{"name": "Benin", "code": "BN", "publish_date": "December 28, 2018", "html": "<div class='wfb-text-box'><div class=\"region1 geos_title afr_dark\"><strong>Africa ::Benin</strong></div><ul class='expandcollapse'><li id='introduction-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Introduction'ccode='bn'>Introduction ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='introduction-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-introduction-background\">Background:</div><div id=\"field-background\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><p>Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.</p><p>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, who won a second five-year term in March 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016 after campaigning to restore public confidence in the government.</p></div></div></li><li id='geography-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Geography'ccode='bn'>Geography ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='geography-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-location\">Location:</div><div id=\"field-location\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-geographic-coordinates\">Geographic coordinates:</div><div id=\"field-geographic-coordinates\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>9 30 N, 2 15 E</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-map-references\">Map references:</div><div id=\"field-map-references\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Africa</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-area\">Area:</div><div id=\"field-area\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">112,622 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">110,622 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">water:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2,000 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>103</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-area-comparative\">Area - comparative:</div><div id=\"field-area-comparative\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>slightly smaller than Pennsylvania</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-land-boundaries\">Land boundaries:</div><div id=\"field-land-boundaries\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2,123 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">border countries (4):</span>Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-coastline\">Coastline:</div><div id=\"field-coastline\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">121 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-maritime-claims\">Maritime claims:</div><div id=\"field-maritime-claims\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">territorial sea:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">200</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">nm</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">continental shelf:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">200</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">nm</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">exclusive fishing zone:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">200</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">nm</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-climate\">Climate:</div><div id=\"field-climate\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-terrain\">Terrain:</div><div id=\"field-terrain\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-elevation\">Elevation:</div><div id=\"field-elevation\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">mean elevation:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">273 m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">elevation extremes:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">lowest point: Atlantic Ocean</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\">658 highest point: Mont Sokbaro</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-natural-resources\">Natural resources:</div><div id=\"field-natural-resources\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-land-use\">Land use:</div><div id=\"field-land-use\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">agricultural land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">31.3%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">arable land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">22.9%</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span>/<span class=\"subfield-name\">permanent crops:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">3.5%</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span>/<span class=\"subfield-name\">permanent pasture:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">4.9%</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">forest:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">40%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">other:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">28.7%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-irrigated-land\">Irrigated land:</div><div id=\"field-irrigated-land\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">230 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2012\">(2012)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-population-distribution\">Population distribution:</div><div id=\"field-population-distribution\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-natural-hazards\">Natural hazards:</div><div id=\"field-natural-hazards\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-environment-current-issues\">Environment - current issues:</div><div id=\"field-environment-current-issues\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification (the spread of the desert into agricultural lands in the north is accelerated by regular droughts)</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-environment-international-agreements\">Environment - international agreements:</div><div id=\"field-environment-international-agreements\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">party to:</span>Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">signed, but not ratified:</span>none of the selected agreements</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-geography-note\">Geography - note:</div><div id=\"field-geography-note\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands</div></div></li><li id='people-and-society-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='People and Society'ccode='bn'>People and Society ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='people-and-society-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-population\">Population:</div><div id=\"field-population\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">11,340,504</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: July 2018\">(July 2018 est.)</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> 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</p></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>79</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-nationality\">Nationality:</div><div id=\"field-nationality\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">noun:</span>Beninese (singular and plural)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">adjective:</span>Beninese</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-ethnic-groups\">Ethnic groups:</div><div id=\"field-ethnic-groups\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9%<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013 est.\">(2013 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-languages\">Languages:</div><div id=\"field-languages\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>French(official), Fon and Yoruba(most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages(at least six major ones in north)</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-religions\">Religions:</div><div id=\"field-religions\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8%<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013 est.\">(2013 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-demographic-profile\">Demographic profile:</div><div id=\"field-demographic-profile\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><p>Benin has a youthful age structure – almost 65% of the population is under the age of 25 – which is bolstered by high fertility and population growth rates. Benin’s total fertility has been falling over time but remains high, declining from almost 7 children per women in 1990 to 4.8 in 2016. Benin’s low contraceptive use and high unmet need for contraception contribute to the sustained high fertility rate. Although the majority of Beninese women use skilled health care personnel for antenatal care and delivery, the high rate of maternal mortality indicates the need for more access to high quality obstetric care.</p><p>Poverty, unemployment, increased living costs, and dwindling resources increasingly drive the Beninese to migrate. An estimated 4.4 million, more than 40%, of Beninese live abroad. Virtually all Beninese emigrants move to West African countries, particularly Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Of the less than 1% of Beninese emigrants who settle in Europe, the vast majority live in France, Benin’s former colonial ruler.</p><p>With about 40% of the population living below the poverty line, many desperate parents resort to sending their children to work in wealthy households as domestic servants (a common practice known as vidomegon), mines, quarries, or agriculture domestically or in Nigeria and other neighboring countries, often under brutal conditions. Unlike in other West African countries, where rural people move to the coast, farmers from Benin’s densely populated southern and northwestern regions move to the historically sparsely populated central region to pursue agriculture. Immigrants from West African countries came to Benin in increasing numbers between 1992 and 2002 because of its political stability and porous borders.</p></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-age-structure\">Age structure:</div><div id=\"field-age-structure\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">0-14 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">42.26%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(male 2,445,265 /female 2,347,091)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">15-24 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">20.53%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(male 1,184,977 /female 1,143,605)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">25-54 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">30.66%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(male 1,759,834 /female 1,717,467)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">55-64 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">3.65%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(male 184,453 /female 229,945)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">65 years and over:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2.89%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(male 128,920 /female 198,947)</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div class=\"category_data attachment\"><span class=\"subfield-name\">population pyramid:</span><a data-toggle=\"modal\" href=\"#imageModal3601\" class='category_image_link'><img alt=\"population pyramid\" src=\"/attachments/images/thumb/BN_popgraph.bmp?1538604938\" /></a><div class=\"modal fade cntryModal\" id=\"imageModal3601\" role=\"dialog\" aria-label='modal dialog used to display image(s) associated with a field' aria-labelledby='imageModalLabel'><div class=\"wfb-modal-dialog\"><div class=\"modal-content\"><div class=\"wfb-modal-header\">	<span class=\"modal-title wfb-title\">The World Factbook</span><span class='sr-only' id='imageModalLabel'>Field Image Modal</span>	<span style=\"float: right; margin-top: -4px;\">	<button type=\"button\" class=\"close\" title=\"close\" data-dismiss=\"modal\">×</button>	</span></div><div class=\"wfb-modal-body\">	<div class=\"region1 geos_title afr_dark\"> 	Africa <strong>::</strong>	<span class=\"region_name1 countryName\">Benin</span><span class=\"btn-print\"><a href=\"/attachments/images/large/BN_popgraph.bmp?1538604938\"><i class=\"fa fa-print\" aria-hidden='true'></i><span class='sr-only'>Print</span></a></span>	</div>	<div class=\"afr_bkgrnd\">	<div class=\"modalImageBox\">	<img class=\"afr_lgflagborder\"		 src=\"/attachments/images/large/BN_popgraph.bmp?1538604938\" alt=\"population pyramid\">	</div>	<div class=\"modalImageDesc\">	<div class=\"header\"		 style=\"background-image: url(/images/afr_medium.jpg)\">	Image Description	</div>	<div class=\"photogallery_captiontext\">	This is the population pyramid for Benin. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. <br/><br/>For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.	</div>	</div>	</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-dependency-ratios\">Dependency ratios:</div><div id=\"field-dependency-ratios\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total dependency ratio:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">86.1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">youth dependency ratio:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">80.1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">elderly dependency ratio:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">6</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">potential support ratio:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">16.6</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-median-age\">Median age:</div><div id=\"field-median-age\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">18.4 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">male:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">18.1 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">female:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">18.7 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>209</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-population-growth-rate\">Population growth rate:</div><div id=\"field-population-growth-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">2.68%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>16</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-birth-rate\">Birth rate:</div><div id=\"field-birth-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">34.5 births/1,000 population</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>22</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-death-rate\">Death rate:</div><div id=\"field-death-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">7.7 deaths/1,000 population</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>99</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-net-migration-rate\">Net migration rate:</div><div id=\"field-net-migration-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 migrant(s)/1,000 population</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>74</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-population-distribution\">Population distribution:</div><div id=\"field-population-distribution\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-urbanization\">Urbanization:</div><div id=\"field-urbanization\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">urban population:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">47.3% of total population</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(2018)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">rate of urbanization:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">3.89% annual rate of change</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(2015-20 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-major-urban-areas-population\">Major urban areas - population:</div><div id=\"field-major-urban-areas-population\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital), 685,000 COTONOU (seat of government), 928,000 Abomey-Calavi<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-sex-ratio\">Sex ratio:</div><div id=\"field-sex-ratio\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">at birth:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.05 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">0-14 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.04 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">15-24 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.04 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">25-54 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.02 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">55-64 years:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.76 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">65 years and over:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.66 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total population:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.01 male(s)/female</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-mother-s-mean-age-at-first-birth\">Mother&#39;s mean age at first birth:</div><div id=\"field-mother-s-mean-age-at-first-birth\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">20.3 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011/12\">(2011/12 est.)</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> median age at first birth among women 25-29</p></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-maternal-mortality-rate\">Maternal mortality rate:</div><div id=\"field-maternal-mortality-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">405 deaths/100,000 live births</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>26</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-infant-mortality-rate\">Infant mortality rate:</div><div id=\"field-infant-mortality-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">51.5 deaths/1,000 live births</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">male:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">54.5 deaths/1,000 live births</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">female:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">48.3 deaths/1,000 live births</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>24</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-life-expectancy-at-birth\">Life expectancy at birth:</div><div id=\"field-life-expectancy-at-birth\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total population:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">62.7 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">male:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">61.2 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">female:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">64.2 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>198</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-total-fertility-rate\">Total fertility rate:</div><div id=\"field-total-fertility-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4.67 children born/woman</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2018\">(2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>22</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-contraceptive-prevalence-rate\">Contraceptive prevalence rate:</div><div id=\"field-contraceptive-prevalence-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">17.9%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-health-expenditures\">Health expenditures:</div><div id=\"field-health-expenditures\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4.6% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>154</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-physicians-density\">Physicians density:</div><div id=\"field-physicians-density\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.15 physicians/1,000 population</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-hospital-bed-density\">Hospital bed density:</div><div id=\"field-hospital-bed-density\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.5 beds/1,000 population</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2010\">(2010)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-drinking-water-source\">Drinking water source:</div><div id=\"field-drinking-water-source\"><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class='subfield-group'>improved:</span><span class=\"subfield-name\">urban:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">85.2% of population</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">rural:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">72.1% of population</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">77.9% of population</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class='subfield-group'>unimproved:</span><span class=\"subfield-name\">urban:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">14.8% of population</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">rural:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">27.9% of population</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">22.1% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-sanitation-facility-access\">Sanitation facility access:</div><div id=\"field-sanitation-facility-access\"><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class='subfield-group'>improved:</span><span class=\"subfield-name\">urban:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">35.6% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">rural:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">7.3% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">19.7% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class='subfield-group'>unimproved:</span><span class=\"subfield-name\">urban:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">64.4% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">rural:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">92.7% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">80.3% of population</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-hiv-aids-adult-prevalence-rate\">HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:</div><div id=\"field-hiv-aids-adult-prevalence-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>44</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-hiv-aids-people-living-with-hiv-aids\">HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:</div><div id=\"field-hiv-aids-people-living-with-hiv-aids\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">70,000</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>50</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-hiv-aids-deaths\">HIV/AIDS - deaths:</div><div id=\"field-hiv-aids-deaths\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">2,500</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>45</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-major-infectious-diseases\">Major infectious diseases:</div><div id=\"field-major-infectious-diseases\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">degree of risk:</span>very high<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">food or waterborne diseases:</span>bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">vectorborne diseases:</span>dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">animal contact diseases:</span>rabies<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">respiratory diseases:</span>meningococcal meningitis<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-obesity-adult-prevalence-rate\">Obesity - adult prevalence rate:</div><div id=\"field-obesity-adult-prevalence-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">9.6%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>142</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-children-under-the-age-of-5-years-underweight\">Children under the age of 5 years underweight:</div><div id=\"field-children-under-the-age-of-5-years-underweight\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">18%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>32</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-education-expenditures\">Education expenditures:</div><div id=\"field-education-expenditures\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4.4% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>97</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-literacy\">Literacy:</div><div id=\"field-literacy\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">definition:</span>age 15 and over can read and write<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015 est.\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total population:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">38.4%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">male:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">49.9%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">female:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">27.3%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-school-life-expectancy-primary-to-tertiary-education\">School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):</div><div id=\"field-school-life-expectancy-primary-to-tertiary-education\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">12 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">male:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">14 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">female:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">11 years</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-unemployment-youth-ages-15-24\">Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:</div><div id=\"field-unemployment-youth-ages-15-24\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.6%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">male:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.2%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">female:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.9%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>152</span></div></div></li><li id='government-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Government'ccode='bn'>Government ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='government-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-country-name\">Country name:</div><div id=\"field-country-name\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">conventional long form:</span>Republic of Benin</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">conventional short form:</span>Benin</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">local long form:</span>Republique du Benin</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">local short form:</span>Benin</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">former:</span>Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">etymology:</span>named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-government-type\">Government type:</div><div id=\"field-government-type\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>presidential republic</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-capital\">Capital:</div><div id=\"field-capital\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">name:</span>Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">geographic coordinates:</span>6 29 N, 2 37 E</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">time difference:</span>UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-administrative-divisions\">Administrative divisions:</div><div id=\"field-administrative-divisions\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-independence\">Independence:</div><div id=\"field-independence\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>1 August 1960 (from France)</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-national-holiday\">National holiday:</div><div id=\"field-national-holiday\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Independence Day, 1 August (1960)</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-constitution\">Constitution:</div><div id=\"field-constitution\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">history:</span>previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 <span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">amendments:</span>proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-legal-system\">Legal system:</div><div id=\"field-legal-system\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-international-law-organization-participation\">International law organization participation:</div><div id=\"field-international-law-organization-participation\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-citizenship\">Citizenship:</div><div id=\"field-citizenship\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">citizenship by birth:</span>no</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">citizenship by descent only:</span>at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">dual citizenship recognized:</span>yes</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">residency requirement for naturalization:</span>10 years</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-suffrage\">Suffrage:</div><div id=\"field-suffrage\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>18 years of age; universal</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-judicial-branch\">Judicial branch:</div><div id=\"field-judicial-branch\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">highest courts:</span>Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">judge selection and term of office:</span>Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the national president upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the national president; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; High Court of Justice \"other\" members elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">subordinate courts:</span>Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-executive-branch\">Executive branch:</div><div id=\"field-executive-branch\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">chief of state:</span>President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">head of government:</span>President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">cabinet:</span>Council of Ministers appointed by the president</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">elections/appointments:</span>president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 6 March and 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">election results:</span>Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23.%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-legislative-branch\">Legislative branch:</div><div id=\"field-legislative-branch\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">description:</span>unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">elections:</span>last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in April 2019)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">election results:</span>percent of vote by party - FCBE 30.2%, UN 14.4%, PRD 10.6%, AND 7.6%, RB-RP 7.1%, other 30.1%; seats by party - FCBE 33, UN 13, PRD 10, RB-RP 7, AND 5, other 15; composition - men 77, women 6, percent of women 7.2%</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-political-parties-and-leaders\">Political parties and leaders:</div><div id=\"field-political-parties-and-leaders\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Alliance for a Triumphant Benin or ABT [Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE]<br>African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]<br>Benin Renaissance or RB [Lehady SOGLO]<br>Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]<br>Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]<br>National Alliance for Development and Democracy or AND [Valentin Aditi HOUDE]<br>New Consciousness Rally or NC [Pascal KOUPAKI]<br>Patriotic Awakening or RP [Janvier YAHOUEDEOU]<br>Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]<br>Sun Alliance or AS [Sacca LAFIA]<br>Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (includes PRD, MADEP)<br>United Democratic Forces or FDU [Mathurin NAGO]</div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> approximately 20 additional minor parties</p></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-international-organization-participation\">International organization participation:</div><div id=\"field-international-organization-participation\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-diplomatic-representation-in-the-us\">Diplomatic representation in the US:</div><div id=\"field-diplomatic-representation-in-the-us\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">chief of mission:</span>Ambassador Hector POSSET (since 18 January 2017)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">chancery:</span>2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">telephone:</span>[1] (202) 232-6656</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">FAX:</span>[1] (202) 265-1996</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-diplomatic-representation-from-the-us\">Diplomatic representation from the US:</div><div id=\"field-diplomatic-representation-from-the-us\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">chief of mission:</span>Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 8 November 2015)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">embassy:</span>Caporal Bernard Anani, 01 BP 2012, Cotonou</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">mailing address:</span>01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">telephone:</span>[229] 21-30-06-50</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">FAX:</span>[229] 21-30-03-84</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-flag-description\">Flag description:</div><div id=\"field-flag-description\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage</div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia</p></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-national-symbol-s\">National symbol(s):</div><div id=\"field-national-symbol-s\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-national-anthem\">National anthem:</div><div id=\"field-national-anthem\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">name:</span>\"L'Aube Nouvelle\" (The Dawn of a New Day)</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">lyrics/music:</span>Gilbert Jean DAGNON</div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> adopted 1960</p></div><div class=\"category_data attachment\"><audio type=\"audio/mp3\" controls=\"controls\" alt=\"National Anthem audio file for Benin\" src=\"/attachments/audios/original/BN.mp3?1538604750\"></audio></div></div></li><li id='economy-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Economy'ccode='bn'>Economy ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='economy-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-economy-overview\">Economy - overview:</div><div id=\"field-economy-overview\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><p>The free market economy of Benin has grown consecutively for four years, though growth slowed in 2017, as its close trade links to Nigeria expose Benin to risks from volatile commodity prices. Cotton is a key export commodity, with export earnings significantly impacted by the price of cotton in the broader market. The economy began deflating in 2017, with the consumer price index falling 0.8%.</p><p></p><p>During the first two years of President TALON’s administration, which began in April 2016, the government has followed an ambitious action plan to kickstart development through investments in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and governance. Electricity generation, which has constrained Benin’s economic growth, has increased and blackouts have been considerably reduced. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for a large proportion of investment in infrastructure projects.</p><p></p><p>Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory, and has used equipment from donors effectively against such piracy. Pilferage has significantly dropped at the Port of Cotonou, though the port is still struggling with effective implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Projects included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) first compact (2006-11) were designed to increase investment and private sector activity by improving key institutional and physical infrastructure. The four projects focused on access to land, access to financial services, access to justice, and access to markets (including modernization of the port). The Port of Cotonou is a major contributor to Benin’s economy, with revenues projected to account for more than 40% of Benin’s national budget.</p><p></p><p>Benin will need further efforts to upgrade infrastructure, stem corruption, and expand access to foreign markets to achieve its potential. In September 2015, Benin signed a second MCC Compact for $375 million that entered into force in June 2017 and is designed to strengthen the national utility service provider, attract private sector investment, fund infrastructure investments in electricity generation and distribution, and develop off-grid electrification for poor and unserved households. As part of the Government of Benin’s action plan to spur growth, Benin passed public private partnership legislation in 2017 to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, encourage new information and communication technology, and establish Independent Power Producers. In April 2017, the IMF approved a three year $150.4 million Extended Credit Facility agreement to maintain debt sustainability and boost donor confidence.</p></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gdp-purchasing-power-parity\">GDP (purchasing power parity):</div><div id=\"field-gdp-purchasing-power-parity\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$25.39 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$24.04 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$23.12 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars</p></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>141</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gdp-official-exchange-rate\">GDP (official exchange rate):</div><div id=\"field-gdp-official-exchange-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$9.246 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(2017 est.)</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gdp-real-growth-rate\">GDP - real growth rate:</div><div id=\"field-gdp-real-growth-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.6%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">2.1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>38</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gdp-per-capita-ppp\">GDP - per capita (PPP):</div><div id=\"field-gdp-per-capita-ppp\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2,300</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2,200</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2,200</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars</p></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>201</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gross-national-saving\">Gross national saving:</div><div id=\"field-gross-national-saving\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">17.3% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">15.2% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">16.6% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>116</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gdp-composition-by-end-use\">GDP - composition, by end use:</div><div id=\"field-gdp-composition-by-end-use\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">household consumption:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">70.5%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">government consumption:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">13.1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">investment in fixed capital:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">27.6%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">investment in inventories:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">exports of goods and services:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">31.6%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">imports of goods and services:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">-43%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-gdp-composition-by-sector-of-origin\">GDP - composition, by sector of origin:</div><div id=\"field-gdp-composition-by-sector-of-origin\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">agriculture:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">26.1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">industry:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">22.8%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">services:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">51.1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-agriculture-products\">Agriculture - products:</div><div id=\"field-agriculture-products\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-industries\">Industries:</div><div id=\"field-industries\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-industrial-production-growth-rate\">Industrial production growth rate:</div><div id=\"field-industrial-production-growth-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">3%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>101</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-labor-force\">Labor force:</div><div id=\"field-labor-force\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">3.662 million</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2007\">(2007 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>98</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-unemployment-rate\">Unemployment rate:</div><div id=\"field-unemployment-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>7</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-population-below-poverty-line\">Population below poverty line:</div><div id=\"field-population-below-poverty-line\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">36.2%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-household-income-or-consumption-by-percentage-share\">Household income or consumption by percentage share:</div><div id=\"field-household-income-or-consumption-by-percentage-share\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">lowest 10%:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">29%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2003\">(2003)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">highest 10%:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">29%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2003\">(2003)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-distribution-of-family-income-gini-index\">Distribution of family income - Gini index:</div><div id=\"field-distribution-of-family-income-gini-index\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">36.5</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2003\">(2003)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>88</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-budget\">Budget:</div><div id=\"field-budget\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">revenues:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.578 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">expenditures:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2.152 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-taxes-and-other-revenues\">Taxes and other revenues:</div><div id=\"field-taxes-and-other-revenues\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">17.1% (of GDP)</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>171</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-budget-surplus-or-deficit\">Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):</div><div id=\"field-budget-surplus-or-deficit\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">-6.2% (of GDP)</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>186</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-public-debt\">Public debt:</div><div id=\"field-public-debt\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">54.6% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">49.7% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>81</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-fiscal-year\">Fiscal year:</div><div id=\"field-fiscal-year\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>calendar year</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-inflation-rate-consumer-prices\">Inflation rate (consumer prices):</div><div id=\"field-inflation-rate-consumer-prices\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.1%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">-0.8%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>13</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-central-bank-discount-rate\">Central bank discount rate:</div><div id=\"field-central-bank-discount-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4.25%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2010\">(31 December 2010)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4.25%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2009\">(31 December 2009)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>87</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-commercial-bank-prime-lending-rate\">Commercial bank prime lending rate:</div><div id=\"field-commercial-bank-prime-lending-rate\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.3%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2017\">(31 December 2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.3%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2016\">(31 December 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>140</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-stock-of-narrow-money\">Stock of narrow money:</div><div id=\"field-stock-of-narrow-money\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.644 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2017\">(31 December 2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.189 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2016\">(31 December 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>125</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-stock-of-broad-money\">Stock of broad money:</div><div id=\"field-stock-of-broad-money\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.644 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2017\">(31 December 2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.189 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2016\">(31 December 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>132</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-stock-of-domestic-credit\">Stock of domestic credit:</div><div id=\"field-stock-of-domestic-credit\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$1.963 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2017\">(31 December 2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$1.553 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2016\">(31 December 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>151</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-market-value-of-publicly-traded-shares\">Market value of publicly traded shares:</div><div id=\"field-market-value-of-publicly-traded-shares\"><div class=\"category_data note\"><p>NA</p></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-current-account-balance\">Current account balance:</div><div id=\"field-current-account-balance\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">-$1.024 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">-$808 million</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>144</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-exports\">Exports:</div><div id=\"field-exports\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$1.974 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$1.588 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>141</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-exports-partners\">Exports - partners:</div><div id=\"field-exports-partners\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Bangladesh 18.1%, India 10.7%, Ukraine 9%, Niger 8.1%, China 7.7%, Nigeria 7.2%, Turkey 4%<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-exports-commodities\">Exports - commodities:</div><div id=\"field-exports-commodities\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-imports\">Imports:</div><div id=\"field-imports\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.787 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.443 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>152</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-imports-commodities\">Imports - commodities:</div><div id=\"field-imports-commodities\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-imports-partners\">Imports - partners:</div><div id=\"field-imports-partners\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Thailand 18.1%, India 15.9%, France 8.5%, China 7.5%, Togo 5.9%, Netherlands 4.3%, Belgium 4.3%<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-reserves-of-foreign-exchange-and-gold\">Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:</div><div id=\"field-reserves-of-foreign-exchange-and-gold\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$698.9 million</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2017\">(31 December 2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$57.5 million</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2016\">(31 December 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>141</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-debt-external\">Debt - external:</div><div id=\"field-debt-external\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.804 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2017\">(31 December 2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">$2.476 billion</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 31 December 2016\">(31 December 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>145</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-exchange-rates\">Exchange rates:</div><div id=\"field-exchange-rates\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -</div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">605.3</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">593.01</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">593.01</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">591.45</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">494.42</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013 est.)</span></div></div></li><li id='energy-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Energy'ccode='bn'>Energy ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='energy-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-access\">Electricity access:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-access\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">population without electricity:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">7.3 million</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">electrification - total population:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">29%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">electrification - urban areas:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">57%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">electrification - rural areas:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">9%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-production\">Electricity - production:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-production\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">335 million kWh</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>177</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-consumption\">Electricity - consumption:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-consumption\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.143 billion kWh</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>152</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-exports\">Electricity - exports:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-exports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 kWh</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>106</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-imports\">Electricity - imports:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-imports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.088 billion kWh</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>68</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-installed-generating-capacity\">Electricity - installed generating capacity:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-installed-generating-capacity\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">321,000 kW</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>158</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-from-fossil-fuels\">Electricity - from fossil fuels:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-from-fossil-fuels\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">88% of total installed capacity</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>58</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-from-nuclear-fuels\">Electricity - from nuclear fuels:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-from-nuclear-fuels\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0% of total installed capacity</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>49</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-from-hydroelectric-plants\">Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-from-hydroelectric-plants\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">9% of total installed capacity</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>116</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-electricity-from-other-renewable-sources\">Electricity - from other renewable sources:</div><div id=\"field-electricity-from-other-renewable-sources\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">2% of total installed capacity</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>135</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-crude-oil-production\">Crude oil - production:</div><div id=\"field-crude-oil-production\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>109</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-crude-oil-exports\">Crude oil - exports:</div><div id=\"field-crude-oil-exports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>93</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-crude-oil-imports\">Crude oil - imports:</div><div id=\"field-crude-oil-imports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>96</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-crude-oil-proved-reserves\">Crude oil - proved reserves:</div><div id=\"field-crude-oil-proved-reserves\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">8 million bbl</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 1 January 2018\">(1 January 2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>92</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-refined-petroleum-products-production\">Refined petroleum products - production:</div><div id=\"field-refined-petroleum-products-production\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>118</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-refined-petroleum-products-consumption\">Refined petroleum products - consumption:</div><div id=\"field-refined-petroleum-products-consumption\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">38,000 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>113</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-refined-petroleum-products-exports\">Refined petroleum products - exports:</div><div id=\"field-refined-petroleum-products-exports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1,514 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>107</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-refined-petroleum-products-imports\">Refined petroleum products - imports:</div><div id=\"field-refined-petroleum-products-imports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">38,040 bbl/day</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>93</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-natural-gas-production\">Natural gas - production:</div><div id=\"field-natural-gas-production\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 cu m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>104</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-natural-gas-consumption\">Natural gas - consumption:</div><div id=\"field-natural-gas-consumption\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 cu m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>121</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-natural-gas-exports\">Natural gas - exports:</div><div id=\"field-natural-gas-exports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 cu m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>69</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-natural-gas-imports\">Natural gas - imports:</div><div id=\"field-natural-gas-imports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 cu m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>91</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-natural-gas-proved-reserves\">Natural gas - proved reserves:</div><div id=\"field-natural-gas-proved-reserves\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.133 billion cu m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 1 January 2018\">(1 January 2018 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>98</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-energy-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-consumption-of-energy\">Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:</div><div id=\"field-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-consumption-of-energy\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">5.664 million Mt</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>130</span></div></div></li><li id='communications-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Communications'ccode='bn'>Communications ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='communications-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-telephones-fixed-lines\">Telephones - fixed lines:</div><div id=\"field-telephones-fixed-lines\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total subscriptions:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">56,787</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>156</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-telephones-mobile-cellular\">Telephones - mobile cellular:</div><div id=\"field-telephones-mobile-cellular\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total subscriptions:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">8,773,044</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">79</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>91</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-telephone-system\">Telephone system:</div><div id=\"field-telephone-system\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">general assessment:</span>fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment; mobile networks account for almost all internet connections; govt. aims to provide telecoms services to 80% of the country, mostly via mobile infrastructure; govt. restructures state-owned telcos; Mobile Number Portability (MNP) becomes available; Benin joins free roaming scheme<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">domestic:</span>fixed-line teledensity only about 1 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly, exceeding 79 per 100 persons in 2017<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">international:</span>country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; long distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean);Orange commissions new connection from the ACE submarine cable, connecting Benin with Tenerife<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-broadcast-media\">Broadcast media:</div><div id=\"field-broadcast-media\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station providing a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-internet-country-code\">Internet country code:</div><div id=\"field-internet-country-code\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>.bj</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-internet-users\">Internet users:</div><div id=\"field-internet-users\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1,288,336</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: July 2016\">(July 2016 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">percent of population:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">12%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: July 2016\">(July 2016 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>127</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-communications-broadband-fixed-subscriptions\">Broadband - fixed subscriptions:</div><div id=\"field-broadband-fixed-subscriptions\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">28,833</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">less than 1</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017 est.)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>142</span></div></div></li><li id='transportation-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Transportation'ccode='bn'>Transportation ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='transportation-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-national-air-transport-system\">National air transport system:</div><div id=\"field-national-air-transport-system\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">number of registered air carriers:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">112,392</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">805,347</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">mt-km</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-civil-aircraft-registration-country-code-prefix\">Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:</div><div id=\"field-civil-aircraft-registration-country-code-prefix\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>TY<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-airports\">Airports:</div><div id=\"field-airports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">6</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>171</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-airports-with-paved-runways\">Airports - with paved runways:</div><div id=\"field-airports-with-paved-runways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">1,524 to 2,437 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-airports-with-unpaved-runways\">Airports - with unpaved runways:</div><div id=\"field-airports-with-unpaved-runways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">5</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">2,438 to 3,047 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">1,524 to 2,437 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">914 to 1,523 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-pipelines\">Pipelines:</div><div id=\"field-pipelines\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>134 km gas</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-railways\">Railways:</div><div id=\"field-railways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">438 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">narrow gauge:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">438 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">1.000-m gauge</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>116</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-roadways\">Roadways:</div><div id=\"field-roadways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">16,000 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2006\">(2006)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">paved:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1,400 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2006\">(2006)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">unpaved:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">14,600 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2006\">(2006)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>122</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-waterways\">Waterways:</div><div id=\"field-waterways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">150 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">(seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border)</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>101</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-merchant-marine\">Merchant marine:</div><div id=\"field-merchant-marine\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">6</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">by type:</span>other 6<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2017\">(2017)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>159</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-ports-and-terminals\">Ports and terminals:</div><div id=\"field-ports-and-terminals\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">major seaport(s):</span>Cotonou</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">LNG terminal(s) (import):</span>Cotonou</div></div></li><li id='military-and-security-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Military and Security'ccode='bn'>Military and Security ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='military-and-security-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-military-and-security-military-expenditures\">Military expenditures:</div><div id=\"field-military-expenditures\"><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.14% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2016\">(2016)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">1.1% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2015\">(2015)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.96% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2014\">(2014)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.94% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield historic'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0.96% of GDP</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2012\">(2012)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>103</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-military-and-security-military-branches\">Military branches:</div><div id=\"field-military-branches\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Benin Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin Air Force (Force Aerienne du Benin, FAB)<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-military-and-security-military-service-age-and-obligation\">Military service age and obligation:</div><div id=\"field-military-service-age-and-obligation\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months<span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div></li><li id='transnational-issues-category-section-anchor'><div class='question afr_med' sectiontitle='Transnational Issues'ccode='bn'>Transnational Issues ::<span class='region'>Benin</span></div></li><li id='transnational-issues-category-section'><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transnational-issues-disputes-international\">Disputes - international:</div><div id=\"field-disputes-international\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona RiverBenin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualoulocation of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved</div></div><div class=\"category afr_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transnational-issues-illicit-drugs\">Illicit drugs:</div><div id=\"field-illicit-drugs\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations</div></div></li></ul></div>"}