BeninDownload light PDF version

Overview

With a 2 000 km border and almost all of its population living a maximum of 100 km away from the border, this small coastal country is highly dependent upon the regional market, in particular on trade with Nigeria. According to 2010 estimates, between 6.5 and 7.5% of Benin’s GDP is derived from its trade with Nigeria, and informal sector trade largely exceeds these official figures. In addition, the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire has provided incentive for developing alternative links between landlocked West African countries and the coast, increasing the importance of the Cotonou as a regional port deserving Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Benin is also largely dependent on neighbouring countries for electricity imports. Major power shortages in the country are frequent as the national power demand largely exceeds the generation capacity of the government-controlled electric company “Société béninoise d’électricité et d’eau” (SBEE). The headquarters of the ECOWAS West African Power Pool (WAPP) has been based in Cotonou since 1999.

Other transnational issues that require regional co-operation include: joint management of the “W” Transborder Park with Burkina Faso and Niger; joint management of the Niger River basin with Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria; and the improvement of transport corridors, notably the Abidjan-Accra-Lomé-Cotonou-Lagos corridor linking Benin to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo.

Benin was hit by the worst flooding in 50 years in September and October 2010 causing considerable damages. The flooding affected about two-thirds of the country and generated a wave of solidarity across West Africa.

Institutional Framework

Government type: Republic

Constitution: adopted by referendum 2 December 1990

Legal System: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Administrative Division 12 departments: Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau and Zou

Executive Branch:
  • President: Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
  • Prime Minister: Pascal KOUPAKI , since 28 May 2011
  • Number of Ministers in Cabinet: 31
  • Gender Balance: 8 women, 23 men

Legislative Branch: unicameral National Assembly (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Judical Branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; High Court of Justice

Main Political Parties:
  • African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP;
  • Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD;
  • Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP;
  • Benin Renaissance or RB;
  • Democratic Renewal Party or PRD;
  • Force Cowrie for an Emerging Benin or FCBE;
  • Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD;
  • Key Force or FC;
  • Movement for the People's Alternative or MAP;
  • Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP;
  • Social Democrat Party or PSD;
  • Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS;
  • Union for the Relief or UPR

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal


Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 13 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)

Election Results: Thomas YAYI Boni re-elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 53.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 35.6%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE 6.1%, other 5.2%

Central Bank: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)

Military Branches
  • Benin Armed Forces (FAB):  Army (l'Armée de Terre),
  • Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninoises, FNB),
  • Benin Air Force (Force Aérienne du Benin, FAPB) (2011)

Military Age and Obligations: 21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2006)

Membership in International Organisations UEMOA, ECOWAS, ABN, ABV, WADB, AU, AfDB, Cen-Sad

Source: CIA Factbook

Regional Indicators

Land Boundaries: 1989 km

Border Countries:

Burkina Faso: 306 km; Niger: 266 km; Nigeria: 773 km; Togo: 644 km


Coastline:

121 km


Airports: 5 with paved runways: 1

Railways:

438 km


Roadways:

16,000 km, paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)


Waterways:

150 km (2010)


Ports and Terminals: Cotonou

Demographic Trends

Population 2010:

9.2 million, = 2.8% of West Africa's population


Projection 2050: 21.7 million

Population < 15 years (2010): 3.9 million, = 43.7%

Population density:

79/ sq km


Urban agglomeration: Cotonou, 1.3 million (Africapolis)

Annual Growth:

2.96% (2005-2010) > 2.7% (2010-2015)


Total Fertility Rate (births per woman):

5.48 (2005-2010) > 5.08 (2010-2015)


Median age: 17.9 years

Dependency ratio:

135 (2010)


2010
2020
2030
<15 years (%)
43.7
41.6
38.4
15-64 years
53.3
55.3
58
> 65 years
3.0
3.1
3.6
 
Rural Population
58
52.8
46.3
Urban Population
42
47.2
53.7

Source: World Population Prospects, 2008 Revision,http:esa.un.org/unpp


Migration and Mobility

Number of Emigrants (2010): 531 600 people = 5.8% of total population

Number of Immigrants (2010): 232 000 people = 2.5% of total population

Top Destination Countries: Nigeria, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Niger, France, Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo, Italy, Guinea

Top Source Countries:

Niger, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, France


Refugees within country:

6 900 (2009)


Source: The World Bank Remittances and Migration Fact Book 2011.

Economic Indicators

GDP PPP (2010):  

USD 13 833 million


% of West Africa 2.3%

GDP per capita:

USD 1502


Annual Growth (2009): 2.7%

Average Growth (2002-2012):

3.6%


Currency F CFA

Income Group (WB): low income

Inflation Rate: 2.2 (2009)

Trade Balance

USD  -797 million

FDI Inflows (2009):

USD 93 million


External Debt (2009):

USD 1 141 million = 4.5% of GDP


Debt Service (as % of exports 2010e):

6.3%


Public Finance (% of GDP 2009):

  • Revenue and grants: 21.7%
  • Expenditures and net lending: 25.9%
  • Overall balance: -4.2

Main Exports: cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Main Imports:

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products


Main Export Partners:

India (26%), China (20.7%), Niger (6.7%), Nigeria (6.3%), Namibia (4%) (2009)


Main Import Partners:

China (35.8%), USA (7.3%), France (7.2%), Thailand (6.5%), Malaysia (5.5%), The Netherlands (4.7%) (2009)


Labour force participation (2008):

68.1% Female; 79% Male


Child labour (% of children ages 5–14) 1999–2007: 46%

Diaspora Remittances 2009e:
  • USD 243 million
  • = % of GDP: 3.6%
  • = per capita: USD 27.45

ODA received:

  • USD 683 million
  • = % of GDP: 4.93%
  • = per capita: USD 77.17

Public Spending on Education, % of total (2000-2007):

    • 17.1%

Public Sepnding on Health, % of total (WHO, 2009):
  • 13.1%

Military Expenditures:

  • USD 65.6 million
  • = % of GDP: 1% GDP (2008e)

IMF Adjustment Programme yes

Corruption Perception Index: 2.8 (110/178)

Index of Economic Freedom 2011:

56 (117/179)


WB Doing Business Index (2011):

173 out of 183 countries


Ibrahim African Governance Index:

62.5



Food Security

Global Hunger Index (IFPRI, 2011): 14.7

Food supply (kcal per capita/day) 2 512

Number of people undernourished:
1 million

:Percentage of people undernourished:

12%

Child malnutrition, underweight: 23%

Percentage of infants with slowed growth rate: 38%


Land use


Land area (1 000 ha): 11 006

Agricultural land area (1 000 ha):
3 300

Arable land (1 000 ha):

2 550

Permanent crops (1 000 ha): 295

Pastures (1 000 ha): 550

Irrigated land (1 000 ha): 12

Share in total water use by
  • agriculture: 45.4%
  • industry: 23.1%
  • domestic use: 31.5%

Forest area (1000 ha): 4 561


Source: FAOStat and FAO Country Profile

Social Indicators

Ethnic Groups
  • Fon and related: 39.2%
  • Adja and related: 15.2%
  • Yoruba and related: 12.3%
  • Bariba and related: 9.2%
  • Peulh and related: 7%
  • Ottamari and related: 6.1%
  • Yoa-Lokpa and related: 4%
  • Dendi and related: 2.5%
  • Other: 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)

Major 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)

Health

Public Expenditure on Health (% of GDP) 2.5%

Infant Mortality Rate (per 1 000 live births) 76

Under-five Mortality Rate (per 1 000 live births)

118

Number of Physicians (for 100 000 people) (2004) 11.4

Hospital Beds (for 10 000 people) 5 (2005)

Number of people living with HIV (2009)

60 000 people [52 000 - 69 000]


Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate

1.2% [1% - 1.3%]


Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17

30 000 orphans [18 000 - 53 000]


Malaria Death Rates (2009)

1 375 people, including 1 157 < 5 years


Education

Public Expenditure on Education (% of GDP): 3.5%

Expected years of schooling (of children under 7) 9.2

Mean years of schooling (of adults over 25)
3.3

Adult Literacy Rate (% aged 15 and above) 41.7

Youth Literacy Rate 53.3

Primary Enrolment (% both sexes) 92.8%

Net Secondary Enrolment:  

University attendance Ratio: 6,1% (2004)

Universities: 17 universities (2 public; 15 private)

ICT

Internet Access (per 100 inhabitants) 2009: 2.24

Internet Domain: bj

International Dialing Code: 229

Mobile Line (per 100 inhabitants) 2009: 56.33

Main Telephone Line (per 100 inhabitants) 2009:

1.42


Access to Basic Services

Access to Electricity 2007:  

Water Supply Coverage (2008): 75% (urban 84%, rural 69%)

Sanitation Coverage (2008):

12% (24% urban, 4% rural)


MDG Tracking

Human Development Index: Trends 1980 - present