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Compare Cayman Islands (2006) - Benin (2003)

Compare Cayman Islands (2006) z Benin (2003)

 Cayman Islands (2006)Benin (2003)
 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: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)


15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)


65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291)


15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 3 (2006) 5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Area total: 262 sq km


land: 262 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, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. 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 12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $423.8 million


expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Capital name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)


geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W


time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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 1962, 1972, and 1994 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 - Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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 are in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, but states accept 2001 arbitration over disputed Niger River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved the boundary stones - joint commission presently resurveying the boundary
Economic aid - recipient $390,000 $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 1998, 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 in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. 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 a stable 5% in the past six years, but rapid population rise 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 speeded-up structural reforms.
Electricity - consumption 411 million kWh (2003) 631.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2003) 376 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 441.9 million kWh (2003) 274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 14.2%


hydro: 85.8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 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 catchments inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)


head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)


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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business
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 NA 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 SOGOLO (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 SOGOLO 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 NA bbl/day NA (2001)
Exports - commodities turtle products, manufactured consumer goods cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners mostly US (2004) India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002)
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 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 with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
agriculture: 38%


industry: 15%


services: 47% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.9% (2004 est.) 6% (2002 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: 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 offshore financial center; vulnerable to 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 NA bbl/day NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, manufactured goods foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004) China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
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, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
total: 86.76 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 91.79 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.4% (2004) 3.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 4 (2002)
Irrigated land NA 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 23,450 (2004) NA
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: 3.85%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 96.15% (2005)
arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
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, 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
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 NA 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: 80.07 years


male: 77.45 years


female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)
total population: 51.08 years


male: 50.35 years


female: 51.84 years (2003 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: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
Location Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1


foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12, Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1, Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $80.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.7% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability - note: both sexes are liable for military service


males age 15-49: 1,597,562


females age 15-49: 1,536,036 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 805,603


females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 75,021


females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
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 17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS] 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 4 other 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 45,436


note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)
7,041,490


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 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 37% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 2.56% (2006 est.) 2.95% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Railways - total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Religions United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: reasonably good system


domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services


international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: NA


domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable
Telephones - main lines in use 38,000 (2002) 51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,000 (2002) 55,500 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 4 with cable system (2004) 1;; (2001)
Terrain low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.) 6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.4% (2004) NA%
Waterways - streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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