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Compare Benin (2001) - Turks and Caicos Islands (2004)

Compare Benin (2001) z Turks and Caicos Islands (2004)

 Benin (2001)Turks and Caicos Islands (2004)
 BeninTurks and Caicos Islands
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 (overseas territory of the UK)
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: 32.5% (male 3,301; female 3,184)


15-64 years: 63.8% (male 6,696; female 6,036)


65 years and over: 3.7% (male 327; female 412) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Airports 5 (2000 est.) 8 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 6


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2004 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: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Area total:
112,620 sq km

land:
110,620 sq km

water:
2,000 sq km
total: 430 sq km


land: 430 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania 2.5 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. The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.
Birth rate 44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 22.85 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$299 million

expenditures:
$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
revenues: $47 million


expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997-98 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline 121 km 389 km
Constitution December 1990 introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988
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: none


conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States US dollar (USD)
Death rate 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (1998 est.) NA (2002 est.)
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK
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 (overseas territory of the UK)
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 (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international none have received Haitians fleeing economic collapse and civil unrest
Economic aid - recipient $274.6 million (1997) $4.1 million (1997)
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 Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002.
Electricity - consumption 510.2 million kWh (1999) 4.65 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) 5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
24.78%

hydro:
75.22%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
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 black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%
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 the US dollar is used
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: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)


head of government: Chief Minister Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor
Exports $396 million (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999) US, UK
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 blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
37.9%

industry:
13.5%

services:
48.6% (1999)
agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 4.9% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography - note no natural harbors about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Highways total:
6,787 km

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

unpaved:
5,430 km (1997 est.)
total: 121 km


paved: 24 km


unpaved: 97 km (2000)
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 transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Imports $566 million (c.i.f., 1999) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports - partners France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999) US, UK
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 6.9% (2000 est.) NA
Industries textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum tourism, offshore financial services
Infant mortality rate 89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 16.27 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 18.79 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2000 est.) 4% (1995)
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 Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 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 Supreme Court
Labor force NA 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
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: 2.33%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.67% (2001)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) English (official)
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
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 Legislative Council (19 seats of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5
Life expectancy at birth total population:
49.94 years

male:
49.02 years

female:
50.88 years (2001 est.)
total population: 74.25 years


male: 72.05 years


female: 76.57 years (2004 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 has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) none
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
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) Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Nationality noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Beninese
noun: none


adjective: none
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter frequent hurricanes
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber spiny lobster, conch
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note - destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US
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]
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
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.)
19,956 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line 37.2% (1999 est.) NA
Population growth rate 2.97% (2001 est.) 3.03% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo Grand Turk, Providenciales
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios 620,000 (1997) -
Railways total:
578 km (single track)

narrow gauge:
578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
-
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)
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: 1.11 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2004 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: fair cable and radiotelephone services


domestic: NA


international: country code - 1-649; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 36,000 (1997) 5,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,295 (1997) 1,700 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 2 (one privately-owned) (1997) 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; 2 cable television networks) (2004)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Total fertility rate 6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.11 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 10% (1997 est.)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally -
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