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Compare Benin (2003) - Macau (2002)

Compare Benin (2003) z Macau (2002)

 Benin (2003)Macau (2002)
 BeninMacau
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou none (special administrative region of China)
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.)
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 52,262; female 48,439)


15-64 years: 70.9% (male 154,942; female 172,647)


65 years and over: 7.3% (male 13,616; female 19,927) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) rice, vegetables
Airports 5 (2002) 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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


over 3,047 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 (2002)
-
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total: 25.4 sq km


land: 25.4 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
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. Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in Macau and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Birth rate 43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 12.19 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
revenues: $1.15 billion


expenditures: $1.03 billion, including capital expenditures of $166 million (2000 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government -
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Coastline 121 km 41 km
Constitution December 1990 Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-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: Macau Special Administrative Region


conventional short form: Macau


local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)


local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States pataca (MOP)
Death rate 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 3.78 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) $1.5 billion (1998)
Dependency status - special administrative region of China
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
the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
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
none (special administrative region of China)
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 none
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $NA
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. Macau's economy two years after reversion to China remains one of the most open in the world, according to the World Trade Organization. The government collects no duty on imports and sets no restrictions on exports beyond those required by international agreements. The territory's net exports of goods and services account for 35% of GDP, with tourism and apparel exports as the mainstays. The territory therefore has been hit hard by the 2001 downturn in its key US and EU export markets. Tourism remained strong, however, driven by a surge in visitors from mainland China. In response to the expected contraction of the economy in 2002, the government has announced a stimulative income tax cut and public works program that will push the budget into deficit. China already has extended support by easing restrictions on travel to Macau and is proposing a China-Hong Kong-Macau free trade area. China's economic weight is increasingly felt, with the mainland now holding more than 50% of assets in the financial, real estate, and construction sectors. Mainlanders, however, have been excluded from bidding on the gambling industry licenses that Macau is offering to break up the territory's four-decade-old gambling monopoly. Gambling taxes account for up to 60% of revenue, and the government with Beijing's backing intends to revitalize the industry.
Electricity - consumption 631.1 million kWh (2001) 1.476 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 1 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 376 million kWh (2001) 175 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 274.3 million kWh (2001) 1.4 billion kWh (2000)
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% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification NA
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 Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry), Portuguese, other
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) patacas per US dollar - 8.033 (January 2002), 8.034 (2001), 8.026 (2000), 7.992 (1999), 7.979 (1998), 7.975 (1997); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
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 of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)


head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of all five government secretaries, three legislators, and two businessmen


elections: chief executive chosen by a 200-member selection committee for up to two five-year terms
Exports NA (2001) $2.5 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa clothing, textiles, cement, electronics, cameras
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) US 48%, EU 28%, China 10%, Hong Kong 7% (2000)
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 light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller
GDP purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $8 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 38%


industry: 15%


services: 47% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 1%


industry: 25%


services: 74% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $17,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2002 est.) 0.5% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Highways total: 6,787 km


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


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
total: 50 km


paved: 50 km


unpaved: 0 km (2001)
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 -
Imports NA (2001) $2.3 billion c.i.f. (2000)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products clothing, textiles, yarn, minerals, electrical machinery, fuel, livestock
Imports - partners China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002) China 41%, Hong Kong 15%, EU 10%, Taiwan 10%, Japan 6% (2000)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) none (special administrative region of China)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) NA%
Industries textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001) tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
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.)
4.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.3% (2002 est.) -2% (2001 est.)
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 CCC, ESCAP (associate), IHO, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 4 (2002) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 120 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special Administrative Region
Labor force NA 218,000 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation - restaurants and hotels 26%, manufacturing 20%, other services and agriculture 54% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
total: 0.34 km


border countries: China 0.34 km
Land use arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Portuguese civil law system
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 Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by political bloc - Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union 2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 51.08 years


male: 50.35 years


female: 51.84 years (2003 est.)
total population: 81.78 years


male: 78.97 years


female: 84.73 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: 90%


male: 93%


female: 86% (1981 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 NM not specified
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) none (2002 est.)
Military - note - responsibility for defense reverted to China on 20 December 1999
Military branches Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie no regular indigenous military forces; responsibility for defense reverted to China on 20 December 1999; there is a local police force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $80.8 million (FY02) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.7% (FY02) -
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.)
males age 15-49: 128,005 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 805,603


females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)
males age 15-49: 70,508 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 75,021


females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
-
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun: Chinese


adjective: Chinese
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March typhoons
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber NEGL
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 9.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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
there are no formal political parties, however, there are civic associations that, for purposes of legislative voting, join together to form political blocs
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Catholic Church [Domingos LAM, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
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.)
461,833 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 37% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.95% (2003 est.) 1.75% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo Macau
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 160,000 (1997)
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
0 km
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 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.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female


total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
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: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services


domestic: NA


international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 51,000 (2000) 176,902 (November 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 55,500 (2000) 158,251 (November 2001)
Television broadcast stations 1;; (2001) 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts) (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains generally flat
Total fertility rate 6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.31 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 6.5% (2001 est.)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally none
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