Benin

Capital: Porto-Novo; GDP growth (annual %) 2016: 4.0%
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Key Facts

Full name: The Republic of Benin
Population: 9.1million (UN, 2011)
Area: 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles)
Major languages: French (official) Fon, Ge, Bariba, Yoruba, Dendi
Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christianity, Islam
Life expectancy: 55 years (men), 59 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 CFA  = 100 centimes
Main exports: Cotton, palm oil
GNI per capita: US $780 (World Bank, 2010)
Internet domain: .bj
International dialling code: +229

 

  • Africa's Relationship With China Is Ancient History

    2017/07/02

    In 2002 South Africa's Parliament unveiled a digital reproduction of a map - of China, the Middle East and Africa - that some speculated could be the initial map of the African continent. The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu - the Comprehensive Map of the Great Ming Empire - was drawn up around 1389 during the Ming Dynasty, according to historian Hyunhee Park.

  • Climate change laws around the world

    2017/05/14

    There has been a 20-fold increase in the number of global climate change laws since 1997, according to the most comprehensive database of relevant policy and legislation.

    The database, produced by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Sabin Center on Climate Change Law, includes more than 1,200 relevant policies across 164 countries, which account for 95% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Classroom at the rural primary school Ecole Keur Madaro near Thies, Senegal.

    2016/05/28

    Over the last 15 years, West African governments and the international community have been successful at expanding access to primary schooling and from presently on, a ground-breaking regional learning assessment has revealed that the quality of education has remained elusive. The majority of children surveyed were not acquiring the basic literacy and math skills that are crucial for building human capital in the region.

  • Africa’s 20 most attractive countries for investors – Ernst & Young

    2016/05/16

    Despite its economy slowing down, South Africa remains Africa’s most attractive country for investors, according to the 2016 Ernst & Young Africa Attractiveness Index.

    The statement evaluates evolution made in governance, diversification, infrastructures, business enablement, human development inclunding resilience to current macroeconomic challenges.

    Morocco is ranked second on the index, followed by Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana Botswana, Tunisia and Rwanda. Cote d’Ivoire comes tenth.

    Africa’s top economy, Nigeria comes 15th, mainly because of its poor performances in terms of governance and human improvment(See full ranking below).

  • Edoh Kossi Amenounve is chief executive of the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières.

    2014/01/14

    Francophone west Africa’s regional stock exchange, the BRVM, suffers from low turnover and a lack of listings. But its chief executive tells Paul Wallace he is determined to change that and bring about closer ties with Nigeria and Ghana’s stock markets.

  • Africa: Making Things Happen at the Bank - 'Not a Talk Shop' - Akin Adesina

    2017/07/02

    Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is focusing on five areas to achieve the African and world goals for a prosperous continent since becoming president of the African Development Bank - Africa's major public financial institution in September 2015. He was a keynote speaker at this month's Corporate Council on Africa's U.S.- Africa Business Summit in Washington D.C. and moderated a lively panel with five African government ministers. He as well received the Gene White Lifetime Succcess Award from the World Child Nutrition Foundation. This week, he was named the 2017 recipient of the World Food Prize, a prestigious honor that includes a $250,000 award. In an interview in Washington, DC, Adesina discussed the Development Bank's ambitious schedule and his vision for attracting the increase capital Africa needs. Posting questions for AllAfrica was Noluthando Crockett-Ntonga.

  • Benin designs a digital future

    2017/06/24

    In December 2016, Benin announced its economic transformation plan, including 45 flagship projects addressing the major components of the west African country's economy. Six of the projects are specifically focused on constructing a digital economy. Serge Adjovi, director of Benin’s Digital Economy Agency, speaks to Joy Macknight about the laying the foundations for progress.

  • Outlook for 2016-17

    2016/05/28

    Benin Outlook for 2015-17

     The president-elect, Patrice Talon, secured a clear victory in the March 2016 election, which will lend credibility to the new administration. However, political instability risks will persist in 2016 as Mr Talon cobbles together a ruling coalition. Real GDP growth will average 4.7% in 2016-17, on the back of rising port activity. However, inadequate power supplies, slow progress on economic reforms and the economic slowdown in Nigeria, a key trade partner, will prevent faster growth.

  • Cotonou (Benin)

    2013/06/21

    Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo (born 29 November 1934) is a Beninois politician who was Prime Minister of Benin from 1990 to 1991 and President from 1991 to 1996. He has been the Mayor of Cotonou since 2003. Soglo is married to Rosine Vieyra Soglo, the Beninois former Initial Lady and politician.

    Soglo was born in Togo. Next receiving degrees in law and economics from the University of Paris, Soglo returned to Benin (again called Dahomey) and was the inspector of finance (1965–1967) before his cousin, Colonel Christophe Soglo, overthrew President Sourou-Migan Apithy and appointed his relative minister of finance and economic affairs.