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Compare Benin (2005) - Turks and Caicos Islands (2003)

Compare Benin (2005) z Turks and Caicos Islands (2003)

 Benin (2005)Turks and Caicos Islands (2003)
 BeninTurks and Caicos Islands
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou none (overseas territory of the UK)
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.)
0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)


15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848)


65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Airports 5 (2004 est.) 8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 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: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


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


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total: 430 sq km


land: 430 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. The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory.
Birth rate 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $869.4 million


expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
revenues: $47 million


expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-98 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline 121 km 389 km
Constitution December 1990 introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988
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: Turks and Caicos Islands
Currency - US dollar (USD)
Death rate 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) $NA
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK
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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 (overseas territory of the UK)
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 none
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $4.1 million (1997)
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. The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend.
Electricity - consumption 565.2 million kWh (2002) 4.65 million 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) 5 million 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: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
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
-
Ethnic groups African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500 black 90%, mixed, European, or north American 10%
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) the US dollar is used
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: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)


head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor
Exports NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004) US, UK
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
GDP - purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 36.3%


industry: 14.3%


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


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2004 est.) 4.9% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Highways total: 6,787 km


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


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
total: 121 km


paved: 24 km


unpaved: 97 km (2000)
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 transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Imports NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports - partners China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004) US, UK
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) NA%
Industries textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001) tourism, offshore financial services
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: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2004 est.) 4% (1995)
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 Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 14 (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 Supreme Court
Labor force NA (1996) 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
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: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
arable land: 2.33%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.67% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) English (official)
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
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 Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5
Life expectancy at birth total population: 52.66 years


male: 51.53 years


female: 53.82 years (2005 est.)
total population: 74 years


male: 71.82 years


female: 76.3 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 has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $96.5 million (2004) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.4% (2004) -
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun: none


adjective: none
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March frequent hurricanes
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber spiny lobster, conch
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
People - note - destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US
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
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
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.)
19,350 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.82% (2005 est.) 3.14% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou Grand Turk, Providenciales
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
0 km
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)
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: 1.11 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 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: fair cable and radiotelephone services


domestic: NA


international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 66,500 (2003) 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular 236,200 (2003) 0 (1994)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Total fertility rate 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 10% (1997 est.)
Waterways 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004) none
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