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Compare Palau (2004) - Benin (2002)

Compare Palau (2004) z Benin (2002)

 Palau (2004)Benin (2002)
 PalauBenin
Administrative divisions 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol 12 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years: 26.6% (male 2,746; female 2,578)


15-64 years: 68.8% (male 7,456; female 6,319)


65 years and over: 4.6% (male 437; female 480) (2004 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 coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 3 (2003 est.) 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 1


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


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 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: 458 sq km


land: 458 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year, when the islands gained independence. 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 18.69 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 43.66 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $57.7 million


expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1 million (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Capital Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 1,519 km 121 km
Constitution 1 January 1981 December 1990
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Palau


conventional short form: Palau


local long form: Beluu er a Belau


local short form: Belau


former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency US dollar (USD) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $0 (FY99/00) $1.18 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE, US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau


embassy: Koror (no street address)


mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940


telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990


FAX: [680] 488-2911
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 chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA


chancery: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006


telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814


FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281


consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
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 border delineation disputes being negotiated with Philippines, Indonesia 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 $155.8 million ; note - the Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. 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: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection


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 Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.) African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates the US dollar is used 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: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet


elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)


election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. reelected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 64%, Polycarp BASILIUS 33%; Elias Camsek CHIN elected vice president; percent of vote - Elias Camsek CHIN 70%, Sandra PIERANTOZZI 29%
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 $18 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $35.3 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities shellfish, tuna, copra, garments cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners US, Japan, Singapore (2000) Brazil, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire (2001)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $174 million


note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2001 est.)
purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 36%


industry: 14%


services: 50% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1% (2001 est.) 5.4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 7 30 N, 134 30 E 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total: 61 km


paved: 36 km


unpaved: 25 km
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 $99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $437.6 million c.i.f. (2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Korea (2000) France, US, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Japan (2001)
Independence 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate total: 15.3 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 13.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
88.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.4% (2000 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO 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 NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 9,845 (2000) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 20%, industry NA, services NA (1990) -
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: 8.7%


permanent crops: 4.35%


other: 86.95% (2001)
arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
Languages English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official) French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)


election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 (four new members elected); House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 (one new member elected)
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: 69.82 years


male: 66.67 years


female: 73.15 years (2004 est.)
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: 92%


male: 93%


female: 90% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 37.5%


male: 52.2%


female: 23.6% (2000)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm


extended fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine none none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years -
Military branches no regular military forces; Police Force 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 Constitution Day, 9 July (1979) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun: Palauan(s)


adjective: Palauan
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards typhoons (June to December) hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders none 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 20,016 (July 2004 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 1.46% (2004 est.) 2.91% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Koror Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002) 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 Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion, which is indigenous to Palau) indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female


total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2004 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: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific 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 6,700 (2002) 51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,000 (2002) 55,500 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 1 (cable) (2005) 1 (2001)
Terrain varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.46 children born/woman (2004 est.) 6.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 2.3% (2000 est.) NA%
Waterways - streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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