1 GeoFroggy

BENIN

Continent: Africa

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
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Background

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. YAYI, who won a second five-year term in March 2011, has attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Maritime Claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate
Tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Natural Hazards

Hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Environment Current Issues

Inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Year

Map Reference

  • Africa

Irrigated Land 2008

  • 230.4 sq km

Area 2015

  • Total
    112,622 sq km
  • Land
    110,622 sq km
  • Water
    2,000 sq km

Coastline

  • 121 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 9 30 N, 2 15 E

Land use 2015

  • Agricultural Land
    31.3%;
  • Forest
    40%
  • Other
    28.7%

Terrain

  • Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    2,123 km
  • Burkina
    Faso km
  • Niger
    277 km
  • Nigeria
    809 km
  • Togo
    651 km

Natural Resources

  • Small offshore oil deposits
  • Limestone
  • Marble
  • Timber
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