|
|
Capital Benin : |
Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government .
|
| Land Boudaries Border Country Benin :
| Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km .
|
| Climate Benin :
| tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north .
|
| Life expectancy Benin :
| 50.81 years .
|
| Fertility rate Benin :
| 5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.) .
|
| Government type Benin :
| republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991 .
|
| Population Benin :
| 7 250 033.
|
| Area Total Benin :
| 112,620 sq km .
|
| Telephones Main Lines In Use Benin :
| 66,500 (2003) .
|
| Telephones Mobile Cellular Benin :
| 236,200 (2003) .
|
| International Country Code Benin :
| 229.
|
| Current account balance Benin :
| $-112 million (2003) |
| HIV Benin :
| 1.9% (2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line Benin :
| 37% (2001 est.) |
| Literacy Benin :
| 40,90% |
| House hold income lowest than 10% Benin :
| NA |
| House hold income highest than 10% Benin :
| NA |
| Inflation Benin :
| 1.5% (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment Rate Benin :
| NA |
| Internet Users Benin :
| 70,000 (2003) |
| Location Benin :
| Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo |
| Geographic Coordinates Benin :
| 9 30 N, 2 15 E |
| Religion Benin :
| indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% |
| Administrative region Benin :
| 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou |
| Terrain Benin :
| mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains |
| Elevation extremes lowest Benin :
| Atlantic Ocean 0 m |
| Elevation extremes highest Benin :
| Mont Sokbaro 658 m |
| Natural resources Benin :
| small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber |
| Land use arable land Benin :
| 18,08% |
| Land use permanentcrops Benin :
| 2,40% |
| Irrigated land Benin :
| 120 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards Benin :
| hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March |
| Environment current issues Benin :
| inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
| Geography note Benin :
| sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands |
|
|