Modification, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north;
no natural harbors

@Benin, People

Population:
5,341,710 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
47.67 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
110.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
51.77 years
male:
49.92 years
female:
53.68 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Beninese
Ethnic divisions:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba,
Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south),
tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
23%
male:
32%
female:
16%
Labor force:
1.9 million (1987)
by occupation:
agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%,
industry less than 2%
note:
49% of population of working age (1985)

@Benin, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Benin
conventional short form:
Benin
local long form:
Republique Populaire du Benin
local short form:
Benin
former:
Dahomey
Digraph:
BN
Type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism
December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to
multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital:
Porto-Novo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
Independence:
1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 1 August (1990)
Constitution:
2 December 1990
Legal system:
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991); election last held 10
and 24 March 1991; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%,