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Compare Benin (2001) - Libya (2001)

Compare Benin (2001) z Libya (2001)

 Benin (2001)Libya (2001)
 BeninLibya
Administrative divisions 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou; note - six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department" 25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Age structure 0-14 years:
47.32% (male 1,574,124; female 1,544,741)

15-64 years:
50.38% (male 1,607,900; female 1,712,360)

65 years and over:
2.3% (male 64,756; female 86,901) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
35.41% (male 947,645; female 907,854)

15-64 years:
60.64% (male 1,645,085; female 1,533,066)

65 years and over:
3.95% (male 101,701; female 105,248) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Airports 5 (2000 est.) 136 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total:
58

over 3,047 m:
23

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
22

914 to 1,523 m:
5

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total:
78

over 3,047 m:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
14

914 to 1,523 m:
40

under 914 m:
18 (2000 est.)
Area total:
112,620 sq km

land:
110,620 sq km

water:
2,000 sq km
total:
1,759,540 sq km

land:
1,759,540 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania slightly larger than Alaska
Background Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991. Since he took power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system - a combination of socialism and Islam - which he calls the Third International Theory. Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military adventures failed, e.g., the prolonged foray of Libyan troops into the Aozou Strip in northern Chad was finally repulsed in 1987. Libyan support for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions were imposed in 1992. Those sanctions were suspended in April 1999.
Birth rate 44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 27.67 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$299 million

expenditures:
$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
revenues:
$6.85 billion

expenditures:
$4.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Tripoli
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Coastline 121 km 1,770 km
Constitution December 1990 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Benin

conventional short form:
Benin

local long form:
Republique du Benin

local short form:
Benin

former:
Dahomey
conventional long form:
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

conventional short form:
Libya

local long form:
Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma

local short form:
none
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Libyan dinar (LYD)
Death rate 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (1998 est.) $4.1 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER

embassy:
Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou

mailing address:
B. P. 2012, Cotonou

telephone:
[229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92

FAX:
[229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74
the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN

chancery:
2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 232-6656

FAX:
[1] (202) 265-1996
Libya does not have an embassy in the US
Disputes - international none Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and also a part of southeastern Algeria
Economic aid - recipient $274.6 million (1997) $8.4 million (1995)
Economy - overview The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output averaged a sound 5% in 1996-99, but a rapid population rise offset much of this growth. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation in recent years. While high fuel prices constrained growth in 2000, increased cotton production - enabled by a major restructuring program - and an expansion of the Cotonou port, may lead to increased growth in 2001. The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. In this statist society, import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. Higher oil prices in 1999 and 2000 led to an increase in export revenues, which improved macroeconomic balances and helped to stimulate the economy. Following the suspension of UN sanctions in 1999, Libya has been trying to increase its attractiveness to foreign investors, and several foreign companies have visited in search of contracts.
Electricity - consumption 510.2 million kWh (1999) 17.577 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 300 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 226 million kWh (1999) 18.9 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
24.78%

hydro:
75.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point:
Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m

highest point:
Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
party to:
Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Ethnic groups African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500 Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro Libyan dinars per US dollar - 0.5101 (January 2001), 0.5081 (2000), 0.4616 (1999), 0.3785 (1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996)

note:
Libya currently has two rates for foreign trade; one for government operations and foreign companies and one for Libyan individuals (0.45 dinars per US dollar in December 1998)
Executive branch 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, 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"
chief of state:
Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state

head of government:
Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Mubarak al-SHAMEKH (since 2 March 2000)

cabinet:
General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress

elections:
national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held NA)

election results:
Mubarak al-SHAMEKH elected premier; percent of General People's Congress vote - NA%
Exports $396 million (f.o.b., 1999) $13.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa crude oil, refined petroleum products
Exports - partners Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999) Italy 33%, Germany 24%, Spain 10%, France 5%, Turkey 4%, Tunisia 4% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $45.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
37.9%

industry:
13.5%

services:
48.6% (1999)
agriculture:
7%

industry:
47%

services:
46% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 6.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Geography - note no natural harbors -
Highways total:
6,787 km

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

unpaved:
5,430 km (1997 est.)
total:
24,484 km

paved:
6,800 km

unpaved:
17,684 km (1996)
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 -
Imports $566 million (c.i.f., 1999) $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999) Italy 24%, Germany 12%, Tunisia 9%, UK 7%, France 6%, South Korea 5% (1999)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
Industrial production growth rate 6.9% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Infant mortality rate 89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 28.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2000 est.) 18.5% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 100 sq km (1993 est.) 4,700 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Supreme Court
Labor force NA 1.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - services and government 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,989 km

border countries:
Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
total:
4,383 km

border countries:
Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Land use arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
4%

permanent pastures:
4%

forests and woodland:
31%

other:
48% (1993 est.)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
8%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
91% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 30 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, E'toile 4, Alliance IPD 4, Car-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7
unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Life expectancy at birth total population:
49.94 years

male:
49.02 years

female:
50.88 years (2001 est.)
total population:
75.65 years

male:
73.53 years

female:
77.88 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
37.5%

male:
52.2%

female:
23.6% (2000)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
76.2%

male:
87.9%

female:
63% (1995 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM

note:
Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total:
28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 399,725 GRT/654,843 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 4 (2000 est.)
Military branches Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
Military expenditures - dollar figure $27 million (FY96) $1.3 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY96) 3.9% (FY99/00)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,455,433

females age 15-49:
1,489,947

note:
both sexes are liable for military service (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
1,459,400 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
743,980

females age 15-49:
755,149 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
866,012 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 17 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
70,088

females:
73,618 (2001 est.)
males:
61,694 (2001 est.)
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Nationality noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Beninese
noun:
Libyan(s)

adjective:
Libyan
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km
Political parties and leaders African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Sylvain Adekpedjou AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Cameleon Alliance or AC [leader NA]; Car-DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; 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]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Paul DOSSOU]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Francois Odjo TANKPINON]; Party Democratique du Benin or PDB [Col. Soule DANKORO]; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP [Dominique HOYMINOU, Dr. Giles Auguste MINONTIN]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Adamou N'Diaye MAMA]

note:
the Coalition of Democratic Forces is an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]
none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
Population 6,590,782

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 2001 est.)
5,240,599

note:
includes 662,669 non-nationals, of which an estimated 500,000 or more are Africans living in Libya (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 37.2% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.97% (2001 est.) 2.42% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 17, FM 4, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios 620,000 (1997) 1.35 million (1997)
Railways total:
578 km (single track)

narrow gauge:
578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
note:
Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been little progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion originally set for mid-1994; Libya signed contracts with two private companies - Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios of Spain - in 1998 for the supply of crossings and pointwork (1001)
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Sunni Muslim 97%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

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

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable
general assessment:
telecommunications system is being modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996

domestic:
microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

international:
satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Telephones - main lines in use 36,000 (1997) 380,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,295 (1997) NA
Television broadcast stations 2 (one privately-owned) (1997) 12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1998)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Total fertility rate 6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.64 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 30% (2000 est.)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally none
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