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Compare Qatar (2001) - Benin (2003)

Compare Qatar (2001) z Benin (2003)

 Qatar (2001)Benin (2003)
 QatarBenin
Administrative divisions 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years:
25.77% (male 101,155; female 97,086)

15-64 years:
71.75% (male 391,178; female 160,665)

65 years and over:
2.48% (male 13,625; female 5,443) (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 fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 4 (2000 est.) 5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

over 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 1


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

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
1 (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:
11,437 sq km

land:
11,437 sq km

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


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe. 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 15.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$3.9 billion

expenditures:
$4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Capital Doha Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 563 km 121 km
Constitution provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
State of Qatar

conventional short form:
Qatar

local long form:
Dawlat Qatar

local short form:
Qatar

note:
closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency Qatari rial (QAR) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $13.1 billion (2000 est.) $1.6 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Elizabeth Davenport MCKUNE

embassy:
22 February Road, Doha

mailing address:
P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone:
[974] 488 4101

FAX:
[974] 488 4298

note:
workweek is Saturday-Wednesday
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 Badr Umar al-DAFA

chancery:
4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone:
[1] (202) 274-1600

FAX:
[1] (202) 237-0061

consulate(s) general:
Houston
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 in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and adjusted its maritime boundary with Qatar; a final border resolution was agreed to with Saudi Arabia in March of 2001 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 $NA $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore petroleum and the diversification of the economy. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $6 billion, due mainly to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports. 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 8.37 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 9 billion kWh (1999) 274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 14.2%


hydro: 85.8%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

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 Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate) 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:
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

head of government:
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary

note:
in March 1999 Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services
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 $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Japan 52%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 8%, US, UAE (1998) 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 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on 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 - $15.1 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
1%

industry:
49%

services:
50% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 38%


industry: 15%


services: 47% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 6% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 25 30 N, 51 15 E 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
1,230 km

paved:
1,107 km

unpaved:
123 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%:
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 $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners UK 10%, Japan 8%, Germany 6%, US 6%, Italy 6% (1998) China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Independence 3 September 1971 (from UK) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate 21.44 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) 2.5% (2000) 3.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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) 1 (2000) 4 (2002)
Irrigated land 80 sq km (1993 est.) 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 233,000 (1993 est.) NA
Land boundaries total:
60 km

border countries:
Saudi Arabia 60 km
total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
94% (1993 est.)
arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)

note:
the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have their terms extended every four years since
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:
72.62 years

male:
70.16 years

female:
75.21 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:
79%

male:
79%

female:
80% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 40.9%


male: 56.2%


female: 26.5% (2000)
Location Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Middle East Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine total:
25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 677,992 GRT/1,049,447 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 6 (2000 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure $723 million (FY00/01) $80.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 10% (FY00/01) 2.7% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
312,116

note:
includes non-nationals (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:
163,642 (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:
6,797 (2001 est.)
males: 75,021


females: 78,998 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 3 September (1971) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Qatari(s)

adjective:
Qatari
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards haze, dust storms, sandstorms common hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, fish small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 20.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km -
Political parties and leaders none 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 none NA
Population 769,152 (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 NA% 37% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 3.18% (2001 est.) 2.95% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id) Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 256,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Religions Muslim 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:
2.43 male(s)/female

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

total population:
1.92 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: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage suffrage is limited to municipal elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
modern system centered in Doha

domestic:
NA

international:
tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
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 142,000 (1997) 51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 43,476 (1997) 55,500 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 2 (plus three repeaters) (1997) 1;; (2001)
Terrain mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.) 6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA%
Waterways none streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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