BENIN BENIN REGION AFRICA NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION GLOBAL RELATIONS DATE OF INDEPENDENCE AUGUST 1 1960 FROM FRANCE DATE OF CURRENT CONSTITUTION DECEMBER 2 1990 POPULATION 6305567 1999 EST AREA 43500 SQ MI CAPITAL PORTO NOVO FORM OF GOVERNMENT REPUBLIC NATURAL RESOURCES OIL LIMESTONE MARBLE TIMBER MAIN INDUSTRIES TEXTILES FOOD PROCESSING CONSTRUCTION BEVERAGES TOBACCO PETROLEUM PROCESSING AGRICULTURE PEANUTS COTTON PALM OIL RICE CORN CASSAVA EDIBLE ROOT YAMS BEANS POULTRY CURRENCY COMMUNAUTE FINANCIERE AFRICAINE CFA FRANC GDP 7.6 BILLION 1998 EST GDP PER CAPITA 1300 1998 EST LANGUAGES FRENCH OFFICIAL FON YARUBA WEST AFRICAN LANGUAGES RELIGIONS TRADITIONAL AFRICAN BELIEF SYSTEMS ISLAM CHRISTIANITY LITERACY RATE 37 LIFE EXPECTANCY 52 YEARS MALE 56 YEARS FEMALE BIRTHRATE 45 BIRTHS PER 1000 POPULATION DEATH RATE 12 DEATHS PER 1000 POPULATION
