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Compare Benin (2002) - Trinidad and Tobago (2001)

Compare Benin (2002) z Trinidad and Tobago (2001)

 Benin (2002)Trinidad and Tobago (2001)
 BeninTrinidad and Tobago
Administrative divisions 12 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
Age structure 0-14 years: 47.2% (male 1,616,138; female 1,585,463)


15-64 years: 50.5% (male 1,665,439; female 1,764,966)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 65,877; female 89,742) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
24.1% (male 143,730; female 138,160)

15-64 years:
69.2% (male 415,898; female 393,551)

65 years and over:
6.7% (male 34,785; female 43,558) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Airports 5 (2001) 6 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total:
3

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (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 (2002)
total:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total:
5,128 sq km

land:
5,128 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania slightly smaller than Delaware
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 came under British control in the 19th century; independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
Birth rate 43.66 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 13.73 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
revenues:
$1.54 billion

expenditures:
$1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (1998)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Port-of-Spain
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Coastline 121 km 362 km
Constitution December 1990 1 August 1976
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:
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

conventional short form:
Trinidad and Tobago
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Death rate 14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.18 billion (2000) $2.8 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER


embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou


mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou


telephone: [229] 30-06-50


FAX: [229] 30-06-70
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III (until April, 2001)

embassy:
15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain

mailing address:
P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain

telephone:
[1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376, 6176

FAX:
[1] (868) 628-5462
Diplomatic representation in 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
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)

chancery:
1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:
[1] (202) 467-6490

FAX:
[1] (202) 785-3130

consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
Disputes - international Benin and Niger have refered to the ICJ the dispute over l'Ete and 14 smaller disputed islands in the Niger River, which has never been delimited; with Nigeria, several villages are in dispute along the Okpara River and only 35 km of the 436 km boundary are demarcated; the Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint remains undemarcated; Benin accuses Togo of moving boundary markers and stationing troops in its territory; two villages are in dispute with Burkina Faso none
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $121.4 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 stable 5% in the past five years, but rapid population rise 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. Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Persistently high unemployment remains one of the chief challenges of the government. The petrochemical sector has spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is growing, especially in the pleasure boat sector. New investment and construction also will continue to drive the economy.
Electricity - consumption 523.2 million kWh (2000) 4.557 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 300 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 240 million kWh (2000) 4.9 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 17%


hydro: 83%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
99.59%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.41% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


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

highest point:
El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
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:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, 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 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other 1.2%
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.2688 (January 2001), 6.2998 (2000), 6.2989 (1999), 6.2983 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996)
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 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"
chief of state:
President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19 March 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament

elections:
president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term; election last held 11 December 2000 (next to be held by NA 2005); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister

election results:
Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 69%
Exports $35.3 million f.o.b. (2000) $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Exports - partners Brazil, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire (2001) US 39.3%, Caricom countries 26.1%, Latin America 9.5%, EU 5.7% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $11.2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 36%


industry: 14%


services: 50% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
2%

industry:
44%

services:
54% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $9,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.4% (2001 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 11 00 N, 61 00 W
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands -
Highways total: 6,787 km


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


unpaved: 5,430 km (1997 est.)
total:
8,320 km

paved:
4,252 km

unpaved:
4,068 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; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
Imports $437.6 million c.i.f. (2000) $3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals
Imports - partners France, US, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Japan (2001) US 39.8%, Venezuela 11.9%, EU 11%, Caricom 4.8% (1999)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 31 August 1962 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) 3.8% (2000)
Industries textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001) petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles
Infant mortality rate 88.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 24.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2001 est.) 3.2% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 4 (2002) 17 (2000)
Irrigated land 120 sq km (1998 est.) 220 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of Justice; Court of Appeals; The Majistracy (hears minor civil cases and summary criminal cases)
Labor force NA 558,700 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation - construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 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: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
arable land:
15%

permanent crops:
9%

permanent pastures:
2%

forests and woodland:
46%

other:
28% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; 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 30 March 2003)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, Alliance E'toile 4, IPD 4, other 12
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
House of Representatives - last held 11 December 2000 (next to be held by December 2005)

election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote - UNC 58.1%, PNM 40.8%, NAR 1.1%; seats by party - UNC 19, PNM 16, NAR 1

note:
Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members serving four-year terms
Life expectancy at birth total population: 49.69 years


male: 48.81 years


female: 50.61 years (2002 est.)
total population:
68.27 years

male:
65.74 years

female:
70.92 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:
97.9%

male:
98.8%

female:
97% (1995 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 NM contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,439 GRT/4,040 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military expenditures - dollar figure $27 million (FY96) $83 million (FY94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY96) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,509,760


females age 15-49: 1,536,036


note: both sexes are liable for military service (2002 est.)
males age 15-49:
346,043 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 771,373


females age 15-49: 778,730 (2002 est.)
males age 15-49:
247,297 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 71,278


females: 70,088 (2002 est.)
-
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun:
Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

adjective:
Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -9.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km
Political parties and leaders African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Saka SALEY]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]


note: approximately 20 additional minor parties; the Coalition of Democratic Forces, [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI], an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU
National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Hochay CHARLES]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [leader NA]; People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Jamaat Al Musilmeen [Abu BAKR]
Population 6,787,625


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 2002 est.)
1,169,682 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 37% (2001 est.) 21% (1992 est.)
Population growth rate 2.91% (2002 est.) -0.51% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 660,000 (2000) 680,000 (1997)
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)
minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%
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: 0.73 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2001 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:
excellent international service; good local service

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Telephones - main lines in use 51,000 (2000) 243,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 55,500 (2000) 17,411 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) 4 (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 6.14 children born/woman (2002 est.) 1.81 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 12.8% (2000)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally none
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