Benin
Geography
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo. |
|---|---|
| Area | total: 114,763 sq km land: 110,622 sq km water: 2,000 sq km |
| Natural Resources | Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber |
Others
| Nationality | noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese |
|---|---|
| Religions | Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census) |
| Languages | French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) |
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin former: Dahomey |
| Government type | Republic |
| Capital | name: Porto-Novo (official capital) geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions | 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou |
| Independence | 1 August 1960 (from France) |
| Legal system | based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
Economy
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $16.65 billion (2013 est.) |
|---|---|
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $8.359 billion (2013 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 5% (2013 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $1,600 (2013 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 31.6% industry: 12.9% services: 55.6% (2013 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | 3.662 million (2007 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 37.4% (2007 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.4% (2013 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock |
| Industries | textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement |
| Industrial production growth rate | 3.7% (2013 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood |
| Currency (code) | Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States |
| Fiscal year | Calendar year |
Population and Health
| Population | 10,160,556 (July 2014 est.) |
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| Age structure | 0-14 years: 43.8% (male 2,269,896/female 2,179,026) 15-24 years: 20.1% (male 1,036,963/female 1,001,400) 25-54 years: 29.9% (male 1,530,283/female 1,504,201) 55-64 years: 2.8% (male 149,883/female 205,701) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 112,830/female 170,373) (2014 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 2.81% (2014 est.) |
| Birth rate | 36.51 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.39 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 57.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 60.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 61.07 years male: 59.75 years female: 62.47 years (2014 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 5.04 children born/woman (2014 est.) |
| Current contraceptive use among married women 15-49 years old(any method) | 13% (2007-2012) |
| Unmet need of contraceptive | 27.3% (2006) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 71,500 (2012) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 3,100 (2012) |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.4% male: 55.2% female: 30.3% (2010 census) |