National Flag Benin

Official name: Benin
Capital City: Porto-Novo
Current Local Time:
International Dialing Code: 229
Population: 5,709,529 (July 1996
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
Spoken Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba
Holidays: Jan 1, 10, Apr 13, May 1, 21, 31, Jun 1, Aug 1, 15, Sep 20, 21, Nov 1, Dec 25
Major Exports: Commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Partners: France, Morocco 37%, Portugal 14%, Spain, Italy, UK, US, Libya
Major Imports: Commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
Partners: France 24%, Thailand 12%, Netherlands 7%, US 5%, China, Hong Kong
Total Export: $310 million (f.o.b)
Total Import: $439 million (c.i.f.)
Gross Domestic Product: $7.6 billion (1995 est.)
Per Capita Income: $1,380 (1995 est.)
Literacy Rate: 37%
Population Growth Rate: 3.32% (1996 est.)