Compare Dhekelia (2006) - Benin (2002)

Dhekelia (2006)

Benin (2002)

Administrative divisions

-

12 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Age structure

-

0-14 years: 47.2% (male 1,616,138; female 1,585,463)

15-64 years: 50.5% (male 1,665,439; female 1,764,966)

65 years and over: 2.3% (male 65,877; female 89,742) (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)

Airports

-

5 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

-

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (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 (2002)

Area

total: 130.8 sq km

note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves

total: 112,620 sq km

land: 110,620 sq km

water: 2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Background

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.

Birth rate

-

43.66 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Budget

-

revenues: $377.4 million

expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

Capital

name: Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri

geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

27.5 km

121 km

Constitution

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960

December 1990

Country name

conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area

conventional short form: Dhekelia

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

-

14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Debt - external

-

$1.18 billion (2000)

Dependency status

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER

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

-

Benin and Niger have refered to the ICJ the dispute over l'Ete and 14 smaller disputed islands in the Niger River, which has never been delimited; with Nigeria, several villages are in dispute along the Okpara River and only 35 km of the 436 km boundary are demarcated; the Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint remains undemarcated; Benin accuses Togo of moving boundary markers and stationing troops in its territory; two villages are in dispute with Burkina Faso

Economic aid - recipient

-

$342.6 million (2000)

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output averaged a stable 5% in the past five years, but rapid population rise 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.

Electricity - consumption

-

523.2 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

-

300 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

-

240 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 17%

hydro: 83%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2000)

Elevation extremes

-

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Environment - current issues

netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

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

-

African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Exchange rates

-

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator 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 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

-

$35.3 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities

-

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners

-

Brazil, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire (2001)

Fiscal year

-

calendar year

Flag description

the flag of the UK is used

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 36%

industry: 14%

services: 50% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

5.4% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

34 59 N, 33 45 E

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geography - note

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

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 (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

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

-

$437.6 million c.i.f. (2000)

Imports - commodities

-

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

-

France, US, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Japan (2001)

Independence

-

1 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

-

8.3% (2001 est.)

Industries

none

textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)

Infant mortality rate

-

88.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

3% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

-

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

4 (2002)

Irrigated land

-

120 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

-

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Labor force

-

NA

Land boundaries

total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed

total: 1,989 km

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

Land use

-

arable land: 15.28%

permanent crops: 1.36%

other: 83.36% (1998 est.)

Languages

English, Greek

French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

based on French civil law and customary law; 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 1999 (next to be held 30 March 2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, Alliance E'toile 4, IPD 4, other 12

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: 49.69 years

male: 48.81 years

female: 50.61 years (2002 est.)

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 37.5%

male: 52.2%

female: 23.6% (2000)

Location

on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Map references

Middle East

Africa

Maritime claims

-

territorial sea: 200 NM

Merchant marine

-

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

-

Military branches

-

Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$27 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

1.2% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability

-

males age 15-49: 1,509,760

females age 15-49: 1,536,036

note: both sexes are liable for military service (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49: 771,373

females age 15-49: 778,730 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

-

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

-

males: 71,278

females: 70,088 (2002 est.)

National holiday

-

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Nationality

-

noun: Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective: Beninese

Natural hazards

-

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Natural resources

-

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Net migration rate

-

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Political parties and leaders

-

African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Saka SALEY]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]

note: approximately 20 additional minor parties; the Coalition of Democratic Forces, [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI], an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

NA

Population

no indigenous personnel

note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

6,787,625

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

-

37% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

-

2.91% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Radio broadcast stations

FM 1 (located in Akrotiri)

note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

Radios

-

660,000 (2000)

Railways

-

total: 578 km

narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)

Religions

-

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio

-

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Suffrage

-

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

-

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

-

51,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

55,500 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

1 (2001)

Terrain

-

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains