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Compare Benin (2005) - Zambia (2001)

Compare Benin (2005) z Zambia (2001)

 Benin (2005)Zambia (2001)
 BeninZambia
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
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:
47.36% (male 2,324,128; female 2,303,349)

15-64 years:
50.14% (male 2,433,250; female 2,465,747)

65 years and over:
2.5% (male 105,694; female 138,031) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
Airports 5 (2004 est.) 112 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
13

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 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 (2004 est.)
total:
99

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
65

under 914 m:
31 (2000 est.)
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total:
752,614 sq km

land:
740,724 sq km

water:
11,890 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania slightly larger than Texas
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 territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until takeover by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties.
Birth rate 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 41.46 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $869.4 million


expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
revenues:
$900 million

expenditures:
$1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA million (1999 est.)
Capital Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Lusaka
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Coastline 121 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution December 1990 2 August 1991
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:
Republic of Zambia

conventional short form:
Zambia

former:
Northern Rhodesia
Currency - Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Death rate 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 21.97 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) $6.5 billion (2000)
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 David B. DUNN

embassy:
corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues

mailing address:
P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka

telephone:
[260] (1) 250-955

FAX:
[260] (1) 252-225
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 Atan SHANSONGA

chancery:
2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-0826
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 -
Economic aid - recipient $342.6 million (2000) $1.99 billion (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 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. Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. In late 2000, Zambia was determined to be eligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Inflation and unemployment rates remain high, but the GDP growth rate should rise in 2001.
Electricity - consumption 565.2 million kWh (2002) 5.926 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 1.6 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 300 million kWh (2002) 419 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 285.2 million kWh (2002) 7.642 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
0.55%

hydro:
99.45%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point:
Zambezi river 329 m

highest point:
unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
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, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

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 African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
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) Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 4,024.53 (January 2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998), 1,314.50 (1997), 1,207.90 (1996)
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 Frederick CHILUBA (since 2 November 1991); Vice President Enoch KAVINDELE (since 4 May 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Frederick CHILUBA (since 2 November 1991); Vice President Enoch KAVINDELE (since 4 May 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); vice president appointed by the president

election results:
Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of vote - Frederick CHILUBA 72.5%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12.6%, Humphrey MULEMBA 7%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4.7%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3.2%
Exports NA $928 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa copper, cobalt, electricity, tobacco
Exports - partners China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004) Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, South Africa, US, Malaysia (1997)
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 green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 36.3%


industry: 14.3%


services: 49.4% (2004 est.)
agriculture:
18%

industry:
27%

services:
55% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $880 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2004 est.) 4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 15 00 S, 30 00 E
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands landlocked
Highways total: 6,787 km


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


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
total:
66,781 km

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
1.6%

highest 10%:
39.2% (1995)
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 moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and possibly Europe; regional money-laundering center
Imports NA $1.05 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products machinery, transportation equipment, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004) South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe (1997)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 24 October 1964 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) 6.1% (2000 est.)
Industries textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001) copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer
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.)
90.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2004 est.) 27.3% (2000 est.)
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 ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 3 (2000)
Irrigated land 120 sq km (1998 est.) 460 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)
Labor force NA (1996) 3.4 million
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
Land boundaries total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
total:
5,664 km

border countries:
Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Land use arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
arable land:
7%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
40%

forests and woodland:
39%

other:
14% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; 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 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 Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA December 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MMD 131, NP 5, Zadeco 2, AZ 2, independents 10
Life expectancy at birth total population: 52.66 years


male: 51.53 years


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

male:
37.06 years

female:
37.53 years (2001 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 English

total population:
78.2%

male:
85.6%

female:
71.3% (1995 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Southern Africa, east of Angola
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 nm none (landlocked)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force Army, Air Force, National Service, police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $96.5 million (2004) $76 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.4% (2004) 1.8% (FY97)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
2,246,640 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
1,193,047 (2001 est.)
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun:
Zambian(s)

adjective:
Zambian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March tropical storms (November to April)
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 1,724 km
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
Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Akashambatwa LEWANIKA]; Labor Party or LP [Chibiza MFUNI]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Democratic Process or MDP [Chama CHAKOM BOKA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA]; National Party or NP [Daniel LISULO]; Republican Party or RP [Ben MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline Konie]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or Zadeco [Eden JERRY, acting head]
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.)
9,770,199

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 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (2001 est.) 86% (1993 est.)
Population growth rate 2.82% (2005 est.) 1.93% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Cotonou Mpulungu
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 1.03 million (1997)
Railways total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
total:
2,164 km (1995)

narrow gauge:
2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)

note:
the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of the Zambia Railways system; Zambia Railways assets are scheduled for concessioning in 2001
Religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
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:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.99 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: 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:
facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa

domestic:
high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 66,500 (2003) 77,935 (in addition there are about 40,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 236,200 (2003) 6,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) 9 (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Total fertility rate 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.) 5.53 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 50% (2000 est.)
Waterways 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004) 2,250 km

note:
includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers
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