Benin Geography, Government, Population and Other Interesting Facts
World Countries
Home Latest World News World Oceans
Alphebetical List - All Countries  Feature Travel Articles World Countries Books and Music
  Countries Database  
World Countries Information
Select a Region Polar     North America     Central America     Caribbean     South America     Europe     Middle East     Africa     Central Asia     Asia     Australia (Oceania)

Other States in
Africa

Quick Facts
Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon
Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo (DRC) Congo (Republic) Cote d'Ivoire
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana
Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar
Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Morocco Mozambique
Namibia Niger Nigeria Reunion Rwanda Saint Helena Sao Tome/Principe
Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Sudan Swaziland
Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe


Benin Profile

Share/Bookmark  
 Country Menu Overview Google Map Country Profile Books
Latest News 3D Google Earth Map Flag Music
Latest Weather CIA World Map Web Sites
 Profile Menu Quick Facts Communications Economy Geography Government
People Military Transportation Transitional Issues

  Quick Facts About Benin

Source: CIA World Factbook

Capital

name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (seat of government)

Country Name

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

Dependency Status

*

Type of Government

republic

Background

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI has begun a high profile fight against corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin"s economic growth.

Branches

Benin Armed Forces (FAB): Army (l"Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People"s Air Force (Force Aerienne Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,077,591/female 1,995,188)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,358,533/female 2,384,241)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 98,007/female 142,450) (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Population

9,056,010
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Religions

Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)

Internet Users

160,000 (2008)

Area - Comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Area

total: 112,622 sq km
land: 110,622 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Natural Hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Other World Travel Sites That Might Interest You
Mexico Travel Si-Mexico Hotels-Resorts
Benin
Benin Locator Map
Source:
CIA World Factbook

Where To?

copyscape
Violators will be prosecuted
World Travel News, Google Maps, Google Earth Maps, & World Travel Articles  
© 2004-Present www.WorldCountries.info All Rights Reserved - LU20100819-1753