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Compare Benin (2001) - Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2003)

Compare Benin (2001) z Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2003)

 Benin (2001)Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2003)
 BeninSaint Pierre and Miquelon
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" none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order
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: 25% (male 891; female 851)


15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,306; female 2,210)


65 years and over: 10.3% (male 310; female 408) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Airports 5 (2000 est.) 2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

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


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
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.)
-
Area total:
112,620 sq km

land:
110,620 sq km

water:
2,000 sq km
total: 242 sq km


land: 242 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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. First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions.
Birth rate 44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.62 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$299 million

expenditures:
$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
revenues: $70 million


expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Saint-Pierre
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Coastline 121 km 120 km
Constitution December 1990 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
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: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon


conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon


local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon


local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States euro (EUR)
Death rate 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (1998 est.) $NA
Dependency status - self-governing territorial collectivity of France
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
none (territorial collectivity of France)
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
none (territorial collectivity of France)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $274.6 million (1997) approximately $60 million in annual grants from France
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 inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector.
Electricity - consumption 510.2 million kWh (1999) 39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 300 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 226 million kWh (1999) 42.03 million kWh (2001)
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% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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


highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
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
-
Ethnic groups African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500 Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
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 euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999)
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: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Claude VALLEIX (since 9 October 2002)


head of government: President of the General Council Marc PLANTAGENEST (since NA)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round - 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
Exports $396 million (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Exports - partners Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999) US 33.3%, Zambia 30.3%, Ecuador 16.2%, France 5.1%, Canada 4%, Spain 4% (2002)
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 a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $74 million - supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
37.9%

industry:
13.5%

services:
48.6% (1999)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 46 50 N, 56 20 W
Geography - note no natural harbors vegetation scanty
Highways total:
6,787 km

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

unpaved:
5,430 km (1997 est.)
total: 114 km


paved: 69 km


unpaved: 45 km
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) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
Imports - partners France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999) Zambia 61.5%, France 21.8%, Canada 13% (2002)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
Industrial production growth rate 6.9% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Infant mortality rate 89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2000 est.) 2.1% (1991-96 average)
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 FZ, WFTU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 100 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Labor force NA 3,261 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation - fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,989 km

border countries:
Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
4%

permanent pastures:
4%

forests and woodland:
31%

other:
48% (1993 est.)
arable land: 13.04%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 86.96% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) French (official)
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
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 Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be held NA April 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5


note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
49.94 years

male:
49.02 years

female:
50.88 years (2001 est.)
total population: 78.11 years


male: 75.82 years


female: 80.51 years (2003 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: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99% (1982 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Map references Africa North America
Maritime claims territorial sea:
200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $27 million (FY96) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY96) -
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.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
743,980

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

females:
73,618 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Beninese
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)


adjective: French
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber fish, deepwater ports
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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]
PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP) [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
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.)
6,976 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 37.2% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.97% (2001 est.) 0.3% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo Saint Pierre
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 620,000 (1997) -
Railways total:
578 km (single track)

narrow gauge:
578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
0 km
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Roman Catholic 99%
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: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
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: adequate


domestic: NA


international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Telephones - main lines in use 36,000 (1997) 4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,295 (1997) 0 (1994)
Television broadcast stations 2 (one privately-owned) (1997) 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mostly barren rock
Total fertility rate 6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 9.8% (1997)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally none
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