Industrial production: growth rate 6% (1988)
Electricity: 34,000 kW capacity; 88 million kWh produced, 500 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: sugar refining, clothing, timber and forest products, furniture, rum, soap, beverages, cigarettes, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to 66 metric tons in 1989; transshipment point for cocaine
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $94 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $194 million
Currency: Belizean dollar (plural—dollars); 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1—2.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Highways: 2,575 km total; 340 km paved,
1,190 km gravel, 735 km improved earth,
and 310 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Ports: Belize City, Belize City Southwest
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 38 total, 30 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 8,650 telephones; above-average system based on radio relay; stations—6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Defense Forces
Branches: British Forces Belize, Belize
Defense Force, Police Department
Military manpower: males 15-49, 50,988; 30,502 fit for military service; 2,500 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: 2.0% of GDP, or $4.6 million (1989 est.)
Benin
_Benin.jpg)
See regional map VII
Geography
Total area: 112,620 km²; land area:
110,620 km²
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: 1,989 km total; Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
- Territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use: 12% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 45% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation; desertification
Note: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no natural harbors
People
Population: 4,673,964 (July 1990), growth rate 3.3% (1990)
Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 121 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 52 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Beninese (sing., pl.); adjective—Beninese
Ethnic divisions: 99% African (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); 5,500 Europeans
Religion: 70% indigenous beliefs, 15% Muslim, 15% Christian
Language: French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in south; at least six major tribal languages in north
Literacy: 25.9%
Labor force: 1,900,000 (1987); 60% agriculture, 38% transport, commerce, and public services, less than 2% industry; 49% of population of working age (1985) Organized labor about 75% of wage earners
Government
Long-form name: Republic of Benin
Type: dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system by 1991 planned
Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Ouémé, Zou
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)
Constitution: 23 May 1977 (nullified 1 March 1990); new constitution to be drafted by April 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: National Day, 30 November (1975)
Executive branch: president, prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral National Revolutionary Assembly (Assemblée Nationale Révolutionnaire) dissolved 1 March 1990 and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Republic during the transition period
Judicial branch: Central People's Court (Cour Central Populaire)
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government—President Mathieu KÉRÉKOU (since 27 October 1972)
Political parties and leaders: only party—People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB), President Mathieu Kérékou, chairman of the Central Committee
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: President—last held July 1989 (next to be held July 1994); results—President Mathieu Kérékou was reelected by the National Revolutionary Assembly;
National Revolutionary Assembly—dissolved 1 March 1990 and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the
