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Compare Faroe Islands (2001) - Benin (2002)

Compare Faroe Islands (2001) z Benin (2002)

 Faroe Islands (2001)Benin (2002)
 Faroe IslandsBenin
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities 12 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years:
22.62% (male 5,193; female 5,136)

15-64 years:
63.64% (male 15,463; female 13,596)

65 years and over:
13.74% (male 2,802; female 3,471) (2001 est.)
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 milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 1 (2000 est.) 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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:
1,399 sq km

land:
1,399 sq km

water:
0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative eight times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948. 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 13.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 43.66 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$488 million

expenditures:
$484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Capital Torshavn Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 1,117 km 121 km
Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Faroe Islands

local long form:
none

local short form:
Foroyar
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency Danish krone (DKK) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $64 million (1999) $1.18 billion (2000)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 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 (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 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 Faroese are considering proposals for full independence 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 $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1999) $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is required to ensure a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus less dependence on Denmark and Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians. 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 158.1 million kWh (1999) 523.2 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 300 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 170 million kWh (1999) 240 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
58.82%

hydro:
41.18%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 17%


hydro: 83%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Slaettaratindur 882 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues NA 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 Scandinavian African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.093 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966) 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 MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since NA)

head of government:
Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998)

cabinet:
Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister

elections:
the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002)

election results:
Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8%

note:
coalition of People's Party, Republican Party and Home Rule Party
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 $471 million (f.o.b., 1999) $35.3 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999) cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Denmark 32%, UK 21%, France 9%, Germany 7%, Iceland 5%, US 5% (1996) Brazil, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $910 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
27%

industry:
11%

services:
62% (1999)
agriculture: 36%


industry: 14%


services: 50% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 5.4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 62 00 N, 7 00 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total:
463 km

paved:
454 km

unpaved:
9 km (1999)
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%
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 $469 million (c.i.f., 1999) $437.6 million c.i.f. (2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999) foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners Denmark 28%, Norway 26%, Germany 7%, UK 6% Sweden 5%, Iceland 4%, US (1999) France, US, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Japan (2001)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (1999 est.) 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 88.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.1% (1999) 3% (2001 est.)
International organization participation NC, NIB 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) 2 (2000) 4 (2002)
Irrigated land 0 sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch none Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 24,250 (October 2000) NA
Labor force - by occupation fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34% -
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:
6%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
94% (1996)
arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
Languages Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system Danish based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held not later than April 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Union Party 18%, Home Rue Party 7.7%, Center Party 4.1%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Union Party 6, Home Rule Party 2, Center Party 1

note:
election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held not later than March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 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 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:
78.59 years

male:
75.12 years

female:
82.06 years
total population: 49.69 years


male: 48.81 years


female: 50.61 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%

note:
similar to Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 37.5%


male: 52.2%


female: 23.6% (2000)
Location Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line

territorial sea:
3 NM
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine total:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,247 GRT/11,736 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Denmark -
Military branches defense is the responsibility of Denmark; no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $27 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 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 Olaifest, 29 July National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Faroese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Faroese
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards NA hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources fish, whales, hydropower small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN] 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 NA
Population 45,661 (July 2001 est.) 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 NA% 37% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 0.78% (2001 est.) 2.91% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 26,000 (1997) 660,000 (2000)
Railways 0 km total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
good international communications; good domestic facilities

domestic:
digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed

international:
satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
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 24,851 (1999) 51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 10,761 (1999) 55,500 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) 1 (2001)
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.) 6.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 1% (October 2000) NA%
Waterways none streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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