| AREA |
112,622
sq km (43,484 sq miles). |
| POPULATION |
5,561,000 (1995). |
| POPULATION DENSITY |
49.4 per sq km. |
| CAPITAL |
Porto Novo |
| CAPITAL
POPULATION |
179,138 (1992). |
| GEOGRAPHY |
Benin is situated in
West Africa and is bounded to the east by
Nigeria, to the north by Niger and Burkina
Faso, and to the west by Togo. Benin stretches
700km (435 miles) from the Bight of Benin
to the Niger River. The coastal strip is
sandy with coconut palms. Beyond the lagoons
of Porto Novo, Nokoue, Ouidah and Grand
Popo is a plateau rising gradually to the
heights of the Atakora Mountains. From the
highlands run two tributaries of the Niger,
while southwards the Ouémé
flows down to Nokoue lagoon. Mono River
flows into the sea at Grand Popo and forms
a frontier with Togo. |
| GOVERNMENT |
Republic. Gained independence
from France in 1960. Head of State: President
Mathieu Kérékou since 1996.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Adrien
Houngbédgi since 1996. |
| LANGUAGE |
The official language
is French. However, many ethnic groups have
their own languages: Bariba and Fulani are
spoken in the north, Fon and Yoruba in the
south. Some English is also spoken. |
| RELIGION |
60% Animist/traditional,
20% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) and
20% are Muslim. |
| STANDARD TIME |
GMT + 1. |
| ELECTRICITY |
220 volts AC, 50Hz. |
| COMMUNICATIONS |
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