HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 4.1% (2002)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 160,000 (2002)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 37,000 (2002)

Nationality: noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon,
Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars
in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 37.5% male: 52.2% female: 23.6% (2000)

Government Benin

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional
short form: Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey local long form:
Republique du Benin

Government 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 is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of
government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique,
Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1960)

Constitution: 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: 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: reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006) note:
the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round presidential
elections were: 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" election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelecte