Country Profile: Republic of Benin

Geography

Western Africa just west of Nigeria. A little smaller than Pennsylvania, with a 100 kilometer strip bordering the ocean.

Government

Independence from France: 1960. Military governments to 1972, followed by power by Marxist-Leninists, to 1989. Democratic elections in 1991. Multi-party rule with electoral politics and a unicameral legislature.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Factbook: "The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past seven years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase."

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2009: $1,500
2008: $1,500
2007: $1,500

Population

Living in an urban area: 41% (2008)

July 2009: 8.792 million. Growth rate: 2.977% (rates 13th)
July 2007: 8.295 million
July 2005: 7.46 million

Density estimated in 2005: 67.4 persons per square kilometer.

Health

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)

2009: 64.64
2008: 76.19
2005: 85.0

Average life expectancy at birth

2009: 59 years
2008: 53.85
2005: 50.51

Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 1.9 percent (2003)

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/