Oil - imports:
1.076 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - consumption:
17.33 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - imports:
17.42 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Current account balance:
-$12.88 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $7.751 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$371.5 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $323.4 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.8%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 4.8%,Italy 4.7% (2008)
Imports:
$387.7 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $320.9 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 19.4%, Germany 17.2%, France 11%, UK 5.7%, US 5.6%,China 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.65 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $16.51 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.354 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.539 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$821 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $747.5 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$661.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $593 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.457 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 34
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.822 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 51
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet hosts:
4.367 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 17
Internet users:
7.292 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 34
Transportation ::Belgium
Airports:
43 (2009) country comparison to the world: 99
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,330 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,233 km country comparison to the world: 54 standard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 152,256 km country comparison to the world: 34 paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)
Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2008) country comparison to the world: 44
Merchant marine:
total: 79 country comparison to the world: 56 by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, container 6, liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 10
foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 4, France 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6, Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta 15, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
Military ::Belgium
Military branches:
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval OperationsCommand, Air Operations Command (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,407,128
females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,962,409
females age 16-49: 1,905,178 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,722
female: 59,969 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Transnational Issues ::Belgium
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Belize (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Belize
Background:
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992 and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute. Guatemala and Belize are gearing up for a simultaneous referendum to determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.
Geography ::Belize
Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala andMexico
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 22,966 sq km country comparison to the world: 151 land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:
386 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Terrain:
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m
Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
18.6 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
People ::Belize
Population:
307,899 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 59,462/female 57,117)
15-64 years: 58.6% (male 91,298/female 89,170)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,185/female 5,667) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.4 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 20.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.154% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Birth rate:
27.33 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Death rate:
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.07 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 94 male: 26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.2 years country comparison to the world: 151 male: 66.44 years
female: 70.05 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.36 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Languages:
Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 55
Government ::Belize
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
21 September 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:
21 September 1981
Legal system:
English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 56.3%, PUP 40.9%; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6
Judicial branch:
Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil jurisdiction); Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in the UK; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [John BRICENO]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito BAUTISTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR[Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [DavidVASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [ReneGOMEZ]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC,LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J.A. DIFFILY
embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize
telephone: [501] 822-4011
Flag description:
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy ::Belize
Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007, though growth slipped to 3.8% in 2008 as a result of the global slowdown, natural disasters, and the drop in the price of oil. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth. Exploration efforts continue and a small increase in production is expected in 2009. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable foreign debt equivalent to nearly 70% of GDP. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which helped reduce interest payments and relieve some of the country's liquidity concerns. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.542 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $2.468 billion (2007 est.)
$2.43 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.359 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 1.6% (2007 est.)
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $8,400 (2007 est.)
$8,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 16.9%
services: 54.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
122,300 country comparison to the world: 173 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 18.1%
services: 71.7% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 113 9.4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
33.5% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
27.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Budget:
revenues: $347 million
expenditures: $386.5 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 2.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 12% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.14% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 49 14.33% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$345.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 99 $323.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$653.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 $549 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$955 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 108 $877.6 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - production:
213.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - consumption:
198.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
248.4 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
3,511 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - exports:
2,260 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - imports:
7,204 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - proved reserves:
6.7 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Current account balance:
-$153.7 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 -$51.1 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$464.7 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $425.6 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood, crude oil
Exports - partners:
US 35.6%, UK 21.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3%, Italy 4.5%, Nigeria 4% (2008)
Imports:
$788.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $642 million (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
US 37.4%, Mexico 12.9%, Cuba 7.7%, Guatemala 6.1%, Russia 5%, China 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$166.2 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $108.5 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$954.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
Communications ::Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 177
Telephones - mobile cellular:
160,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 175
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density roughly 55 per 100 persons
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (2008)
Internet country code:
.bz
Internet hosts:
3,017 (2009) country comparison to the world: 142
Internet users:
34,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 178
Transportation ::Belize
Airports:
44 (2009) country comparison to the world: 96
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 40
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 27 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,007 km country comparison to the world: 166 paved: 575 km
unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)
Waterways:
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2008) country comparison to the world: 71
Merchant marine:
total: 216 country comparison to the world: 33 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 32, cargo 152, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 178 (Australia 1, China 71, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, Estonia 6, Greece 1, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 8, South Korea 1, Latvia 12, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 31, Singapore 2, Spain 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 7, UAE 5, UK 5) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Belize City, Big Creek
Military ::Belize
Military branches:
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing, BDF Volunteer Guard (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 74,605
females age 16-49: 72,926 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 56,135
females age 16-49: 54,732 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,632
female: 3,500 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 112
Transnational Issues ::Belize
Disputes - international:
OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures saw cooperation in repatriation of Guatemalan squatters and other areas, but Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea remain unresolved; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the Differendum
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; offshore sector money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Benin (Africa)
Introduction ::Benin
Background:
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. 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. YAYI has begun a high profile fight against corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.
Geography ::Benin
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria andTogo
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 112,622 sq km country comparison to the world: 101 land: 110,622 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use:
arable land: 23.53%
permanent crops: 2.37%
other: 74.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
25.8 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.13 cu km/yr (32%/23%/45%)
per capita: 15 cu m/yr (2001)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
People ::Benin
Population:
8,791,832 country comparison to the world: 90 note: 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 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.2% (male 2,028,493/female 1,948,353)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 2,275,662/female 2,308,945)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 94,569/female 135,810) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.2 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.977% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Birth rate:
39.22 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Death rate:
9.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 64.64 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 34 male: 68.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59 years country comparison to the world: 185 male: 57.83 years
female: 60.23 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.49 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
64,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups:
Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)
Religions:
Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)
Languages:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 34.7%
male: 47.9%
female: 23.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 9 years
female: 6 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 91
Government ::Benin
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (seat of government)
Administrative divisions:
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Independence:
1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 1 August (1960)
Constitution:
adopted by referendum 2 December 1990
Legal system:
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2011)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court orCour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of Progress Forcesor AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [SefouFAGBOHOUN]; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO]; DemocraticRenewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowrie for anEmerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD[Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SEHOUETO]; Movement forthe People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally forDemocracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; SocialDemocrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for the Relief or UPR[Issa SALIFOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS[Sacca LAFIA]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: economic groups; environmentalists; political groups; teachers' unions and other educational groups
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO