The 1994 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
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:
limited supply of safe drinking water; illegal hunting threatens
wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north;
no natural harbors
@Benin, People
Population:
5,341,710 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
47.67 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
110.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
51.77 years
male:
49.92 years
female:
53.68 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.79 children born/woman (1994 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%
note:
49% of population of working age (1985)
@Benin, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Benin
conventional short form:
Benin
local long form:
Republique Populaire 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; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu KEREKOU 32%
cabinet:
Executive Council; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):
elections last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8,
NCC 7, RND 7, MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2,
UNDP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
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),