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Compare Cayman Islands (2001) - Benin (2005)

Compare Cayman Islands (2001) z Benin (2005)

 Cayman Islands (2001)Benin (2005)
 Cayman IslandsBenin
Administrative divisions 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years:
22.21% (male 3,807; female 4,084)

15-64 years:
69.74% (male 12,102; female 12,676)

65 years and over:
8.05% (male 1,318; female 1,540) (2001 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 3 (2000 est.) 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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:
259 sq km

land:
259 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent. 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.
Birth rate 13.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues:
$265.2 million

expenditures:
$248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues: $869.4 million


expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital George Town Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 160 km 121 km
Constitution 1959, revised 1972 and 1992 December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Cayman Islands
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency Caymanian dollar (KYD) -
Death rate 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $70 million (1996) $1.6 billion (2000)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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
Disputes - international none 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 $NA $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world. 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.
Electricity - consumption 306.9 million kWh (1999) 565.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 300 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 330 million kWh (1999) 285.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
The Bluff 43 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
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 mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999)

head of government:
Kurt TIBBETTS (since November 2000)

cabinet:
Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch
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"
Exports $1.5 million (1998) NA
Exports - commodities turtle products, manufactured consumer goods cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners mostly US China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $930 million (1997 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
1.4%

industry:
3.2%

services:
95.4% (1994 est.)
agriculture: 36.3%


industry: 14.3%


services: 49.4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1997 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.9% (1999 est.) 5% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 19 30 N, 80 30 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note important location between Cuba and Central America sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total:
406 km

paved:
304 km

unpaved:
102 km
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 vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment to the US and Europe 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 $507.6 million (1998) NA
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, manufactured goods foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001)
Infant mortality rate 10.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (1998) 2.8% (2004 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate) 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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 16 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 19,820 (1995) NA (1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995) -
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
8%

forests and woodland:
23%

other:
69% (1993 est.)
arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
Languages English French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system British common law and local statutes based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
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
Life expectancy at birth total population:
79.03 years

male:
76.24 years

female:
81.43 years (2001 est.)
total population: 52.66 years


male: 51.53 years


female: 53.82 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
98%

male:
98%

female:
98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 33.6%


male: 46.4%


female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
Location Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 200 nm
Merchant marine total:
106 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,656,452 GRT/2,643,036 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 21, cargo 5, chemical tanker 27, container 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Finland 1, Greece 11, Norway 3, UK 3, US 3 (2000 est.)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF) Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $96.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.4% (2004)
National holiday Constitution Day, first Monday in July National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Caymanian(s)

adjective:
Caymanian
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards hurricanes (July to November) hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 12.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

note:
major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team; Democratic Alliance; Team Cayman 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
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 35,527 (July 2001 est.) 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.)
Population below poverty line NA% 33% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 2.12% (2001 est.) 2.82% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Cayman Brac, George Town Cotonou
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 36,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Religions United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
0.86 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
0.93 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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
Telephones - main lines in use 19,000 (1995) 66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,534 (1995) 236,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (2001)
Terrain low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.04 children born/woman (2001 est.) 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.1% (1997) NA
Waterways none 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
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