Benin

Benin

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.

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