General Facts :

Surface: 112.622 km²
Population: 4.889.000 inhabitants
Density of population: 43 inhabitants/km²
Capital: Porto-Novo (164.000 inhabitants)
Official language: French
Official currency: Franc
Brut Intern Product: 360 $/inhabitant
State type: Republic

Geographical Characteristics :

It is situated on the west coast of Africa in the north of Guinea Golf. The relief is generally low with plains: Borgou Plain and Kandi Plain and plateaus in the center of the country with altitudes under 400 m. Only in the north-west there is a mountain: Chaine de l'Atakora Mountain with maximum altitudes of 914 m.

Climate :

The climate is sub-equatorial with a long arid season between September and May in the interior of the country and abundant rainf all on the coast region (1.600 mm per year). On the north border flows Niger River which is navigable entirely. The main interior river is Oueme (450 km) which is partial navigable. The wet tropical forests have precious essences and occupy 1/3 of the country's surface. In the north side dominates the savanna. The fauna is various: elephants, lions, leopards and monkeys. The country has national parks and many plants and animals are protected by laws.

Population :

The country has 4.889.000 inhabitants. The birth rate is 49.2‰ and the death rate is 19.3‰. 38% of the population lives in cities. The most important cities are: Cotonou (478.000 inhabitants), Parakou (92.000 inhabitants), Abomey (53.000 inhabitants), Ouidah (40.000 inhabitants) and Natitingou (15.000 inhabitants). Most of the people are black: 26% Fangs, 15% Bariba, 14% Yoruba, 12% Gu, 11% Adja, Aizo, Mossi and Fulbe. With the exception of the coast region, where there are the main urban centers, most of the people live in the inferior regions of the plateaus. The religions are: Animism 65%, Catholicism 18% and Islamism 15%.

State :

The country is a presidential republic according to the Constitution. The legislative activity is exerted by the President and the National Assembly and the executive by a cabinet named and ruled by the President. The political parties are 22 and some of them are: Union for Liberty and Development, Social Democrat Party and Democrat Rebirth Party.

Economy :

The country has many deposits of minerals: petroleum, phosphates and iron ore. The main activity is agriculture and ½ of the people work in agriculture. They contribute with 40% at the Brut Intern Product and 70% of the incomes from export. People cultivate: corn, manioc, vegetables, coco nuts, oil, nuts and cotton. They also grow pigs, cows and sheep. The industry isn't very developed and contributes with 6% at the Brut Intern Product. The cotton is exported and assures ¼ of the exports

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Tags: porto-novo, french, franc, republic

Date Added: 25 November '06

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