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),