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Compare Samoa (2002) - Benin (2002)

Compare Samoa (2002) z Benin (2002)

 Samoa (2002)Benin (2002)
 SamoaBenin
Administrative divisions 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano 12 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years: 30.6% (male 27,774; female 26,854)


15-64 years: 63.5% (male 71,358; female 42,150)


65 years and over: 5.9% (male 4,859; female 5,636) (2002 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, bananas, taro, yams cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 3 (2001) 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
total: 1


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


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
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: 2,944 sq km


land: 2,934 sq km


water: 10 sq km
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Rhode Island slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997. 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 15.53 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 43.66 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $105 million


expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001/2002)
revenues: $377.4 million


expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Capital Apia Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October) tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 403 km 121 km
Constitution 1 January 1962 December 1990
Country name conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa


conventional short form: Samoa


former: Western Samoa
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Currency tala (WST) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Death rate 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $192 million (1999) $1.18 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa


embassy: 5th floor John Williams Building, Beach Road, Apia


mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia


telephone: [685] 21631


FAX: [685] 22030
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 Tuiloma Neroni SLADE


chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197


FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
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 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 $42.9 million (1995) (1995) $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 16% of GDP; about 85,000 tourists visited the islands in 2000. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low. 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 95.79 million kWh (2000) 523.2 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 300 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 103 million kWh (2000) 240 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 59%


hydro: 41%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 17%


hydro: 83%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues soil erosion 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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates tala per US dollar - 3.5236 (January 2002), 3.4722 (2001), 3.2712 (2000), 3.0120 (1999), 2.9429 (1998), 2.5562 (1997) 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: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)


head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 24 November 1998); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from 1992 until he assumed the prime ministership in November 1998, when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant


cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice


elections: upon the death of Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
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 $17 million f.o.b. (2000) $35.3 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, garments, beer cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners Australia 62%, Indonesia 13%, US 11%, American Samoa 3%, New Zealand 3% (2000) Brazil, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Morocco, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $618 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 16%


industry: 18%


services: 66% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 36%


industry: 14%


services: 50% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,040 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2001 est.) 5.4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 13 35 S, 172 20 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note occupies an almost central position within Polynesia sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways total: 836 km


paved: 267 km


unpaved: 569 km (1983)
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 $90 million f.o.b. (2000) $437.6 million c.i.f. (2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners Australia 27%, US 26%, New Zealand 14%, Fiji 12%, Japan 9% (2000) France, US, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Japan (2001)
Independence 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 2.8% (2000) 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries food processing, building materials, auto parts textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction materials (2001)
Infant mortality rate 30.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 88.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.5% (2001 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW (signatory), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) 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) 2 (2000) 4 (2002)
Irrigated land NA sq km 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 90,000 (2000 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 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: 19.43%


permanent crops: 23.67%


other: 56.9% (1998 est.)
arable land: 15.28%


permanent crops: 1.36%


other: 83.36% (1998 est.)
Languages Samoan (Polynesian), English French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs or matai may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms)


elections: byelection last held NA November 2001 (next byelection to be held 29 March 2002)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6
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: 69.8 years


male: 67.06 years


female: 72.69 years (2002 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: 80%


male: 81%


female: 79% (1999)
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 South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,091 GRT/ 8,127 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 1 (2002 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship -
Military branches no regular armed services; Samoa 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 Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun: Samoan(s)


adjective: Samoan
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards occasional typhoons; active volcanism hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources hardwood forests, fish, hydropower small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate -11.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Christian Democratic Party [leader NA]; Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua NAIMOAGA]; Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition); Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]; Samoan United Independent Party or SUIP [leader NA] 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 178,631 (July 2002 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 -0.25% (2002 est.) 2.91% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios 174,849 (1997) 660,000 (2000)
Railways 0 km total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000 est.)
Religions Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist) indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.69 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female


total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2002 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 21 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: adequate


domestic: NA


international: 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 8,183 (1998) 51,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,545 (February 1998) 55,500 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 6 (1997) 1 (2001)
Terrain narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 3.3 children born/woman (2002 est.) 6.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA%; note - substantial underemployment NA%
Waterways none streams navigable along small sections, important only locally
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