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Compare Benin (2003) - East Timor (2002)

Compare Benin (2003) z East Timor (2002)

 Benin (2003)East Timor (2002)
 BeninEast Timor
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Age structure 0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291)


15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)
NA
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Airports 5 (2002) 8 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,427 m: 1 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 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 (2002)
total: 5 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total: 15,007 sq km


land: NA sq km


water: NA sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania slightly larger than Connecticut
Background 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. The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was subsequently incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur. A so-called campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which time an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of Timor Timur voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's newest democracy.
Birth rate 43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 28.07 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $377.4 million


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


expenditures: $NA
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Dili
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Coastline 121 km 706 km
Constitution December 1990 22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
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: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste


conventional short form: East Timor


local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]


local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]


former: Portuguese Timor
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States US dollar (USD)
Death rate 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) $NA
Diplomatic representation from 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
chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES


embassy: Avenido do Portugal, Farol, Dili


mailing address: NA


telephone: (670) 390 324 684


FAX: (670) 390 313 206
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-designate Jose Luis GUTERRES


chancery: NA


telephone: NA


FAX: NA


consulate(s) general: NA
Disputes - international two villages are in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, but states accept 2001 arbitration over disputed Niger River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved the boundary stones - joint commission presently resurveying the boundary East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets to survey and delimit land boundary; Indonesia seeks resolution of East Timor refugees in Indonesia; Australia-East Timor-Indonesia are working to resolve maritime boundary and sharing of seabed resources in "Timor Gap"
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $2.2 billion
Economy - overview 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. In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters.
Electricity - consumption 631.1 million kWh (2001) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh
Electricity - imports 376 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh
Electricity - production 274.3 million kWh (2001) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 14.2%


hydro: 85.8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0%
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m


highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and 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
NA
Ethnic groups African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500 Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (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 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 Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation


head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)


cabinet: Council of State


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president


election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do Amaral 17.3%
Exports NA (2001) $8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002) NA
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle
GDP purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $415 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 38%


industry: 15%


services: 47% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 25%


industry: 17%


services: 57% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2002 est.) 18% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 8 50 S, 125 55 E
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands Timor is the Malay word for "Orient"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 6,787 km


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


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
total: 3,800 km


paved: 428 km


unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
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 NA
Imports NA (2001) $237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products NA
Imports - partners China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002) NA
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) 8.5%
Industries textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001) printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Infant mortality rate total: 86.76 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 91.79 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
51.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.3% (2002 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO IBRD, IMF


note: UN membership is expected in September
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 4 (2002) NA
Irrigated land 120 sq km (1998 est.) 1,065 sq km (est.)
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary
Labor force NA NA
Labor force - by occupation - NA
Land boundaries total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
total: 228 km


border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Land use arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


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


permanent crops: NA%


other: NA%
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English


note: there are a total of about 16 indigenous languages, of which Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction NA
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 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
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis


elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 51.08 years


male: 50.35 years


female: 51.84 years (2003 est.)
total population: 64.85 years


male: 62.64 years


female: 67.17 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 48% (2001)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 NM contiguous zone: NA NM


exclusive fishing zone: NA NM


continental shelf: NA NM


exclusive economic zone: NA NM


territorial sea: NA NM


extended fishing zone: NA NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: NA


ships by type: NA
Military branches Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie the East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years
Military expenditures - dollar figure $80.8 million (FY02) $4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.7% (FY02) NA%
Military manpower - availability note: both sexes are liable for military service


males age 15-49: 1,597,562


females age 15-49: 1,536,036 (2003 est.)
NA
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 805,603


females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)
NA
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) 18-21 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 75,021


females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
NA
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun: Timorese


adjective: Timorese
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 51.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - NA
Political parties and leaders 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
Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 7,041,490


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 2003 est.)
952,618 (July 2002 est.)


note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 37% (2001 est.) 42% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 2.95% (2003 est.) 7.26% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo NA
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios - NA
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
0 km
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)
Sex ratio 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: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 17 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
NA
Telephones - main lines in use 51,000 (2000) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 55,500 (2000) NA
Television broadcast stations 1;; (2001) NA
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mountainous
Total fertility rate 6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.) 3.88 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 50% (including underemployment)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally NA
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