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Compare Benin (2004) - Andorra (2007)

Compare Benin (2004) z Andorra (2007)

 Benin (2004)Andorra (2007)
 BeninAndorra
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Age structure 0-14 years: 46.8% (male 1,711,075; female 1,679,439)


15-64 years: 51% (male 1,802,990; female 1,890,915)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 68,890; female 96,724) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 5,433/female 4,984)


15-64 years: 71.2% (male 26,775/female 24,354)


65 years and over: 14.3% (male 5,074/female 5,202) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Airports 5 (2003 est.) -
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (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 (2004 est.)
-
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total: 468 sq km


land: 468 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania 2.5 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. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
Birth rate 42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 8.45 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $698.9 million


expenditures: $613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
revenues: $333.5 million


expenditures: $386.6 million (2005)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government name: Andorra la Vella


geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Coastline 121 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution December 1990 Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
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: Principality of Andorra


conventional short form: Andorra


local long form: Principat d'Andorra


local short form: Andorra
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States -
Death rate 13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2007 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
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (3) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (3) 205-5206
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 Julian VILA COMA


chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064


FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
Disputes - international two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones none
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $0
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. Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
Electricity - consumption 631.1 million kWh (2001) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) NA kWh
Electricity - imports 376 million kWh (2001) NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower
Electricity - production 274.3 million kWh (2001) NA kWh
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m


highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes


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 Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999) euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
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: French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002) and Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)


head of government: Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005)


cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president


elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held in April-May 2009)


election results: Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA
Exports NA (2001) $148.7 million f.o.b. (2005)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa tobacco products, furniture
Exports - partners China 21.1%, India 18%, Thailand 6.8%, Ghana 5.8%, Niger 4.4%, Indonesia 4.1% (2003) Spain 59.5%, France 17.0% (2006)
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 three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem
GDP purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 36.4%


industry: 14.5%


services: 49.1% (2003 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 5.5% (2003 est.) 3.5% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees
Highways total: 6,787 km


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


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
-
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) $1.879 billion (2005)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products consumer goods, food, electricity
Imports - partners China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003) Spain 53.2%, France 21.1% (2006)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) NA%
Industries textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001) tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking, tobacco, furniture
Infant mortality rate total: 85.88 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.89 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2003 est.) 3.2% (2005)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land 120 sq km (1998 est.) NA
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional
Labor force NA (1996) 42,420 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture: 0.3%


industry: 20.3%


services: 79.4% (2005)
Land boundaries total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
total: 120.3 km


border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km
Land use arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
arable land: 2.13%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.87% (2005)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; 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 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 General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the seven parishes; to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held on 24 April 2005 (next to be held in March-April 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%, CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 50.81 years


male: 50.25 years


female: 51.39 years (2004 est.)
total population: 83.52 years


male: 80.62 years


female: 86.62 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
definition: NA


total population: 100%


male: 100%


female: 100%
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 nm none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none -
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Military branches Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra
Military expenditures - dollar figure $98.3 million (2003) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.7% (2003) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,638,010


females age 15-49: 1,647,850 (2004 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 835,561


females age 15-49: 835,633 (2004 est.)
-
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 77,552


females: 81,841 (2004 est.)
-
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun: Andorran(s)


adjective: Andorran
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March avalanches
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 6.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 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
Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party or PD); Century 21 or S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA [Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA] (formerly Liberal Union or UL); Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY] (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND)
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 7,250,033


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 2004 est.)
71,822 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 37% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.89% (2004 est.) 0.842% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou, Porto-Novo -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
-
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Roman Catholic (predominant)
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: 0.71 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.099 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.975 male(s)/female


total population: 1.079 male(s)/female (2007 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: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
general assessment: NA


domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges


international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain
Telephones - main lines in use 66,500 (2003) 35,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 236,200 (2003) 64,600 (2005)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) 0 (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Total fertility rate 5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.) 1.31 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 0% (1996 est.)
Waterways 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004) -
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