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Compare Dominican Republic (2001) - Benin (2003)

Compare Dominican Republic (2001) z Benin (2003)

 Dominican Republic (2001)Benin (2003)
 Dominican RepublicBenin
Administrative divisions 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years:
34.11% (male 1,495,477; female 1,431,406)

15-64 years:
60.99% (male 2,664,679; female 2,569,398)

65 years and over:
4.9% (male 199,240; female 221,277) (2001 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 sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 29 (2000 est.) 5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
13

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
16

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
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:
48,730 sq km

land:
48,380 sq km

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


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of the 20th century was brought to an end in 1996 when free and open elections ushered in a new government. 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 24.77 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$2.3 billion

expenditures:
$2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867 million (1999 est.)
revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Capital Santo Domingo Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 1,288 km 121 km
Constitution 28 November 1966 December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
Dominican Republic

conventional short form:
none

local long form:
Republica Dominicana

local short form:
none
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency Dominican peso (DOP) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $4.7 billion (2000 est.) $1.6 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles T. MANATT

embassy:
corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo

mailing address:
Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

telephone:
[1] (809) 221-2171

FAX:
[1] (809) 686-7437
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 Roberto Bienvenido SALADIN-SELIN

chancery:
1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6280

FAX:
[1] (202) 265-8057

consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s):
Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
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 $239.6 million (1995) $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview The Dominican economy experienced dramatic growth over the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest ten percent enjoy 40% of national income. In December 2000, the new MEJIA administration passed broad new tax legislation which it hopes will provide enough revenue to offset rising oil prices and to service foreign debt. 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 6.78 billion 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 7.29 billion kWh (1999) 274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
87.19%

hydro:
12.4%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.41% (1999)
fossil fuel: 14.2%


hydro: 85.8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Lago Enriquillo -46 m

highest point:
Pico Duarte 3,175 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
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 white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Dominican pesos per US dollar - 16.888 (January 2001), 16.415 (2000), 16.033 (1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996) 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:
President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet nominated by the president

elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2004)

election results:
Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez elected president; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
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 $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners US 66.1%, Netherlands 7.8%, Canada 7.6%, Russia 7.4%, UK 4.5% (1999 est.) 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 calendar year calendar year
Flag description a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $48.3 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
11.3%

industry:
32.2%

services:
56.5% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 38%


industry: 15%


services: 47% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 8% (2000 est.) 6% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 19 00 N, 70 40 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti) sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total:
12,600 km

paved:
6,224 km

unpaved:
6,376 km (1996)
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%:
1.6%

highest 10%:
39.6% (1989)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada 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 $9.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners US 25.7%, Venezuela 9.2%, Mexico 4%, Japan 3%, Panama 2.6% (1999 est.) China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Independence 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (2000 est.) 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate 34.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 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) 7.9% (2000 est.) 3.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO 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) 24 (2000) 4 (2002)
Irrigated land 2,300 sq km (1993 est.) 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of members of the legislative and executive branches with the president presiding) Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 2.3 million - 2.6 million NA
Labor force - by occupation services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.) -
Land boundaries total:
275 km

border countries:
Haiti 275 km
total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land:
21%

permanent crops:
9%

permanent pastures:
43%

forests and woodland:
12%

other:
15% (1993 est.)
arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
Languages Spanish French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on French civil codes based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
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:
73.44 years

male:
71.34 years

female:
75.64 years (2001 est.)
total population: 51.08 years


male: 50.35 years


female: 51.84 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
82.1%

male:
82%

female:
82.2% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
Location Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
6 NM
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure $180 million (FY98) $80.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.1% (FY98) 2.7% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
2,281,035 (2001 est.)
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:
1,430,776 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 805,603


females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
87,404 (2001 est.)
males: 75,021


females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 27 February (1844) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Dominican(s)

adjective:
Dominican
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources nickel, bauxite, gold, silver small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate -3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km -
Political parties and leaders Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo] 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 Collective of Popular Organizations or COP NA
Population 8,581,477 (July 2001 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 25% (1999 est.) 37% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 1.63% (2001 est.) 2.95% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 1.44 million (1997) -
Railways total:
757 km

standard gauge:
375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)

narrow gauge:
142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominican Republic Government Railway)

note:
240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (2000)
total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Religions Roman Catholic 95% indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.03 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: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age

note:
members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network

international:
1 coaxial submarine cable; 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 709,000 (1997) 51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 130,149 (1997) 55,500 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 25 (1997) 1;; (2001)
Terrain rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.97 children born/woman (2001 est.) 6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 13.8% (1999 est.) NA%
Waterways none streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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