Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Prime minister: Denzil Douglas
Population
9,598,787
50,726
Life Expectancy
60.260 years
74.840 years
Capital City
Largest city
Cotonou (population: 690,584)
Basseterre (population: 12,920)
Human Development Index
0.459
0.83
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
34.7%
97.8%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
10.8%
6.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
Religions
Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
English
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Area
112,622 km sq
261 km sq
Coastline
121 km
135 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
