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Compare Saint Helena (2001) - Benin (2001)

Compare Saint Helena (2001) z Benin (2001)

 Saint Helena (2001)Benin (2001)
 Saint HelenaBenin
Administrative divisions 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha* 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:
19.08% (male 699; female 687)

15-64 years:
71.72% (male 2,711; female 2,500)

65 years and over:
9.2% (male 286; female 383) (2001 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 corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha) corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Airports 1 (2000 est.) 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

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

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Area total:
410 sq km

land:
410 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes St. Helena Island, Ascension, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da Cunha Island, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale Islands
total:
112,620 sq km

land:
110,620 sq km

water:
2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, St. Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station. 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 13.49 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$11.2 million

expenditures:
$11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)
revenues:
$299 million

expenditures:
$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
Capital Jamestown Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 60 km 121 km
Constitution 1 January 1989 December 1990
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Saint Helena
conventional long form:
Republic of Benin

conventional short form:
Benin

local long form:
Republique du Benin

local short form:
Benin

former:
Dahomey
Currency Saint Helenian pound (SHP) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 6.33 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $1.6 billion (1998 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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 none (overseas territory of the UK) 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 none none
Economic aid - recipient $12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997) $274.6 million (1997)
Economy - overview The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK. 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 5.6 million kWh (1999) 510.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 300 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 6 million kWh (1999) 226 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
24.78%

hydro:
75.22%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 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 African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound 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:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government:
Governor and Commander in Chief David HOLLAMBY (since NA June 1999)

cabinet:
Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch
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 $704,000 (f.o.b., 1995) $396 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners South Africa, UK Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture:
37.9%

industry:
13.5%

services:
48.6% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 56 S, 5 42 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns no natural harbors
Highways total:
158 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 0 km)

paved:
138 km (Saint Helena 98km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 0 km)

unpaved:
NA km 20 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 0 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
Imports $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995) $566 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods
Imports - partners UK, South Africa France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 6.9% (2000 est.)
Industries construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum
Infant mortality rate 22.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.2% (1997 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ICFTU 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) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 3,500 (1998 est.)

note:
1,200 of whom are working offshore
NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.) -
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:
6%

forests and woodland:
6%

other:
82% (1993 est.)
arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
4%

permanent pastures:
4%

forests and woodland:
31%

other:
48% (1993 est.)
Languages English French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system NA based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 9 July 1997 (next to be held NA August 2001)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
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:
77.01 years

male:
74.13 years

female:
80.04 years (2001 est.)
total population:
49.94 years

male:
49.02 years

female:
50.88 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 20 and over can read and write

total population:
97%

male:
97%

female:
98% (1987 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
37.5%

male:
52.2%

female:
23.6% (2000)
Location islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about mid-way between South America and Africa Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea:
200 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $27 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 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 Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun:
Saint Helenian(s)

adjective:
Saint Helenian
noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Beninese
Natural hazards active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
Natural resources fish small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders none 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 none NA
Population 7,266 (July 2001 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 0.72% (2001 est.) 2.97% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 3,000 (1997) 620,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
578 km (single track)

narrow gauge:
578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
Religions Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.04 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:
0.75 male(s)/female

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage NA years of age 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
can communicate with any place in the world

domestic:
automatic network

international:
HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascension which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK ; satellite earth stations - 2 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 2,000 (1997) 36,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1997) 4,295 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 0 (1997) 2 (one privately-owned) (1997)
Terrain Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains

note:
the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 1.53 children born/woman (2001 est.) 6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 14% (1998 est.) NA%
Waterways none streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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