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Compare Netherlands Antilles (2001) - Benin (2004)

Compare Netherlands Antilles (2001) z Benin (2004)

 Netherlands Antilles (2001)Benin (2004)
 Netherlands AntillesBenin
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

note:
each island has its own government
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years:
25.21% (male 27,332; female 26,169)

15-64 years:
66.99% (male 67,562; female 74,599)

65 years and over:
7.8% (male 6,874; female 9,690) (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 aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 5 (2000 est.) 5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
5

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
1

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


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
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 (2004 est.)
Area total:
960 sq km

land:
960 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative more than five times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Sint Maarten is shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint Martin and is part of Guadeloupe. 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 16.55 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$710.8 million

expenditures:
$741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
revenues: $698.9 million


expenditures: $613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
Capital Willemstad Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 364 km 121 km
Constitution 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Netherlands Antilles

local long form:
none

local short form:
Nederlandse Antillen

former:
Curacao and Dependencies
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $1.35 billion (1996) $1.6 billion (2000)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON

consulate(s) general:
J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao

mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone:
[599] (9) 4613066

FAX:
[599] (9) 4616489
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 none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) 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 IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined slightly in each of the past five years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. 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 1.032 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 1.11 billion kWh (1999) 274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Mount Scenery 862 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, 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 mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989) 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:
Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989)

head of government:
Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 8 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER (since NA)

note:
Miguel POURIER assumed prime ministership following the resignation of Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER

cabinet:
Council of Ministers elected by the Staten

elections:
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)

note:
government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
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 $276 million (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum products cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners US 17.5%, Guatemala 8%, Costa Rica 6.5%, The Bahamas 4.6%, Jamaica 4.1%, Chile 3.4% (1998) 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 white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
1%

industry:
15%

services:
84% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 36.4%


industry: 14.5%


services: 49.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -3.5% (2000 est.) 5.5% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 15 N, 68 45 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note - sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total:
600 km

paved:
300 km

unpaved:
300 km (1992)
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%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs money-laundering center; transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe 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 $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude petroleum, food, manufactures foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners Venezuela 35.3%, US 21%, Mexico 9.8%, Italy 5.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, Brazil 3.1% (1998) China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand 4.6% (2003)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao) textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate 11.4 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) 6.4% (2000 est.) 1.5% (2003 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate) 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) 6 -
Irrigated land NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch) Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 89,000 NA (1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (1994 est.) -
Land boundaries total:
10.2 km

border countries:
Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
90% (1993 est.)
arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
Languages Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St. M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government

note:
the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4
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:
74.94 years

male:
72.76 years

female:
77.22 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:
98%

male:
98%

female:
99% (1981 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
Location Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
12 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 200 nm
Merchant marine total:
123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,113,774 GRT/1,397,841 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 35, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, multi-functional large-load carrier 19, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 7

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 8, Germany 1, Italy 1 (2000 est.)
none
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands -
Military branches Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard, Police Force Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $98.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.7% (2003)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
54,284 (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:
30,405 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 835,561


females age 15-49: 835,633 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
1,610 (2001 est.)
males: 77,552


females: 81,841 (2004 est.)
National holiday Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Dutch Antillean(s)

adjective:
Dutch Antillean
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only) small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate -0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]

note:
political parties are indigenous to each island
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 212,226 (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 0.97% (2001 est.) 2.89% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 217,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Religions Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist 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:
0.91 male(s)/female

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

total population:
0.92 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 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
generally adequate facilities

domestic:
extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

international:
submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 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 76,000 (1995) 66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 13,977 (1996) 236,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 3 (there is also a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997) 1 (2001)
Terrain generally hilly, volcanic interiors mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.07 children born/woman (2001 est.) 5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 14.9% (1998 est.) NA
Waterways none 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
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