BENIN


Republic of Benin

GOVERNMENT:

• President --------------------- Mathieu Kerekou
• Independence:------------- Aug 1 1960
  
  GEOGRAPHY:
  
• Population: --------------------- 6,100,799
• Area: --------------------- 112,623 sq.km : 43,483 sq mi
• Capital City: --------------------- Porto-Novo
• Capital city (Est. pop.)-------------- 1,060,310
• Natural Resources----------- Limestone, Offshore oil.
  
  PEOPLE:
  
• Literacy:------------------ 37%
• Official languages:------------------- French , African Languages
  
  VITAL STATISTICS:
  
• Birth Rate:----------------------- 46% (per 1,000 population) (1997)
• Death Rate:----------------------- 5.76 (per 1,000 population)
  
  ECONOMY:
  
• Monitary unit --------------------- Franc CFA
• Economy:------------ Palm oil, cassava, peanuts, cotton, corn rice.