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Compare American Samoa (2004) - Benin (2004)

Compare American Samoa (2004) z Benin (2004)

 American Samoa (2004)Benin (2004)
 American SamoaBenin
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years: 36.6% (male 10,983; female 10,208)


15-64 years: 60.3% (male 18,010; female 16,933)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 699; female 1,069) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 1,711,075; female 1,679,439)


15-64 years: 51% (male 1,802,990; female 1,890,915)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 68,890; female 96,724) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 3 (2003 est.) 5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Area total: 199 sq km


land: 199 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year. Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. 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.
Birth rate 24.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)


expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY96/97)
revenues: $698.9 million


expenditures: $613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
Capital Pago Pago Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 116 km 121 km
Constitution ratified 1966, in effect 1967 December 1990
Country name conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa


conventional short form: American Samoa


abbreviation: AS
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency US dollar (USD) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external NA (2002 est.) $1.6 billion (2000)
Dependency status unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL


embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou


mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou


telephone: [229] 30-06-50


FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN


chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656


FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Disputes - international none two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones
Economic aid - recipient important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994 $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts most of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector. The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a stable 5% in the past six years, but rapid population rise has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, 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. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for speeded-up structural reforms.
Electricity - consumption 120.9 million kWh (2001) 631.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 376 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 130 million kWh (2001) 274.3 million kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Lata 966 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines 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


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)


election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote: Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)


election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%


note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities canned tuna 93% cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Samoa 33.3%, Japan 22.2%, Australia 11.1%, Canada 11.1%, New Zealand 11.1% (2003) China 21.1%, India 18%, Thailand 6.8%, Ghana 5.8%, Niger 4.4%, Indonesia 4.1% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 36.4%


industry: 14.5%


services: 49.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 5.5% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 14 20 S, 170 00 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total: 350 km


paved: 150 km


unpaved: 200 km
total: 6,787 km


paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners Australia 33.3%, New Zealand 33.3%, Mauritius 9%, Japan 5.1%, South Korea 5.1%, UK 5.1% (2003) China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003)
Independence none (territory of the US) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate total: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 85.88 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.89 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA (2003 est.) 1.5% (2003 est.)
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior) Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 14,000 (1996) NA (1996)
Labor force - by occupation tuna canneries 34%, government 33%, other 33% (1990) -
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land: 10%


permanent crops: 15%


other: 75% (2001)
arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
Languages Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English


note: most people are bilingual
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system NA based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18


note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.62 years


male: 72.05 years


female: 79.41 years (2004 est.)
total population: 50.81 years


male: 50.25 years


female: 51.39 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97%


male: 98%


female: 97% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
Merchant marine none none
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $98.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.7% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,638,010


females age 15-49: 1,647,850 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 835,561


females age 15-49: 835,633 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 77,552


females: 81,841 (2004 est.)
National holiday Flag Day, 17 April (1900) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun: American Samoan(s)


adjective: American Samoan
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards typhoons common from December to March hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources pumice, pumicite small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate -20.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA] African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and 4 other small parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]


note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 57,902 (July 2004 est.) 7,250,033


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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 37% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 0.04% (2004 est.) 2.89% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Railways - total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Religions Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station


international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: NA


domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections


international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Telephones - main lines in use 15,000 (2001) 66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,377 (1999) 236,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2004) 1 (2001)
Terrain five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 3.41 children born/woman (2004 est.) 5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 6% (2000) NA
Waterways - 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
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