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NAVIGATION
Republic of Benin
Republique du Benin
former: Dahomey
GOVERNMENT
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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 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, 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 - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, Alliance E'toile 4, IPD 4, other 12 elections: last held 30 March 1999 (next to be held 30 March 2003) |
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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 Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Saka SALEY]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties; the Coalition of Democratic Forces, [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI], an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU |
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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, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, 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 Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER
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 |
ECONOMY
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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 averaged a stable 5% in the past five years, but rapid population rise 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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.4% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 36%
industry: 14% services: 50% (2001 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% (2001 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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240 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 17%
hydro: 83% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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523.2 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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300 million kWh (2000) |
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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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$35.3 million f.o.b. (2000) |
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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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Brazil, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire (2001) |
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Imports:
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$437.6 million c.i.f. (2000) |
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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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France, US, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Japan (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.18 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 - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |