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Compare Guyana (2005) - Benin (2001)

Compare Guyana (2005) z Benin (2001)

 Guyana (2005)Benin (2001)
 GuyanaBenin
Administrative divisions 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou; note - six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"
Age structure 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 103,054/female 99,279)


15-64 years: 68.5% (male 263,953/female 260,000)


65 years and over: 5.1% (male 16,801/female 22,196) (2005 est.)
0-14 years:
47.32% (male 1,574,124; female 1,544,741)

15-64 years:
50.38% (male 1,607,900; female 1,712,360)

65 years and over:
2.3% (male 64,756; female 86,901) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Airports 49 (2004 est.) 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 41


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 8


under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)
total:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Area total: 214,970 sq km


land: 196,850 sq km


water: 18,120 sq km
total:
112,620 sq km

land:
110,620 sq km

water:
2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Idaho slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001. 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 18.45 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $287.6 million


expenditures: $371.6 million, including capital expenditures of $93.4 million (2004 est.)
revenues:
$299 million

expenditures:
$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
Capital Georgetown Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 459 km 121 km
Constitution 6 October 1980 December 1990
Country name conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana


conventional short form: Guyana


former: British Guiana
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 8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (2002) $1.6 billion (1998 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Roland BULLEN


embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown


mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown


telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909


FAX: [592] 225-8497
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER

embassy:
Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou

mailing address:
B. P. 2012, Cotonou

telephone:
[229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92

FAX:
[229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN


chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900


FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297


consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN

chancery:
2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 232-6656

FAX:
[1] (202) 265-1996
Disputes - international all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters none
Economic aid - recipient $84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997) $274.6 million (1997)
Economy - overview The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Growth then slowed in 2003 and came back gradually in 2004, buoyed largely by increased export earnings. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization. The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output averaged a sound 5% in 1996-99, but a rapid population rise offset much of this growth. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation in recent years. While high fuel prices constrained growth in 2000, increased cotton production - enabled by a major restructuring program - and an expansion of the Cotonou port, may lead to increased growth in 2001.
Electricity - consumption 751.4 million kWh (2002) 510.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 300 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 808 million kWh (2002) 226 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
24.78%

hydro:
75.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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 East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 198.33 (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002), 187.32 (2001), 182.43 (2000) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) 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 XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro
Executive branch chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN


head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since December 1997)


cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature


elections: president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of legislative vote - NA%
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, 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 $396 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Canada 23.2%, US 19.2%, UK 10.9%, Portugal 9%, Belgium 6.4%, Jamaica 5.2% (2004) Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 38.3%


industry: 19.9%


services: 41.8% (2004 est.)
agriculture:
37.9%

industry:
13.5%

services:
48.6% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1.9% (2004 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 5 00 N, 59 00 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively no natural harbors
Highways total: 7,970 km


paved: 590 km


unpaved: 7,380 km (1999 est.)
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 from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US
Imports NA $566 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods
Imports - partners Trinidad and Tobago 24.8%, US 24.5%, Cuba 6.8%, UK 5.4% (2004) France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999)
Independence 26 May 1966 (from UK) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 7.1% (1997 est.) 6.9% (2000 est.)
Industries bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum
Infant mortality rate total: 33.26 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 36.94 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 29.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.5% (2004 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,500 sq km (1998 est.) 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 418,000 (2001 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% -
Land boundaries total: 2,462 km


border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
total:
1,989 km

border countries:
Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land: 2.44%


permanent crops: 0.15%


other: 97.41% (2001)
arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
4%

permanent pastures:
4%

forests and woodland:
31%

other:
48% (1993 est.)
Languages English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (68 seats, 65 elected by popular vote, 1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvoting members appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 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 NA March 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, E'toile 4, Alliance IPD 4, Car-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7
Life expectancy at birth total population: 65.5 years


male: 62.86 years


female: 68.28 years (2005 est.)
total population:
49.94 years

male:
49.02 years

female:
50.88 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98.8%


male: 99.1%


female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
37.5%

male:
52.2%

female:
23.6% (2000)
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references South America Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
territorial sea:
200 NM
Merchant marine total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,475 GRT/8,758 DWT


by type: cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1


registered in other countries: 3 (2005)
none (2000 est.)
Military branches Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps, Guyana People's Militia Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.5 million (2003) $27 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.9% (2004) 1.2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
1,455,433

females age 15-49:
1,489,947

note:
both sexes are liable for military service (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
743,980

females age 15-49:
755,149 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
70,088

females:
73,618 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 23 February (1970) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)


adjective: Guyanese
noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Beninese
Natural hazards flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
Natural resources bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate -7.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and Working People's Alliance or WPA) [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE] African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Sylvain Adekpedjou AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Cameleon Alliance or AC [leader NA]; Car-DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; 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]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Paul DOSSOU]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Francois Odjo TANKPINON]; Party Democratique du Benin or PDB [Col. Soule DANKORO]; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP [Dominique HOYMINOU, Dr. Giles Auguste MINONTIN]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Adamou N'Diaye MAMA]

note:
the Coalition of Democratic Forces is an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]
Political pressure groups and leaders Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC


note: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized
NA
Population 765,283


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 2005 est.)
6,590,782

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.)
Population below poverty line NA 37.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 0.26% (2005 est.) 2.97% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Georgetown Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 620,000 (1997)
Railways total: 187 km


standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge


note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)
total:
578 km (single track)

narrow gauge:
578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
Religions Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5% 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: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 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:
0.75 male(s)/female

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: fair system for long-distance service


domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines


international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; 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 80,400 (2002) 36,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 87,300 (2002) 4,295 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997) 2 (one privately-owned) (1997)
Terrain mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.05 children born/woman (2005 est.) 6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.1% (understated) (2000) NA%
Waterways 1,077 km


note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2004)
streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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