Background:
 
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI, who won a second five-year term in March 2011, has attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Country name:
 
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
 

Government type:

republic
 

Capital:

name: Porto-Novo (official capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
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)
 

National holiday:

National Day, 1 August (1960)
 

Constitution:

previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 (2012)
 

Legal system:

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
 

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
 

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
 

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); Prime Minister Pascal KOUPAKI (since 28 May 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni re-elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%
 

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 41, UN 30, other 12
 

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts) Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president)
note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is to limited cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the national president upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the national president; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; High Court of Justice 'other' members elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts
 

Political parties and leaders:

Be African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (superceded Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD)
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
 

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups
 

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
 

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Omar AROUNA (since 21 May 2014)
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
 

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 24 May 2012)
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
FAX: [229] 21-30-66-82
 

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
 

National symbol(s):

leopard
 

Country name:
 
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
 

Government type:

republic
 

Capital:

name: Porto-Novo (official capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
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)
 

National holiday:

National Day, 1 August (1960)
 

Constitution:

previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 (2012)
 

Legal system:

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
 

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
 

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
 

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); Prime Minister Pascal KOUPAKI (since 28 May 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni re-elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%
 

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 41, UN 30, other 12
 

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts) Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president)
note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is to limited cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the national president upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the national president; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; High Court of Justice 'other' members elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts
 

Political parties and leaders:

Be African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for the Relief or UPR [Issa SALIFOU]; Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (superceded Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD)
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
 

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups
 

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
 

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Omar AROUNA (since 21 May 2014)
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
 

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 24 May 2012)
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
FAX: [229] 21-30-66-82
 

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
 

National symbol(s):

leopard
 

National anthem:

name: 'L'Aube Nouvelle' (The Dawn of a New Day)

lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
note: adopted 1960

name: 'L'Aube Nouvelle' (The Dawn of a New Day)

lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
note: adopted 1960

Location:
 
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
 

Geographic coordinates:

9 30 N, 2 15 E
 

Map references:

Africa
 

Area:

total: 112,622 sq km
country comparison to the world: 102
land: 110,622 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
 

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
 

Land boundaries:

total: 2,123 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km
 

Coastline:

121 km
 

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm
 

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
 

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
 

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
 

Natural resources:

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
 

Land use:

arable land: 22.48%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 74.9% (2011)
 

Irrigated land:

230.4 sq km (2008)
 

Total renewable water resources:

26.39 cu km (2011)
 

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%)
per capita: 18.74 cu m/yr (2001)
 

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
 

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
 

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
 

Geography - note:

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Nationality:
 
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
 

Ethnic groups:

Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)
 

Languages:

French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
 

Religions:

Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)
 

Population:

10,160,556
country comparison to the world: 88
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)
 

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: 3.5% (male 149,883/female 205,701)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 112,830/female 170,373) (2014 est.)
population pyramid:  
 

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 83 %
youth dependency ratio: 77.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.3 %
potential support ratio: 18.9 (2014 est.)
 

Median age:

total: 17.7 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 18.1 years (2014 est.)
 

Population growth rate:

2.81% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
 

Birth rate:

36.51 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
 

Death rate:

8.39 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
 

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
 

Urbanization:

urban population: 44.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
 

Major urban areas - population:

COTONOU (seat of government) 924,000; PORTO-NOVO (capital) 314,000 (2011)
 

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.)
 

Mother's mean age at first birth:

20.3
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011-12 est.)
 

Maternal mortality rate:

350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
 

Infant mortality rate:

total: 57.09 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 26
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
country comparison to the world: 191
male: 59.75 years
female: 62.47 years (2014 est.)
 

Total fertility rate:

5.04 children born/woman (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Contraceptive prevalence rate:

12.9% (2012)
 

Health expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 149
Physicians density:

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
 

Drinking water source:

improved: 
urban: 84.5% of population
rural: 69.1% of population
total: 76.1% of population
unimproved: 
urban: 15.5% of population
rural: 30.9% of population
total: 23.9% of population (2012 est.)
 

Sanitation facility access:

improved: 
urban: 25.3% of population
rural: 5.1% of population
total: 14.3% of population
unimproved: 
urban: 74.7% of population
rural: 94.9% of population
total: 85.7% of population (2012 est.)
 

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
 

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

71,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
 

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
 

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
 

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
 

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

20.2% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 30
 

Education expenditures:

5.3% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 64
 

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 55.2%
female: 30.3% (2010 census)
 

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years
male: 13 years
female: 9 years (2011)
 

Child labor - children ages 5-14:

total number: 1,020,981
percentage: 46 % (2006 est.)
 

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 0.8%
country comparison to the world: 147
male: 1.1%
female: 0.6% (2002)

Economy - overview:
 
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output had averaged almost 4% before the global recession and it has returned to roughly that level in 2011-12. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth, 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. Specific projects to improve the business climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation with Benin benefiting from a G-8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. An insufficient electrical supply continues to adversely affect Benin's economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for the majority of investment in infrastructure projects. Cotton, a key export, suffered from flooding in 2010-11, but high prices supported export earnings. The government agreed to a 25% increase in civil servant salaries in 2011, following a series of strikes, increasing pressure on the national budget. Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory.
 

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.65 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$15.86 billion (2012 est.)
$15.04 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
 

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.359 billion (2013 est.)
 

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
5.4% (2012 est.)
3.5% (2011 est.)
 

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
$1,600 (2012 est.)
$1,500 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
 

Gross national saving:

9.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
9% of GDP (2012 est.)
7.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
 

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: NA cu m
government consumption: 12.7%
investment in fixed capital: 18.6%
investment in inventories: 0.2%
exports of goods and services: 13.2%
imports of goods and services: -26%
(2013 est.)
 

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 12.9%
services: 55.6% (2013 est.)
 

Agriculture - products:

cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock
 

Industries:

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
 

Industrial production growth rate:

3.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
 

Labor force:

3.662 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
 

Unemployment rate:

NA%
 

Population below poverty line:

37.4% (2007 est.)
 

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 29% (2003)
 

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.5 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 85
 

Budget:

revenues: $1.712 billion
expenditures: $1.825 billion (2013 est.)
 

Taxes and other revenues:

20.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
 

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-1.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
 

Public debt:

29.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
31.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
 

Fiscal year:

calendar year
 

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
6.8% (2012 est.)
 

Central bank discount rate:

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
 

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA%
 

Stock of narrow money:

$1.889 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$1.755 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of broad money:

$3.06 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$2.943 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.511 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$1.529 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA
 

Current account balance:

-$699.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
-$684.9 million (2012 est.)
 

Exports:

$1.108 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$1.071 billion (2012 est.)
 

Exports - commodities:

cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood
 

Exports - partners:

China 25%, India 23.5%, Lebanon 18.7%, Niger 4.3%, Nigeria 4% (2012)
 

Imports:

$1.835 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$1.755 billion (2012 est.)
 

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
 

Imports - partners:

China 37.2%, US 8.9%, India 6.7%, France 5.6%, Malaysia 5.3% (2012)
 

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$720.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$712.8 million (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Debt - external:

$1.236 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$1.123 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
 

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use:
 
156,700 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 135
 

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.408 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 90
 

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment
domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; long distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
 

Broadcast media:

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2007)
 

Internet country code:

.bj
 

Internet hosts:

491 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 183
 

Internet users:

200,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139

Airports:
 
6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 171
 

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
 

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
 

Railways:

total: 438 km
country comparison to the world: 113
narrow gauge: 438 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
 

Roadways:

total: 16,000 km
country comparison to the world: 119
paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)
 

Waterways:

150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 102
 

Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Cotonou

Electricity - production:
 
142.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
 

Electricity - consumption:

870.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
 

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
 

Electricity - imports:

935 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
 

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

61,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
 

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

98.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
 

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
 

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

1.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
 

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
 

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
 

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
 

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
 

Crude oil - proved reserves:

8 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
 

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
 

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

29,170 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
 

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
 

Refined petroleum products - imports:

34,840 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
 

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
 

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
 

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
 

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
 

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
 

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

4.655 million Mt (2011 est.)

A total of 77 Realistic Export Opportunities (REOs) from South Africa to Benin are identified based on the North-West University’s (South Africa) TRADE Decision Support Model (DSM).

The methodology is a very useful instrument to identify market opportunities globally for one’s product and also provides a good reference for one to be able to prioritise marketing efforts based on the value and size of these opportunities.

The TRADE-DSM Navigator provides sound information that companies are able to use in developing their export marketing strategy and forms the basis and guidance for further research should this be required.

In total 77 of the products associated with import demand are identified as realistic export opportunities. The relative 'untapped' potential of the market opportunity is shown in the chart below:

A total 'untapped' potential from South Africa's perspective of approximately 0.04 (in million US dollar terms) based on the average value of the top 6 supplying countries (excluding South Africa) are associated with these specific product export opportunities.

The highest number of identified opportunities are associated with the economic sector of

Food (301-304) .

Not all sectors will be present, as not all economic sectors (some of which are based on economic activity while the REOs are based on traded products) are relevant for all products. However, various other sectors also do exhibit potential.

While the above examples are based on high level economic sectors, the information is available at a much more granular level on the HS 6-digit tariff code level. To demonstrate the following example of a product description is provided:

HS CHAPTER 84:
NUCLEAR REACTORS, BOILERS, MACHINERY AND MECHANICAL APPLIANCES; PARTS THEREOF
Sub-heading 84.27:
Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment:
HS 6-digit product code 8427.10:
Self-propelled trucks powered by an electric motor.

Research reports containing more detailed information related to these realistic export opportunities (down to product level as illustrated with the above product description) for each country are available from TIKZN.

Please contact us if you are interested in more detail by clicking here.

For an example of a more detailed country report please click here.

Please note that a more up-to-date version for the specific country report used in this example is available from TIKZN. This report is provided for demonstration purposes only and should not be used for any decision-making.

For more in-depth research you can also contact our NWU knowledge partners at
TRADE Research Advisory.

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Ref	Date Received	Officials Details	Nature of Enquiry
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