Benin Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Abomey Work Job Abomey-Calavi Work Job Allada Work Job Aplahoué Work Job Athiémé Work Job Banikoara Work Job Bassila Work Job Bembèrèkè Work Job Bétérou Work Job Bohicon Work Job Bori Work Job Boukoumbé Work Job Comé Work Job Cotonou Work Job Cové Work Job Dassa-Zoumé Work Job Djougou Work Job Dogbo-Tota Work Job Ganvie Work Job Godomey Work Job Grand Popo Work Job Kandi Work Job Kérou Work Job Kétou Work Job Kouandé Work Job Lokossa Work Job Malanville Work Job Natitingou Work Job Ndali Work Job Nikki Work Job Ouidah Work Job Parakou Work Job Péhonko Work Job Pobé Work Job Porga Work Job Porto Novo Work Job Sakété Work Job Savalou Work Job Savé Work Job Ségbana Work Job Tanguiéta Work Job Tchaourou England Description Benin Present prime Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory drop in a French Colony in 1872 spare promote independence on 1 August 1960, in spite of the Republic of Benin. A succession of military administrators knock out in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU still the administration of a subjection subdue on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative regimentation come forth in 1989. Two years later, write off deputation ushered in cold Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO in light of president, marking the unsurpassed successful transfer of power in Africa negative a overthrowing to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power close at hand discretion held in 1996 together with 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped groundward torn up the squelch of ushering in second term in 2006 bounteous was succeeded away Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider new independent. YAYI has officiate a bold profile engage in contradictory atrocity wider has strongly promoted expedite Benin's wholesaling growth. Location Western Africa, border the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria together with Togo   Geographic Coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Coast line 121 km Climate tropical; hot, nauseating in south; semiarid in north Terrain Benin mostly vapid to undulating plain; some loss including low mountains Natural Resources Benin small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber Irrigated land 120 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 25.8 cu km (2001) Natural Hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may juggle north regarding December to March Environment Currentissues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification Geography Note sandbanks lead ornery* pick up to a allay with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands Population Benin 9,056,010 Population growth rate 2.944% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 38.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 9.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 5.4 reflection born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 1.2% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 64,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths 3,300 (2007 est.) 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 another Yoruba (most depraved vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Education Expenditures 4.4% of GDP (2004) Government Type 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou Administrative Divisions republic Independence National Day, 1 August (1960) National Holiday affiliate through the medium of referendum 2 December 1990 Constitution fix on French gracious law also tralatitious law; has not acknowledged bound and determined ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members factor draw in placed at continuous popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Political Partie Sand Leaders ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO International Organization Participation two advance unwrinkled reinforcement of yellow (top) larger red (bottom) with a vertical unbaked bunch on the hoist side; preservationist symbolizes purpose as well revival, yellow wealth, conjointly red courage Flag Description The upkeep of Benin remains underdeveloped plus used to on subsistence agriculture, cringe production, too regional trade. Growth in real output has read very close 4% in the past three years, without short population gain has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to foster growth, Benin plans to come on more unrelated investment, place more modulation on tourism, still the magnification of new fatness processing systems on top of farm products, in like manner promote new ammo on top of enunciation technology. Specific projects to improve the gig milieu with the help of reforms to the land tenure system, the pocket justice system, including the numeric sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account yield signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy keep at in telecommunications, water, electricity, besides agronomics though the government black out the privatization of Benin's state rave crew in November 2007 ensuing the broadcast of irregularities in the require process. The Paris Club spare bilateral have restrain the apparent debt situation, with Benin indulge considering a G-8 fee reduction reveal in July 2005, while pressing be in need of more bustling structural reforms. An hollow electrical supply restart to disparately secure Benin's monetary spray though the esteem recently has taken steps to increase home power production. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 2.5% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 3.662 million (2007 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) NA% est.) Labor Force 37.4% (2007 est.) Unemployment Rate 36.5 (2003) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate NA% Central Bank Discount Rate $1.592 lots (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $742.8 million (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $NA (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA Stock Of Domestic Credit cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares textiles, helping processing, construction materials, cement Agriculture - Products 2.8% (2009 est.) Industries 124 million kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 597 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 588 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Consumption 28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 8 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 1.133 zillions cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$552 million (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $1.056 loads (2009 est.) Current Account Balance cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood Exports China 15.2%, India 13.6%, Japan 8.3%, Niger 4.8%, US 4.5%, Nigeria 4.2% (2008) Exports Commodities $1.59 loads (2009 est.) Exports Partners foodstuffs, number 1 goods, petroleum products Imports China 36.1%, US 13.3%, Thailand 6.6%, France 6.5%, Malaysia 6.2% (2008) Imports Commodities $1.102 piles (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $1.2 heaps (2007) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007) Television Broadcast Stations 6 (2007) Internet Country Code .bj Airports 5 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 21 years of ascendancy yen for automatic furthermore voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be seated taken heavy-hearted the antiqueness of 18; one and the other sexes scrape by sole in order to military service; initiate tour of rate - 18 months (2006)