Benin
Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is one of Africa's most stable democracies. It boasts a proliferation of political parties and a strong civil society. Benin's shore includes what used to be known as the Slave Coast, from where captives were shipped across the Atlantic.
| Source: World Statistics Pocket Book - United Nations | ||
| Summary Statistics | ||
| Full Name | The Republic of Benin | |
| Region | Western Africa | |
| Capital | Porto-Novo | |
| Surface Area | 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles) | |
| Population | 9.4 million (UN, 2012) | |
| Major Languages | French (official) Fon, Ge, Bariba, Yoruba, Dendi | |
| Major Religion | Indigenous beliefs, Christianity, Islam | |
| Currency | CFA Franc (XOF) | |
| Main Exports | Cotton, palm oil | |
| International Dialing Code | +229 | |
| Economic Indicators | ||
| GDP (Million Current US $) | 2011 | 7,295 |
| GDP – Growth Rate at Constant 2005 prices (Annual %) | 2011 | 3.1 |
| GDP per Capita (Current US $) | 2011 | 802.0 |
| Gross Fixed Capital Formation (% of GDP) | 2011 | 20.7 |
| BOP – Current Account (Million US $) | 2011 | ... |
| CPI (2000 = 100) | 2011 | 137 |
| Labor force participation, adult female pop. (%) | 2011 | 67.4 |
| Labor force participation, adult male pop. (%) | 2011 | 78.2 |
| Internet users (per 100 inhabitants) | 2011 | 3.5 |
| Exports (Million US$) | 2010 | 434.5 |
| Imports (Million US$) | 2010 | 1,494.3 |
| Major trading partners (% of exports) | 2010 | Nigeria (48.5), China (11.6), India (5.2) |
| Major trading partners (% of imports) | 2010 | France (16.3), China (12.6), Togo (10.9) |
| Social Indicators | ||
| Population growth rate (Average annual %) | 2010-2015 | 2.7 |
| Urban population growth rate (Average annual %) | 2010-2015 | 4.1 |
| Rural population growth rate (Average annual %) | 2010-2015 | 1.5 |
| Urban population (%) | 2012 | 45.6 |
| Life expectancy at birth (Females and Males, years) | 2010-2015 | 58.7/54.8 |
| Infant mortality rate (Per 1 000 live births) | 2010-2015 | 76.7 |
| Fertility rate, total (Live births per woman) | 2010-2015 | 5.1 |
| Education: Government expenditure (% of GDP) | 2006-2012 | 5.4 |
| Environment | ||
| Threatened species | 2012 | 66 |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 2010 | 41.0 |
| CO2 emission estimates (000 metric tons and metric tons per capita) | 2009 | 4851/0.6 |