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Compare Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2005) - Benin (2005)

Compare Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2005) z Benin (2005)

 Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2005)Benin (2005)
 Saint Pierre and MiquelonBenin
Administrative divisions none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years: 24% (male 861/female 825)


15-64 years: 65.3% (male 2,330/female 2,251)


65 years and over: 10.6% (male 335/female 410) (2005 est.)
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 1,752,243/female 1,719,458)


15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,868,630/female 1,948,610)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 70,367/female 100,717) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 2 (2004 est.) 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 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: 242 sq km


land: 242 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions. 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 13.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $70 million


expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
revenues: $869.4 million


expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Saint-Pierre Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 120 km 121 km
Constitution 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) December 1990
Country name conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon


conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon


local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon


local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Death rate 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $NA $1.6 billion (2000)
Dependency status self-governing territorial collectivity of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territorial collectivity of France) 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 (territorial collectivity of France) 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 the states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty over seven villages along the Okpara River; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones
Economic aid - recipient approximately $60 million in annual grants from France $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector. The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth 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 more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere. As a result, smuggling and criminality along the Benin-Nigeria border has been on the rise.
Electricity - consumption 40.06 million kWh (2002) 565.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 300 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 43.08 million kWh (2002) 285.2 million kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment 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 Basques and Bretons (French fishermen) African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Albert DUPUY (since 10 January 2005)


head of government: President of the General Council Marc PLANTAGENEST (since NA)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round - 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
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 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 SOGLO (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 SOGLO 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 NA NA
Exports - commodities fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Belgium 41.3%, US 19.9%, Spain 14.9%, France 10%, Germany 4.1% (2004) China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 36.3%


industry: 14.3%


services: 49.4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 46 50 N, 56 20 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note vegetation scanty sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total: 114 km


paved: 69 km


unpaved: 45 km
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 NA NA
Imports - commodities meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners France 37.6%, Canada 25.3%, Ireland 25.2%, Italy 5.1% (2004) China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004)
Independence none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001)
Infant mortality rate total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
total: 85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.1% (1991-96 average) 2.8% (2004 est.)
International organization participation UPU, WFTU 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
Irrigated land NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 3,261 (1999) NA (1996)
Labor force - by occupation fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 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: 13.04%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 86.96% (2001)
arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
Languages French (official) French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be held NA April 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5


note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 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 2003 (next to be held 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: 78.46 years


male: 76.13 years


female: 80.9 years (2005 est.)
total population: 52.66 years


male: 51.53 years


female: 53.82 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 33.6%


male: 46.4%


female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
Location Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada) Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references North America Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $96.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.4% (2004)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)


adjective: French
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources fish, deepwater ports small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate -4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders Left Radical Party or PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP) [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA] 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 four 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 7,012 (July 2005 est.) 7,460,025


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 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 33% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 0.21% (2005 est.) 2.82% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Saint-Pierre Cotonou
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Railways - total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Religions Roman Catholic 99% indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: adequate


domestic: NA


international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
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 4,800 (2002) 66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1994) 236,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997) 1 (2001)
Terrain mostly barren rock mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 2.03 children born/woman (2005 est.) 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.8% (1997) NA
Waterways - 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
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