| COUNTRY FACTS: BENIN | |
|---|---|
| Name(official): | Republic of Benin |
| Name(short): | Benin |
| Capital City: | Porto Novo(official), Cotonou is the seat of government. |
| Location: | Western Africa Click to enlarge
 Map of Benin |
| Coordinate: | 9 30 N, 2 15 E |
| Independence: | (From France) August 1st; 1960. |
| President: | Yayi Boni. |
| Type of Government: | Republic |
| Total Area: | 112 620sq.km. |
| Population: | 7 862 944 |
| People: | African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500. |
| Religion: | Indigenous beliefs 50%, christians 30%, muslims 20% |
| Languages: | French(official), Fon, Yoruba (mostly in the south), tribal languages(at least 6 in the north). |
| Literacy: | 33.6%total, 46.4%male, 22.6%female (2002 est.) |
| Currency: | Communaute Financiere Africaine Franc (1CFAF =100centimes) |
| GDP(per capita): | $1 100 (2005 est.) |
| Arable Land: | 23.53% (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture: | Cotton, corn, cassava(tapioca), yam, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock. |
| Natural resources: | small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. |
| Embassy in Japan: | Embassy of the Republic of Benin Chancery: Sougo Nagatacho Building 2F N-3, 1-11-28 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku. Post Code: 100-0014 Tel. 03-3591-6565 |
| General Info: | |
| International Phone Code: | +229 |
ECONOMY: BUSINESS, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MAJOR CITIES
Porto-Novo, Cotonou, Parakou, Djougou, Abomey, Lokossa, Ouigah, Kandi, Come, Cove.
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- United Nations
- African Union
- ECOWAS
- NEPAD
- CEN-SAD
GOVERNMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
12 departments: Alibori, Ata Kora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou.