ETHNIC DIVISIONS: 99% African (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); 5,500 Europeans
RELIGION: 70% indigenous beliefs, 15% Muslim, 15% Christian
LANGUAGE: French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in south; at least six major tribal languages in north
LITERACY: 11%
LABOR FORCE: 1,900,000 (1987); 60% agriculture, 38% transport, commerce, and public services, less than 2% industry; 49% of population of working age (1985)
ORGANIZED LABOR: about 75% of wage earners (two major and several minor unions)
.GOVERNMENT OF BENIN
LONG-FORM NAME: People's Republic of Benin
TYPE: Soviet-modeled civilian government
CAPITAL: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
INDEPENDENCE: 1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)
CONSTITUTION: 23 May 1977
LEGAL SYSTEM: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: National Day, 30 November (1975)
BRANCHES: Revolutionary National Assembly, National Executive Council
CHIEFS OF STATE AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 27 October 1972)
SUFFRAGE: universal adult
ELECTIONS: National Assembly election was held in November 1979; Assembly then formally elected Kerekou President in February 1980
POLITICAL PARITES: People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB) is sole party
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Theophile NATA; Chancery at 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-6656
U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE POST: Ambassador Walter E. STADTLER; Embassy at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou (mailing address is B. P. 2012, Cotonou); telephone [229] 30-06-50
FLAG: green with a red five-pointed star in the upper hoist-side corner
.ECONOMY OF BENIN
OVERVIEW: Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure. Agriculture accounts for almost 45% of GDP, employs about two-thirds of the labor force, and generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings. The industrial sector contributes only about 15% to GDP and employs 15% of the work force. Persistently low prices in recent years have limited hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.
GDP: $1.4 billion, per capita $340; real growth rate - 0.2% (1986)
INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 3.6% (1986)
UNEMPLOYMENT: NA
BUDGET: revenues $168 million; expenditures $313 million, including capital expenditures of $79.2 million (1987)
EXPORTS: $108 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities-- crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa; partners-- FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 7%
IMPORTS: $338 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities-- foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods; partners-- France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 5%
EXTERNAL DEBT: 1.1 billion (December 1988)
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate - 10% (1986)
ELECTRICITY: 28,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced, 5 kWh per capita (1988)
AGRICULTURE: small farms produce 90% of agricultural output; production is dominated by food crops--corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, and rice; cash crops include cotton, palm oil, and peanuts; poultry and livestock output has not kept up with consumption
AID: NA
CURRENCY: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
RAILROADS: 578 km, (358 mi) all 1.000-meter gauge, single track
HIGHWAYS: 5,050 km (3,136 mi) total; 920 km paved, 2,600 laterite, 1,530 km improved earth
INLAND WATERWAYS: small sections, important only locally
PORTS: Cotonou
MERCHANT MARINE: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) of 2,999 GRT/4,407 DWT
CIVIL AIR: 3 major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 8 total, 7 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and radio relay; 16,200 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station
.DEFENSE FORCES OF BENIN
BRANCHES: Army, Navy, Air Force
MILITARY MANPOWER: eligible 15-49, 1,903,318; of the 893,878 males 15-49, 458,979 are fit for military service; of the 1,009,440 females 15-49, 510,994 are fit for military service; about 59,245 males and 57,033 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service
MILITARY BUDGET: $28.9 million, 15.5% of central government budget (1988)
.TRAVEL IN BENIN
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Passport and visa required. Entry/transit visa, 7 days, $12. Extensions may be obtained from the Immigration Office in Benin. Three photos and proof of return/onward ticket required. No personal checks. Benin will not issue visas to Passports with Taiwanese, Israeli, or South African visas. Vaccination certificate for yellow fever required.
HEALTH: Tapwater is not potable. Unwashed raw foods or undercooked meats are not safe to eat. Malaria suppressants and hepatitis inoculations are recommended. Precaution against sun exposure is advised. Health requirements change; check latest information.
TOURIST OFFICE: Socite Beninoise Pour la Promotion du Tourisme, B.P. 1508, Cotonou; Tel 30-05-84.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Take lightweight, washable clothing for hot, humid weather. Shorts are not often worn in public. Dusty winds in December and January.
TELEPHONE: When direct dialing to Benin from the U.S., dial 011 (international access code) + 229 [country code] + local number.
TIME: 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
ELECTRIC CURRENT: 220V
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: Pendjari game reserve (antelope, elephants, hippos, caymans, lions, cheetahs, baboons), open Nov to May; museums in Abomey (Kingdom of Dahomey), Ouidah (slave trade), and Porto Novo (traditional art); village of Ganvie, built on stilts.
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure to check latest information.
