Benin CIA Facts
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African
kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1500.
It rpresented a portion of a very prosperous area known as
the Gold Coast.
The Empire resisted extensive attacks from European colonial
powers.
The French Empire gained control of the region in 1892.
Imposing European religion and supplanting tribal independence
and expression.
French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its
name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.
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.
Nationality
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups
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% (2013 est.)
Languages
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars
in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Religions
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% (2013
est.)
Economic overview
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%.
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 37,305
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 10,905,559
Internet Country Code is .bj
Internet users 2.403.596 (20% of the population
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