
  FAX:  [229]  41-15-22 
 
  Flag:  two  equal  horizontal  bands  of  yellow  top  and  red  with  a 
  vertical  green  band  on  the  hoist  side 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  The  economy  of  Benin  remains  underdeveloped  and  dependent  on 
  subsistence  agriculture,  cotton  production,  and  regional  trade  Growth 
  in  real  output  has  averaged  a  sound  4%  in  1991-94  but  this  rate  barely 
  exceeds  the  rapid  population  growth  of  3.3%.  Inflation  jumped  to  35% 
  in  1994  (compared  to  3%  in  1993)  following  the  50%  currency 
  devaluation  in  January.  Commercial  and  transport  activities,  which 
  make  up  almost  36%  of  GDP,  are  extremely  vulnerable  to  developments  in 
  Nigeria  as  evidenced  by  decreased  reexport  trade  in  1994  due  to  a 
  severe  contraction  in  Nigerian  demand.  The  industrial  sector  accounts 
  for  less  than  10%  of  GDP  and  mainly  produces  foods,  beverages,  cement, 
  and  textiles.  Support  by  the  Paris  Club  and  official  bilateral 
  creditors  has  eased  the  external  debt  situation  in  recent  years.  The 
  government,  still  burdened  with  money-losing  state  enterprises  and  a 
  bloated  civil  service,  is  gradually  implementing  a  World  Bank 
  supported  structural  adjustment  program. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $6.7  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  4%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $1,260  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  35%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  NA% 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $272  million  (1993  est.) 
  expenditures:  $375  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $84 
  million  (1993  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $332  million  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  cotton,  crude  oil,  palm  products,  cocoa 
  partners:  FRG  36%,  France  16%,  Spain  14%,  Italy  8%,  UK  4% 
 
  Imports:  $571  million  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  foodstuffs,  beverages,  tobacco,  petroleum  products, 
  intermediate  goods,  capital  goods,  light  consumer  goods 
  partners:  France  20%,  Thailand  8%,  Netherlands  7%,  US  5% 
 
  External  debt:  $1  billion  (December  1990  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  -0.7%  (1988);  accounts  for  10%  of 
  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  30,000  kW 
  production:  10  million  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  25  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  textiles,  cigarettes,  construction  materials,  beverages, 
  food,  petroleum 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  35%  of  GDP;  small  farms  produce  90%  of 
  agricultural  output;  production  is  dominated  by  food  crops  -  corn, 
  sorghum,  cassava,  yams,  beans,  rice;  cash  crops  include  cotton,  palm 
  oil,  peanuts;  poultry  and  livestock  output  has  not  kept  up  with 
  consumption 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  transshipment  point  for  narcotics  associated  with 
  Nigerian  trafficking  organizations  and  most  commonly  destined  for 
  Western  Europe  and  the  US 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $46  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $1.3  billion;  OPEC  bilateral  aid  (1979-89),  $19  million; 
  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $101  million 
 
  Currency:  1  CFA  franc  CFAF  =  100  centimes 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Communaute  Financiere  Africaine  francs  CFAF  per  US$1 
  -  529.43  (January  1995),  555.20  (1994),  283.16  (1993),  264.69  (1992), 
  282.11  (1991),  272.26  (1990) 
  note:  beginning  12  January  1994  the  CFA  franc  was  devalued  to  CFAF  100 
  per  French  franc  from  CFAF  50  at  which  it  had  been  fixed  since  1948 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Benin:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  578  km  (single  track) 
  narrow  gauge:  578  km  1.000-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  8,435  km 
  paved:  1,038  km 
  unpaved:  crushed  stone  2,600  km  improved  earth  1,530  km  unimproved 
  earth  3,267  km 
 
  Inland  waterways:  navigable  along  small  sections,  important  only 
  locally 
 
  Ports:  Cotonou  Porto-Novo 
 
  Merchant  marine:  none 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  7 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  4 
 
  Benin:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  NA  telephones;  fair  system  of  open  wire  and 
  microwave  radio  relay 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  microwave  radio  relay  and  open  wire 
  international:  1  Atlantic  Ocean  INTELSAT  earth  station,  submarine 
  cable 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  2,  FM  2,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  2 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Benin:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Armed  Forces  (includes  Army,  Navy,  Air  Force),  National 
  Gendarmerie 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  1,165,463;  females  age  15-49 
  1,249,234;  males  fit  for  military  service  596,956;  females  fit  for 
  military  service  631,780;  males  reach  military  age  (18)  annually 
  60,282  (1995  est.);  females  reach  military  age  (18)  annually  58,770 
  (1995  est.) 
  note:  both  sexes  are  liable  for  miltary  service 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $33  million,  3.2%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 

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