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Compare Benin (2003) - Saint Lucia (2001)

Compare Benin (2003) z Saint Lucia (2001)

 Benin (2003)Saint Lucia (2001)
 BeninSaint Lucia
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
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:
32.13% (male 25,951; female 24,874)

15-64 years:
62.59% (male 48,568; female 50,430)

65 years and over:
5.28% (male 3,120; female 5,235) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Airports 5 (2002) 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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

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)
-
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


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

land:
610 sq km

water:
10 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania 3.5 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. The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Birth rate 43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 21.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
revenues:
$141.2 million

expenditures:
$146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Castries
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
Coastline 121 km 158 km
Constitution December 1990 22 February 1979
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:
Saint Lucia
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Death rate 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) $131.6 million (1998)
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 does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
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 Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY

chancery:
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone:
[1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795

FAX:
[1] (202) 364-6728

consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
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) $51.8 million (1995)
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. The recent changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry helped expand GDP in 1998-99. The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, and the government is beginning to develop regulations for the small offshore financial sector.
Electricity - consumption 631.1 million kWh (2001) 102.3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 376 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 274.3 million kWh (2001) 110 million kWh (1999)
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% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


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

highest point:
Mount Gimie 950 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500 black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
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) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
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:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Exports NA (2001) $68.3 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
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) UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
GDP purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $700 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 38%


industry: 15%


services: 47% (2002 est.)
agriculture:
10.7%

industry:
32.3%

services:
57% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2002 est.) 0.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 13 53 N, 60 68 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 (1999 est.)
total:
1,210 km

paved:
63 km

unpaved:
1,147 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 transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Imports NA (2001) $319.4 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002) US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 22 February 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) -8.9% (1997 est.)
Industries textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001) clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
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.)
15.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.3% (2002 est.) 2.5% (2000 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 ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 4 (2002) 15 (2000)
Irrigated land 120 sq km (1998 est.) 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Labor force NA 43,800
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 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:
8%

permanent crops:
21%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
13%

other:
53% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) English (official), French patois
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law
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
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)

elections:
House of Assembly - last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SLP 16, UWP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 51.08 years


male: 50.35 years


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

male:
69 years

female:
76.39 years (2001 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 has ever attended school

total population:
67%

male:
65%

female:
69% (1980 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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 edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) none (2000 est.)
Military branches Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $80.8 million (FY02) $5 million (FY91/92)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.7% (FY02) 2% (FY91/92)
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.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 805,603


females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 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) Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun:
Saint Lucian(s)

adjective:
Saint Lucian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March hurricanes and volcanic activity
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -4.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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
National Freedom Party or NFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
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.)
158,178 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 37% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.95% (2003 est.) 1.23% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo Castries, Vieux Fort
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 2, FM 7 (plus 3 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 111,000 (1997)
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
0 km
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
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:
1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.96 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:
adequate system

domestic:
system is automatically switched

international:
direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
Telephones - main lines in use 51,000 (2000) 37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 55,500 (2000) 1,600 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1;; (2001) 3 (of which two are commercial stations and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Total fertility rate 6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.) 2.38 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 15% (1996 est.)
Waterways streams navigable along small sections, important only locally none
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