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Compare Benin (2007) - Namibia (2002)

Compare Benin (2007) z Namibia (2002)

 Benin (2007)Namibia (2002)
 BeninNamibia
Administrative divisions 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Age structure 0-14 years: 43.9% (male 1,788,248/female 1,754,940)


15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,138,649/female 2,203,291)


65 years and over: 2.4% (male 77,844/female 115,342) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 42.6% (male 392,706; female 382,690)


15-64 years: 53.7% (male 490,151; female 488,052)


65 years and over: 3.7% (male 29,345; female 37,972) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Airports 5 (2007) 137 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
total: 21


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 13


914 to 1,523 m: 4 (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 (2007)
total: 114


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 22


914 to 1,523 m: 71


under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Area total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
total: 825,418 sq km


land: 825,418 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania slightly more than half the size of Alaska
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. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990.
Birth rate 38.1 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 34.17 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $786 million


expenditures: $1.024 billion (2006 est.)
revenues: $883 million


expenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) (1998)
Capital name: Porto-Novo (official capital)


geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E


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


note: Cotonou (seat of government)
Windhoek
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Coastline 121 km 1,572 km
Constitution adopted by referendum 2 December 1990 ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
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 Namibia


conventional short form: Namibia


former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Currency - Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 11.94 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 22.28 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.6 billion (2000) $217 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN


embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou


mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou


telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50


FAX: [229] 21-30-06-70
chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE


embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek


mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek


telephone: [264] (61) 221601


FAX: [264] (61) 229792
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 Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU


chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540


FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Disputes - international two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; Benin accused Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival gang clashes; Benin and Togo announced plans in 2006 to construct a joint hydroelectric dam on the Mona River at the southern end of the border none
Economic aid - recipient $349.1 million (2005) $127 million (1998) (1998)
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. Specific projects to improve the business climate by reforms to the land tenure system, the commercial justice system, and the financial sector were included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006. The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, 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, which has resulted in increased smuggling and criminality in the border region. The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. About half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although per capita GDP is five times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorest countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced poverty because of large-scale unemployment, the great inequality of income distribution, and the large amount of wealth going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has close links to South Africa. Agreement has been reached on the privatization of several more enterprises in coming years, which should stimulate long-run foreign investment.
Electricity - consumption 587 million kWh (2005) 890.9 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 595 million kWh (2005) 863 million kWh


note: supplied by South Africa (2000)
Electricity - production 105 million kWh (2005) 30 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
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, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census) black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%


note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002) Namibian dollars per US dollar - 11.58786 (January 2002), 8.60918 (2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2011)


election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%
chief of state: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)


head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August 2002)


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 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%
Exports NA bbl/day $1.58 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners China 20.9%, Indonesia 7.7%, India 7%, Netherlands 6.2%, Niger 5.7%, Togo 4.6%, Nigeria 4.3% (2006) UK 43%, South Africa 26%, Spain 14%, France 8%, Japan (1998 est.)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 32.8%


industry: 13.7%


services: 53.5% (2006 est.)
agriculture: 11%


industry: 28%


services: 61% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2006 est.) 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Geography - note sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
Highways - total: 64,800 km


paved: 5,378 km


unpaved: 59,430 km (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA% (2003)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point used by Nigerian traffickers for narcotics destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations -
Imports NA bbl/day $1.71 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners China 46.6%, France 7.5%, Thailand 6% (2006) South Africa 81%, US 4%, Germany 2% (1997 est.)
Independence 1 August 1960 (from France) 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Industrial production growth rate 8.3% (2001 est.) NA
Industries textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Infant mortality rate total: 77.85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 82.32 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 73.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
72.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.8% (2006 est.) 8.8% (2001)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 120 sq km (2003) 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force 3.211 million (1996) 500,000
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
total: 3,936 km


border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km
Land use arable land: 23.53%


permanent crops: 2.37%


other: 74.1% (2005)
arable land: 0.99%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.01% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Legal system based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
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 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December 2004)


election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other 1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,


note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.44 years


male: 52.28 years


female: 54.63 years (2007 est.)
total population: 38.97 years


male: 40.81 years


female: 37.07 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 34.7%


male: 47.9%


female: 23.3% (2002 census)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 38%


male: 45%


female: 31% (1960 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - none (2002 est.)
Military branches Benin Armed Forces: Ground Forces Command, Benin Navy, Benin People's Air Force (Force Aerienne Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2007) National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $104.4 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.7% (2006) 2.6% (FY97/98)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 436,642 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 260,879 (2002 est.)
National holiday National Day, 1 August (1960) Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Nationality noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
noun: Namibian(s)


adjective: Namibian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March prolonged periods of drought
Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish


note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Net migration rate 0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD [Nicephore SOGLO]; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD; Key Force or FC; Movement for Development and Solidarity or MDS; Movement for Development by the Culture-Salute Party-Congress of People for Progress Alliance or Alliance MDC-PS-CPP; New Alliance or NA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]


note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 8,078,314


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 2007 est.)
1,820,916


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 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.674% (2007 est.) 1.19% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios - 232,000 (1997)
Railways total: 758 km


narrow gauge: 758 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
total: 2,382 km


narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2001)
Religions Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census) Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.019 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.971 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.675 male(s)/female


total population: 0.983 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line network is almost saturated with fixed-line teledensity stuck at a meager 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of roughly 10 per 100 persons


domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; four mobile-cellular providers


international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth station - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100 persons


domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire; 100% digital


international: fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)
Telephones - main lines in use 76,300 (2005) 110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 750,000 (2005) 82,000 (2000 est)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) 8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Total fertility rate 5.08 children born/woman (2007 est.) 4.77 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997 est.)
Waterways 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005) none
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