RÉPUBLIQUE DU BÉNIN (Republic of Benin)
Benin today, map & info |
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| Official Name : | RÉPUBLIQUE DU BÉNIN (Republic of Benin) |
| Land Area: | 112,622 square kilometres / 43,472 square miles. |
| Population: | 7,250,100 (est July 2002). Density 59 persons per square km. |
| Languages: | French (official), Fon, Adja, Bariba, Youruba, Fulani, Baoulé, Agni, others. |
| Religions: | Traditional 65%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%. |
| Capital: | Porto Nova. Population 207,700 |
| Currency: | CFA franc, divided into 100 centimes. |
| Political: | 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 principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections saw former Prime Minister Soglo as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. Strongman Kerekou was returned to power by dubious elections held in 1996 and 2001. |
| Geography: | A sandy shoreline with no natural harbours, backed by low lying fertile plains, with a clay savannah plateau rising to 230m in north central Benin. The northwestern Atakora Massif and the northeastern Niger plains are traversed by the Alibori river valley that joins the Niger river at the northeastern border between Niger and Benin. |
National
Flag - Ratio 2:3 | Position
in Africa |
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Climate
in Porto Nova - elevation 12m / 40ft | |
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