Chief
of State: President Yayi BONI (since 6 April 2006);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
Head of Government: President
Yayi BONI (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
Government Type: republic under
multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December
1989 |
Population:
7,862,944
Languages: French (official),
Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal
languages (at least six major ones in north)
Religion: indigenous beliefs
50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Life Expectancy: 53.04 |
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note -
responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West
African States
GDP(per capita): $1,100 (2005
est.)
Overview: The economy of Benin
remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence
agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the
past six years, but rapid population growth 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.
Many of these proposals are included in Benin's application
to receive Millennium Challenge Account funding - for
which it was a finalist in 2004-05. The 2001 privatization
policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity,
and agriculture in spite of government reluctance. The
Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external
debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt
reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for
more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be
hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports
of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere,
which has resulted in increased smuggling and criminality
in the border region.
Exports: cotton, crude oil,
palm products, cocoa
Import: foodstuffs, capital
goods, petroleum products |
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Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between
Nigeria and Togo
Area: total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km |
Background:
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.
Independence Day: 1 August
1960 (from France)
Capital City: Porto-Novo is
the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Administrative divisions: 12
departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines,
Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou |
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