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Compare Central African Republic (2001) - Benin (2004)

Compare Central African Republic (2001) z Benin (2004)

 Central African Republic (2001)Benin (2004)
 Central African RepublicBenin
Administrative divisions 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years:
43.23% (male 778,885; female 767,414)

15-64 years:
53% (male 929,717; female 965,947)

65 years and over:
3.77% (male 59,364; female 75,557) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 1,711,075; female 1,679,439)


15-64 years: 51% (male 1,802,990; female 1,890,915)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 68,890; female 96,724) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 52 (2000 est.) 5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

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:
49

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
23

under 914 m:
15 (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:
622,984 sq km

land:
622,984 sq km

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


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Texas slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - a civilian government was installed in 1993. 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 37.05 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$638 million

expenditures:
$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.)
revenues: $698.9 million


expenditures: $613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
Capital Bangui Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 121 km
Constitution passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995 December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
Central African Republic

conventional short form:
none

local long form:
Republique Centrafricaine

local short form:
none

former:
Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire

abbreviation:
CAR
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 (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 18.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $790 million (1999 est.) $1.6 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert C. PERRY

embassy:
Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

mailing address:
B. P. 924, Bangui

telephone:
[236] 61 02 00

FAX:
[236] 61 44 94
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 chief of mission:
Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY

chancery:
1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 483-7800

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-9893
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 ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Nigeria; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones
Economic aid - recipient $172.2 million (1995); note - traditional budget subsidies from France $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998 and the World Bank extended further credits in 1999 and approved a $10 million loan in early 2001. The government has set targets of 3.5% GDP growth in 2001 and 2002. As of January 2001, many civil servants were owed as much as 30 months pay, leading them to go on strike and further damaging the economy. 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 94.9 million kWh (1999) 631.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 376 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 102 million kWh (1999) 274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
20.59%

hydro:
79.41%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Oubangui River 335 m

highest point:
Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
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 Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 1,500 French) African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)

head of government:
Prime Minister Martin ZIGUELE (since 1 April 2001)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 19 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percent of vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, David DACKO 11.15%
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 $166 million (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Benelux 64%, Cote d'Ivoire, Spain, China, Egypt, France (1999) China 21.1%, India 18%, Thailand 6.8%, Ghana 5.8%, Niger 4.4%, Indonesia 4.1% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.1 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
53%

industry:
20%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 36.4%


industry: 14.5%


services: 49.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.5% (2000 est.) 5.5% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 7 00 N, 21 00 E 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total:
23,810 km

paved:
429 km

unpaved:
23,381 km (2000)
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%:
0.7%

highest 10%:
47.7% (1993)
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
Imports $154 million (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners France 35%, Cameroon 13%, Benelux, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, Japan (1999) China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003)
Independence 13 August 1960 (from France) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate 105.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 85.88 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.89 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2000 est.) 1.5% (2003 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO 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) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (all judges appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force NA NA (1996)
Land boundaries total:
5,203 km

border countries:
Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 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%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
75%

other:
17% (1993 est.)
arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
Languages French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on French law based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election)

elections:
last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7

note:
the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres
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:
43.8 years

male:
42.17 years

female:
45.48 years (2001 est.)
total population: 50.81 years


male: 50.25 years


female: 51.39 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
60%

male:
68.5%

female:
52.4% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
Location Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) territorial sea: 200 nm
Merchant marine - none
Military branches Central African Armed Forces (includes Army, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police Force) Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $29 million (FY96) $98.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.2% (FY96) 2.7% (2003)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
824,139 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,638,010


females age 15-49: 1,647,850 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
430,922 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 835,561


females age 15-49: 835,633 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 77,552


females: 81,841 (2004 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 1 December (1958) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Central African(s)

adjective:
Central African
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Francois PEHOUA]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [leader NA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE] 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 3,576,884

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.)
7,250,033


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 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 37% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 1.85% (2001 est.) 2.89% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Bangui, Nola Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 283,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Religions indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%

note:
animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 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: 0.71 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
fair system

domestic:
network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication

international:
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 10,000 (1997) 66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 570 (1997) 236,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (2001)
Terrain vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 4.86 children born/woman (2001 est.) 5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 6% (1993) NA
Waterways 900 km

note:
traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
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