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Full country name: Republic of
Benin
Area: 110,620 sq km
(43,140 sq mi)
Population: 6.1 million
Capital city: Porto Novo
(pop. 225,000)
People: Fon and Adja
(40%), Yoruba (12%), Bariba (9%), Betamaribé, Fulani (6%), and 37
smaller ethnic groups
Language: French
(official), Fon, Yoruba and almost fifty other tribal languages
Religion: Animism
(Voodoo) (70%), Muslim (15%), Christian (20%)
Government: Democratic
republic
President: Mathieu
Kérékou
GDP: US$8.2 billion
GDP per head: US$1440
Annual growth: 5.5%
Inflation: 3.5%
Major industries: Textiles,
cotton, cigarettes, beverages, construction materials, petroleum, palm
products
Major trading partners: Brazil,
Portugal, France
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Geographic coordinates:
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9 30 N, 2 15 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 112,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Pennsylvania |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina
Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km |
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Coastline:
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121 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid in south;
semiarid in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to undulating
plain; some hills and low mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro
658 m |
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Natural resources:
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small offshore oil deposits,
limestone, marble, timber |
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Land use:
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arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 84% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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120 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind
may affect north from December to March |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate supplies of potable
water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation;
desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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sandbanks create difficult
access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands |
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Capital: Cotonou
Area: km²
Population:
Currency: 1 US$ = 600 CFA
GDP: 132/1 668$
HDI :
146/368
Languages: French, Fon, Yoruba, Mina, Somka, Dendi, Bariba, Goun,
Adja, Pila-pila
Ethnic groups: fon & Adja (south), Bariba & Somba (north),
Yoruba (southeast)
Religions: Animist 65%, Christian 20%, Muslim 15%
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