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Compare Saint Martin (2008) - Benin (2001)

Compare Saint Martin (2008) z Benin (2001)

 Saint Martin (2008)Benin (2001)
 Saint MartinBenin
Administrative divisions - 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:
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, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Airports 1 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1
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: 54.4 sq km


land: 54.4 sq km


water: NEGL
total:
112,620 sq km

land:
110,620 sq km

water:
2,000 sq km
Area - comparative more than one-third the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished St. Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of St. Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. 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 - 44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget - revenues:
$299 million

expenditures:
$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)
Capital name: Marigot


geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


daylight savings: +1 hour
Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-Novemeber is the hurricane season tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 58.9 km (for entire island) 121 km
Constitution 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) December 1990
Country name conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin


conventional short form: Saint Martin


local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin


local short form: Saint-Martin
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 - 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external - $1.6 billion (1998 est.)
Dependency status overseas collectivity of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas collectivity of France) 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 collectivity of France) 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
Economic aid - recipient - $274.6 million (1997)
Economy - overview The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean. 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 - 510.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports - 300 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production - 226 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
24.78%

hydro:
75.22%

nuclear:
0%

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


highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water 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 creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003) 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 Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)


head of government: President of the Territorial Council Louis-Constant FLEMING (since 16 July 2007)


cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory economic, social, and cultural council


election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term


election results: Louis-Constant FLEMING unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007
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 - $396 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities - cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners - Brazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999)
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description the flag of France is used 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: 1%


industry: 15%


services: 84% (2000)
agriculture:
37.9%

industry:
13.5%

services:
48.6% (1999)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 05 N, 63 57 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the World shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten no natural harbors
Highways - 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%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US
Imports - $566 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities crude petroleum, food, manufactured items foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods
Imports - partners US, Mexico (2006) France 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (1999)
Independence none (overseas collectivity of France) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate - 6.9% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum
Infant mortality rate - 89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation UPU 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 - 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch - Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force - NA
Labor force - by occupation 85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry -
Land boundaries total: 15 km


border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 15 km
total:
1,989 km

border countries:
Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use - arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
4%

permanent pastures:
4%

forests and woodland:
31%

other:
48% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles) French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system the laws of France, where applicable, apply based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)


election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%, Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; seats by party - UPP 16, RRR 6, Reussir Saint-Martin 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:
49.94 years

male:
49.02 years

female:
50.88 years (2001 est.)
Literacy - definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
37.5%

male:
52.2%

female:
23.6% (2000)
Location island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims - territorial sea:
200 NM
Merchant marine - none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
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 Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality - noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Beninese
Natural hazards - hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
Natural resources salt small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET] 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 - NA
Population 33,102 (October 2004 census) 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 - 37.2% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate - 2.97% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations FM 3 (2007) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 620,000 (1997)
Railways - total:
578 km (single track)

narrow gauge:
578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
Religions Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio - 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: fully integrated access


domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems


international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Gudaloupe
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 - 36,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 4,295 (1997)
Television broadcast stations - 2 (one privately-owned) (1997)
Terrain - mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate - 6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Transportation - note nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten -
Unemployment rate - NA%
Waterways - streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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