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Compare Benin (2005) - East Timor (2003)

Compare Benin (2005) z East Timor (2003)

 Benin (2005)East Timor (2003)
 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: 46.5% (male 1,752,243/female 1,719,458)


15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,868,630/female 1,948,610)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 70,367/female 100,717) (2005 est.)
NA (2003 est.)
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 (2004 est.) 8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,427 m: 1


914 to 1,523 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 (2004 est.)
total: 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 incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. A campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. During 1999-2001, pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia - conducted indiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's newest democracy.
Birth rate 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 27.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $869.4 million


expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
revenues: $36 million


expenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)
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 - US dollar (USD)
Death rate 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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: Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dili


mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250


telephone: (670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472


FAX: (670) 331-3206
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 Jose Luis GUTERRES


chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007


telephone: 202 965-1515


FAX: 202 965-1517


consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2003)
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 the states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty over seven villages along the Okpara River; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets regularly to survey and delimit the land boundary; some East Timor refugees delay return from camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitation and resource-sharing agreements signed with Australia resolved dispute over "Timor Gap" hydrocarbon reserves, but maritime agreement with Indonesia awaits further discussions
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Economy - overview The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth 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 more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere. As a result, smuggling and criminality along the Benin-Nigeria border has been on the rise. 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 is the planned development of oil resources in nearby waters.
Electricity - consumption 565.2 million kWh (2002) NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 300 million kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 285.2 million kWh (2002) NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
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, 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
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 - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000) see US 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 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 SOGLO (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 SOGLO 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; he often is referred to as Xanana GUSMAO


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); after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majority party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a precedent for the future


election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%
Exports NA $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 China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004) NA
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) 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 - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 36.3%


industry: 14.3%


services: 49.4% (2004 est.)
agriculture: 25.4%


industry: 17.2%


services: 57.4% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2004 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 comes from 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 $237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004) 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, construction materials, cement (2001) printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Infant mortality rate total: 85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
total: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 57.05 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 43.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2004 est.) NA%
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 AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 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 (1996) 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: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
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 about 16 indigenous languages; 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 UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
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 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: 52.66 years


male: 51.53 years


female: 53.82 years (2005 est.)
total population: 65.2 years


male: 62.97 years


female: 67.55 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 33.6%


male: 46.4%


female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
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 - total: NA


ships by type: NA
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force 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 $96.5 million (2004) $4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.4% (2004) NA%
Military manpower - availability - NA
Military manpower - fit for military service - NA
Military manpower - military age - 18-21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - 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 (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 four 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 Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; 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 PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 7,460,025


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 2005 est.)
997,853


note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (2001 est.) 42% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 2.82% (2005 est.) 2.13% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou NA
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
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: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female


total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
NA
Telephones - main lines in use 66,500 (2003) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 236,200 (2003) NA
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) NA
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mountainous
Total fertility rate 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 50% (including underemployment)
Waterways 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004) NA
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