Culture - Research Africa > West of Africa > Benin - - Afran Studies - AFRAN Study and Research Institute (Africa & Iran)

Culture 0 619 reads

1) General culture

Education

Adjusted savings: education expenditure > % of GNI	2.36 % of GNI	[145th of 168]
Average years of schooling of adults	2.3	[94th of 100]
Duration of compulsory education	6 years	[142nd of 171]
Duration of education > Primary level	6	[33rd of 181]
Duration of education > Secondary level	7	[21st of 181]
Education enrolment by level > Primary level	1,233,214	[68th of 189]
Education enrolment by level > Secondary level	312,427	[101st of 171]
Education enrolment by level > Tertiary level	18,753	[92nd of 150]
Education enrolment by level, percentage girls > Primary level	41.85%	[166th of 179]
Education enrolment by level, percentage girls > Secondary level	31.51%	[159th of 162]
Education enrolment by level, percentage girls > Tertiary level	19.83%	[116th of 126]
Education enrolment ratio, net, primary level	80%	[117th of 160]
Education enrolment ratio, net, primary level > Men	89%	[92nd of 160]
Education enrolment ratio, net, primary level > Women	71%	[120th of 160]
Education expenditure of government > As percentage of GNI	3.5%	[35th of 127]
Education expenditure of government > As percentage of total government	14.1%	[31st of 85]
Education spending (% of GDP)	3.3%	[100th of 132]
Education spending (% Primary)	57.4%	[9th of 110]
Education spending (% Secondary)	25.5%	[87th of 107]
Education spending (% Tertiary)	16.4%	[70th of 108]
Education, percentage of pupils starting grade 1 reaching grade 5	46.1%	[90th of 112]
Education, percentage of pupils starting grade 1 reaching grade 5 > Men	47.9%	[79th of 101]
Education, percentage of pupils starting grade 1 reaching grade 5 > Women	43.7%	[77th of 101]
Education, primary completion rate	65	[98th of 148]
Education, primary completion rate > Men	78	[81st of 145]
Education, primary completion rate > Women	52	[101st of 145]
Enrolment ratio > Secondary level	17.4%	[122nd of 135]
Expenditure per student, primary > % of GDP per capita	11.54 %	[24th of 101]
Expenditure per student, secondary > % of GDP per capita	21.23 %	[46th of 93]
Expenditure per student, tertiary > % of GDP per capita	200.94 %	[9th of 81]
Female enrolment share > Primary level	40.6%	[171st of 176]
Female enrolment share > Secondary level	31.2%	[166th of 170]
Geographical aptitude results	60.512	[166th of 191]
Girls to boys ratio, primary level enrolment	0.8	[143rd of 183]
Girls to boys ratio, secondary level enrolment	0.57	[135th of 172]
Girls to boys ratio, tertiary level enrolment	0.25	[115th of 139]
Gross intake rate in grade 1, female > % of relevant age group	96.91 %	[60th of 156]
Gross intake rate in grade 1, male > % of relevant age group	109.24 %	[35th of 156]
Gross intake rate in grade 1, total > % of relevant age group	103.18 %	[49th of 157]
Illiteracy rates by sex, aged 15+	59.1%	[7th of 138]
Illiteracy rates by sex, aged 15+ > Men	43.8%	[12th of 138]
Illiteracy rates by sex, aged 15+ > Women	73.5%	[5th of 138]
Illiterate population by sex, aged 15+	2,201,100	[43rd of 138]
Illiterate population by sex, aged 15+ > Men	794,300	[40th of 138]
Illiterate population by sex, aged 15+ > Women	1,406,300	[40th of 138]
Library books	7,000	[78th of 81]
Library members	352	[68th of 68]
Literacy rate, adult female > % of females ages 15 and above	23.3 %	[108th of 121]
Literacy rate, adult male > % of males ages 15 and above	47.87 %	[107th of 121]
Literacy rate, adult total > % of people ages 15 and above	34.66 %	[109th of 121]
Literacy rate, youth female > % of females ages 15-24	33.24 %	[104th of 123]
Literacy rate, youth male > % of males ages 15-24	59.21 %	[101st of 123]
Literacy rate, youth total > % of people ages 15-24	45.31 %	[104th of 123]
Literacy rates, aged 15-24	45.3%	[16th of 138]
Literacy rates, aged 15-24 > Men	59.2%	[15th of 138]
Literacy rates, aged 15-24 > Women	33.2%	[16th of 138]
Net intake rate in grade 1 > % of official school-age population	48.04 %	[47th of 95]
Net intake rate in grade 1, female > % of official school-age population	45.11 %	[47th of 93]
Net intake rate in grade 1, male > % of official school-age population	50.87 %	[44th of 93]
Persistence to grade 5, female > % of cohort	49.69 %	[47th of 83]
Persistence to grade 5, male > % of cohort	53.02 %	[45th of 83]
Persistence to grade 5, total > % of cohort	51.58 %	[52nd of 92]
Primary completion rate, female > % of relevant age group	51.52 %	[72nd of 138]
Primary completion rate, male > % of relevant age group	77.95 %	[57th of 138]
Primary completion rate, total > % of relevant age group	64.96 %	[70th of 141]
Primary education, duration > years	6 years	[30th of 197]
Primary education, pupils	1,318,140	[36th of 176]
Primary education, pupils > % female	43.55 % female	[100th of 175]
Primary education, teachers	28,148	[39th of 159]
Primary education, teachers > % female	17.72 % female	[90th of 153]
Primary school girls out of school	65%	[13th of 99]
Private school enrolment > Primary level	8	[72nd of 148]
Private school enrolment > Secondary level	12	[67th of 131]
Progression to secondary school > %	51.08 %	[111st of 123]
Progression to secondary school, female > %	51.01 %	[105th of 118]
Progression to secondary school, male > %	51.12 %	[106th of 118]
Public spending on education, total > % of GDP	3.48 %	[35th of 136]
Public spending on education, total > % of government expenditure	14.14 %	[31st of 103]
Public spending per student > Primary level	10.3	[91st of 126]
Public spending per student > Secondary level	12.1	[98th of 123]
Public spending per student > Tertiary level	108.2	[28th of 123]
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary	46.83	[20th of 159]
Pupils reaching grade 5	84	[61st of 108]
Pupils-teacher ratio > primary level	53.5	[10th of 175]
Pupils-teacher ratio > secondary level	20	[46th of 121]
Ratio of female to male enrollments in tertiary education	25.21	[113rd of 137]
Ratio of female to male primary enrollment	79.86	[99th of 174]
Ratio of female to male secondary enrollment	56.67	[91st of 162]
Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education > %	72.51 %	[73rd of 157]
Ratio of young literate females to males > % ages 15-24	56.14 %	[105th of 123]
Repetition rate, primary > % of total enrollment	16.78 %	[16th of 128]
Repetition rate, primary, female > % of total enrollment	16.91 %	[16th of 125]
Repetition rate, primary, male > % of total enrollment	16.69 %	[18th of 125]
Repitition rate > Primary level	19.9	[18th of 143]
School enrollment, preprimary > % gross	5.43 % gross	[78th of 159]
School enrollment, preprimary, female > % gross	5.49 % gross	[78th of 153]
School enrollment, preprimary, male > % gross	5.39 % gross	[78th of 153]
School enrollment, primary > % gross	96.21 % gross	[75th of 176]
School enrollment, primary > % net	78.16 % net	[66th of 139]
School enrollment, primary, female > % gross	85.27 % gross	[87th of 174]
School enrollment, primary, female > % net	69.84 % net	[69th of 137]
School enrollment, primary, male > % gross	106.78 % gross	[55th of 174]
School enrollment, primary, male > % net	86.21 % net	[48th of 136]
School enrollment, primary, private > % of total primary	11.76 %	[34th of 139]
School enrollment, secondary > % gross	32.53 % gross	[77th of 164]
School enrollment, secondary > % net	17.08 % net	[100th of 121]
School enrollment, secondary, female > % gross	23.43 % gross	[82nd of 162]
School enrollment, secondary, female > % net	11.23 % net	[99th of 119]
School enrollment, secondary, male > % gross	41.34 % gross	[72nd of 162]
School enrollment, secondary, male > % net	22.77 % net	[93rd of 119]
School enrollment, secondary, private > % of total secondary	25.15 %	[19th of 124]
School enrollment, tertiary > % gross	3.04 % gross	[112nd of 141]
School enrollment, tertiary, female > % gross	1.22 % gross	[108th of 137]
School enrollment, tertiary, male > % gross	4.83 % gross	[100th of 137]
School life expectancy > Female	5.2 years	[88th of 96]
School life expectancy > Male	8.8 years	[83rd of 97]
School life expectancy > Primary to tertiary	7 years	[6th of 93]
School life expectancy > Primary to tertiary > Female	6 years	[6th of 93]
School life expectancy > Primary to tertiary > Male	9 years	[5th of 93]
School life expectancy > Total	7 years	[96th of 110]
Scientific and technical journal articles	20	[115th of 175]
Secondary education, general pupils	377,618	[47th of 183]
Secondary education, pupils	435,449	[42nd of 166]
Secondary education, pupils > % female	35.43 % female	[86th of 153]
Secondary education, teachers	20,101	[33rd of 141]
Secondary education, teachers > % female	11.08 % female	[66th of 131]
Secondary education, vocational pupils	57,831	[25th of 163]
Tertiary enrollment	3.6%	[122nd of 151]
Trained teachers in primary education > % of total teachers	72.18 %	[40th of 61]
Trained teachers in primary education, female > % of female teachers	82.05 %	[27th of 56]
Trained teachers in primary education, male > % of male teachers	69.88 %	[34th of 56]
Women to men parity index, as ratio of literacy rates, aged 15-24	0.56	[16th of 138]
World Organization of the Scout Movement > Members > Admits Boys/Girls	both

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database; UNESCO; Source: UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics; United Nations Human Development Programme; The Geography Zone; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Household survey data, net enrolment data from UNESCO, and data from UNICEF country offices; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Wikipedia: List of World Organization of the Scout Movement members

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

Health

% immunized 1-year-old children > DPT3	79	[132nd of 187]
% immunized 1-year-old children > HepB3	15	[115th of 114]
% immunized 1-year-old children > Measles	78	[125th of 186]
% immunized 1-year-old children > Polio3	72	[149th of 187]
% immunized 1-year-old children > TB	94	[73rd of 153]
% immunized pregnant women tetanus	66	[19th of 54]
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities > Rural	6	[136th of 140]
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities > Total	23	[138th of 144]
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities > Urban	46	[134th of 141]
% of population using improved drinking water sources > Rural	55	[108th of 146]
% of population using improved drinking water sources > Total	63	[116th of 150]
% of population using improved drinking water sources > Urban	74	[129th of 147]
% of routine EPI vaccines financed by government > Total	84	[92nd of 133]
% under-fives with ARI --	12	[33rd of 79]
% under-fives with ARI taken to health provider	29	[66th of 80]
Abortion law > National laws > Physical Health	Yes
Access to sanitation	52%	[101st of 129]
Adolescent fertility rate > births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	126.52 births	[17th of 184]
ARI treatment > % of children under 5 taken to a health provider	35 %	[8th of 52]
Birth rate, crude > per 1,000 people	40.93 per 1,000 people	[18th of 195]
Births attended by skilled health staff > % of total	75 %	[9th of 76]
Births with health staff	60%	[71st of 116]
Children living with AIDS	12,000	[32nd of 80]
Children Underweight Rate	7%	[25th of 95]
Contraception	16%	[76th of 89]
Contraceptive prevalence > % of women ages 15-49	18.6 %	[9th of 57]
Dependency ratio per 100	92	[15th of 166]
Diarrhea treatment > % of children under 5 receiving oral rehydration and continued feeding	41.7 %	[4th of 47]
Drinking water availability %	63%	[114th of 147]
Drug access	50%	[93rd of 163]
expenditure per capita > current US$	24.2 $	[150th of 186]
expenditure, private > % of GDP	2.39 %	[85th of 187]
expenditure, public > % of GDP	2.51 %	[122nd of 187]
expenditure, total > % of GDP	4.9 %	[129th of 187]
External resources for health > % of total expenditure on health	10.2 %	[51st of 141]
External resources for health as % of total expenditure on health	65.9%	[1st of 179]
Female adults with HIV > % of population ages 15+ with HIV	58.44 %	[29th of 112]
Fertility rate, total > births per woman	5.6 births per woman	[18th of 194]
Healthy life expectancy at birth, years > Females	44.5	[159th of 186]
Healthy life expectancy at birth, years > Males	43.4	[158th of 186]
Healthy life expectancy at birth, years > Total population	44	[158th of 186]
HIV AIDS > Women living with aids 15-49	3.61	[27th of 114]
HIVAIDS > Adult prevalence rate 15-49 years,	3.6	[26th of 145]
HIVAIDS > children orphaned by AIDS 0-14 years,	34,000	[36th of 82]
Hospital beds > per 1,000 people	0.23 per 1,000 people	[69th of 149]
Immunization, DPT > % of children ages 12-23 months	93 %	[85th of 190]
Immunization, measles > % of children ages 12-23 months	85 %	[118th of 190]
Improved sanitation facilities > % of population with access	33 %	[143rd of 167]
Improved sanitation facilities, rural > % of rural population with access	11 %	[159th of 167]
Improved sanitation facilities, urban > % of urban population with access	59 %	[133rd of 173]
Improved water source > % of population with access	67 %	[137th of 176]
Improved water source, rural > % of rural population with access	57 %	[133rd of 174]
Improved water source, urban > % of urban population with access	78 %	[159th of 181]
Incidence of tuberculosis > per 100,000 people	87.88 per 100,000 people	[84th of 200]
Infant mortality rate	85.88	[22nd of 179]
Intestinal diseases death rate	31.38%	[35th of 141]
life expectancy > Date of information	2006 est.
Life expectancy at birth, female > years	55.79 years	[147th of 194]
Life expectancy at birth, male > years	54.23 years	[144th of 194]
Life expectancy at birth, total > years	54.99 years	[146th of 194]
Life expectancy at birth, years > Females	54	[154th of 186]
Life expectancy at birth, years > Males	52	[152nd of 186]
Life expectancy at birth, years > Total population	53	[154th of 186]
Major infectious diseases > Degree of risk	very high
Major infectious diseases > Food or waterborne diseases bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Major infectious diseases > Vectorborne diseases	malaria and yellow fever
Malaria % under-fives sleeping under a bednet	32	[9th of 35]
Malaria % under-fives sleeping under a treated bednet	7	[7th of 28]
Malaria % under-fives with fever receiving anti-malarial drugs	60	[11th of 34]
Malaria cases > per 100,000	10,697	[15th of 94]
Malaria prevention, use of insecticide-treated bed nets > % of under-5 population	7 %	[1st of 27]
Malnutrition prevalence, height for age > % of children under 5	30.7 %	[9th of 52]
Malnutrition prevalence, weight for age > % of children under 5	30 %	[3rd of 63]
Maternal mortality	500 per 100,000	[25th of 136]
Measles immunization	79	[116th of 168]
Nutrition > % of children who are still breastfeeding 20-23 months	62	[16th of 105]
Nutrition > % of children who are � exclusively breastfed 6 months	38	[41st of 125]
Nutrition > % of households consuming iodized salt	72	[47th of 112]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from stunting moderate & severe	31	[40th of 132]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from underweight moderate & severe	23	[44th of 137]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from underweight severe	5	[40th of 104]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from wasting moderate & severe	8	[44th of 128]
Nutrition > Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate 6-59 months	95	[14th of 57]
Oral rehydration rate %	35	[11th of 73]
Out-of-pocket expenditure as % of private health expenditure	90.3%	[91st of 185]
Out-of-pocket health expenditure > % of private expenditure on health	99.9 %	[35th of 185]
Per capita government expenditure on health in international dollars	19	[163rd of 185]
Per capita total expenditure on health in international dollars	44	[170th of 185]
Physicians > per 1,000 people	0.04 per 1,000 people	[59th of 148]
Population suffering from undernourishment in 1990-1992	20 %	[56th of 106]
Population suffering from undernourishment in 2001-2003	14 %	[58th of 108]
Pregnant women receiving prenatal care > %	81.1 %	[5th of 62]
Prepaid plans as % of private expenditure on health	9%	[47th of 159]
Prevalence of HIV, total > % of population ages 15-49	1.79 %	[38th of 148]
Prevalence of undernourishment > % of population	12 %	[65th of 172]
Private expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health	55.6%	[48th of 185]
Probability of dying before 5 > Females	151 per 1,000 people	[22nd of 187]
Probability of not reaching 40	29.7%	[38th of 111]
Probability of reaching 65 > Female	51.4%	[121st of 159]
Probability of reaching 65 > Male	44.8%	[122nd of 159]
Respiratory disease child death rate	180.36 (est)
Spending > Per person	12	[115th of 133]
Spending > Private	1.6	[89th of 141]
Spending > Public	1.6%
Tobacco > Total adult smokers	37	[26th of 121]
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP	4.7%	[133rd of 185]
Total fertility rate	5.6	[22nd of 166]
Tuberculosis cases > Per 100,000	36	[92nd of 165]
Tuberculosis cases detected under DOTS > %	83.26 %	[38th of 178]
Tuberculosis immunisation	90%	[79th of 134]
Tuberculosis treatment success rate > % of registered cases	82.69 %	[71st of 171]
Unmet need for contraception > % of married women ages 15-49	27.2 %	[5th of 13]
Water availability	3,954 cubic meters	[92nd of 169]
Women circumcised	1.3	[17th of 27]
Women circumcised share	1.3%	[17th of 27]

SOURCES
UNICEF; Wikipedia: Abortion law ; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; World Development Indicators database; WHO 2002a; UNHDR; UNICEF; UN (United Nations). 2002. United Nations Population Division Database on Contraceptive Use. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. January. New York; World Health Organization; World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report and updates provided by UNICEF to the United Nations Millennium Indicator Database; WHO (World Health Organization). 2001. Correspondence on access to essential drugs. Department of Essential Drugs and Medecines Policy. February. Geneva; United Nations, Demographic Yearbook, 1997; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; World Health Organisation. 1997-1999 World Health Statistics Annual. Geneva: WHO, 2000; Wikipedia: List of countries by life expectancy ; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; UNHDR; UNICEF (United Nations Children?s Fund). 2002. Official Summary: The State of the World's Children 2002. New York: Oxford University Press.; Wikipedia: List of countries by percentage of population suffering from undernourishment ; The World Health Report 2001; UN 2001 via backone.pdf; UN (United Nations). 2001. World Population Prospects 1950-2050: The 2000 Revision. Database. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. New York.; UN (United Nations). 2001. World Population Prospects 1950-2050: The 2000 Revision. Database. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. New York; World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC; ; World Health Organization2005; Unicef (1994)

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

Sports

FIFA World Ranking > Men	394	[108th of 198]
National Olympic Committee > NOC by recognition date > #	91	[31st of 68]

SOURCES
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA); Wikipedia: National Olympic Committee

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

Food

beverages and tobacco > % of value added in manufacturing	58.42 %	[8th of 103]
exports > % of merchandise exports	24.76 %	[29th of 156]

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

Language

French speakers	16,700	[13th of 31]
French status Official language. Bible 1530-1986.
Languages of the African Union > Illiteracy > Literacy rate	33.6	[169th of 174]

SOURCES
Ethnologue; Wikipedia: Languages of the African Union

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

2) Religion

Catholic > Cardinal electors	0	[51st of 63]
Catholic > Cardinals	1	[31st of 65]
Catholic > Cardinals (per $ GDP)	1.691 per $14.1 billion	[1st of 64]
Catholic > Diocesan priests	334	[58th of 143]
Catholic > Dioceses	10	[52nd of 150]
Catholic > Parishes	186	[72nd of 149]
Catholic > Religious Priests	106	[81st of 148]
Catholic > Total Priests	440	[68th of 149]
Catholics	1,561,000	[64th of 140]
Catholics as percentage	23.18	[66th of 150]
Islam > Number of Muslim	1,680,000	[49th of 67]
Islam > Percentage Muslim	20%	[62nd of 168]
Islam > Population	1,492,005	[64th of 165]
Islam > Shia	50,400	[54th of 67]
Islam > Shia to Muslim	3 %	[49th of 67]
Islam > Sunni	1,629,600	[46th of 67]
Islam > Sunni to Muslim	97 %	[18th of 67]
Islam in Africa > Islamic population in Africa and population percentage > Population	20 %	[24th of 45]
Jehovahs Witnesses	8,366	[70th of 178]
Muslim	20 %	[48th of 66]
Protestantism > By country > Protestants	298,401	[89th of 167]
Protestantism > By country > Protestants > % Protestant	4 %	[98th of 163]
Religions > All indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Religions > Muslim	20 %	[49th of 100]
Roman Catholicism > By country > Roman Catholicism > % Catholic	23.18 %	[72nd of 170]
Roman Catholicism > By country > Roman Catholicism > Catholic total	1,729,233	[69th of 170]
Seventh-day Adventist Membership	3,356	[116th of 232]

SOURCES
Catholic.com - College of Cardinals; Catholic Hierarchy.org; Wikipedia: Demographics of Islam ; International Religious Freedom Report 2004, U.S. State Department; CIA World Factbook; Wikipedia: Islam in Africa ; watchtower.org - 2002 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide; Wikipedia: Protestantism by country ; CIA World Factbook, 22 August 2006 ; Wikipedia: Roman Catholicism by country ; adventiststatistics.org 2004 Annual Report 31 December 2004

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

3) Media

Average cost of local call	0.09	[52nd of 151]
Book production, titles by the Universal Decimal Classification > Applied sciences	1	[57th of 77]
Book production, titles by the Universal Decimal Classification > Geography, history	1	[57th of 77]
Book production, titles by the Universal Decimal Classification > Literature	5	[55th of 77]
Book production, titles by the Universal Decimal Classification > Religion, theology	2	[56th of 73]
Book production, titles by the Universal Decimal Classification > Total	9	[63rd of 80]
Cinema attendance	281,000	[73rd of 78]
Cinemas	3	[58th of 61]
Cinemas > Annual attendance	300,000	[58th of 65]
Cinemas > Seats	2,500	[40th of 44]
Computer, communications and other services > % of commercial service exports	23.9 %	[69th of 153]
Computer, communications and other services > % of commercial service imports	14.7 %	[124th of 155]
DVD region	5	[4th of 171]
E-Government rating	26	[178th of 182]
Fax machines	0.12 per 1,000 people	[96th of 103]
Fixed line and mobile phone subscribers > per 1,000 people	97.91 per 1,000 people	[117th of 193]
HAM radio prefixes	TYA - TYZ
Households with television > %	19.66 %	[111st of 160]
International dialling code	229
International voice traffic > out and in, minutes	60,835,300 min.	[67th of 164]
Investment in telecoms with private participation > current US$	5,800,000 $	[79th of 101]
Investment in telecoms with private participation > current US$ (per $ GDP)	1.353 $ per $1,000 of GDP	[76th of 130]
Mobile phone subscribers	750,000	[105th of 198]
Newspaper circulation	32,500	[40th of 51]
Newspapers	13	[36th of 67]
Newspapers and periodicals > Circulation > Daily	33,000	[57th of 90]
Newspapers and periodicals > Circulation > Non-daily	44,000	[42nd of 46]
Newspapers and periodicals > Circulation > Periodicals	110,000	[23rd of 26]
Newspapers and periodicals > Number of titles > Daily	13	[50th of 106]
Newspapers and periodicals > Number of titles > Non-daily	2	[66th of 69]
Newspapers and periodicals > Number of titles > Periodicals	62	[30th of 40]
Number of PCs	30	[142nd of 169]
Number of PCs (per $ GDP)	0.036 per $10 million of GDP	[127th of 144]
Personal computers	32,000	[49th of 164]
Phone subscribers	28.59	[147th of 178]
Population covered by mobile telephony > %	43 %	[106th of 108]
Price basket for mobile > US$ per month	13.23 $/month	[66th of 185]
Price basket for residential fixed line > US$ per month	16.11 $/month	[50th of 151]
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1
Radio receivers	620,000	[127th of 188]
Radios	660,000	[127th of 221]
Telecommunications investment > % of revenue	33.39 %	[37th of 165]
Telecommunications investment > current LCU	19370000000
Telecommunications revenue > % GDP	1.6 % GDP	[124th of 167]
Telecommunications revenue > current LCU	34280000000
Telephone average cost of call to US > US$ per three minutes	4.8 $	[9th of 142]
Telephone average cost of call to US > US$ per three minutes (per $ GDP)	1,185.935 $ per $1 trillion of GD	[16th of 174]
Telephone employees, total	1,264	[79th of 194]
Telephone faults > per 100 mainlines	5.77 per 100 mainlines	[39th of 134]
Telephone mainlines	76,267	[114th of 202]
Telephone subscribers	826,267	[102nd of 199]
Telephone subscribers per employee	363.5	[59th of 191]
Television broadcast stations	6	[8th of 89]
Television receivers	60,000	[147th of 185]
Televisions	66,000	[147th of 215]

SOURCES
UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics; UNESCO Institute for Statistics, March 11, 2003; World Development Indicators database; Amazon.com; report presents the second annual update on global e-government, i.e., the delivery of public sector information and online services through the Internet. This report studies the features that are available online at national government websites. Using a detailed analysis of 1.197 government websites in 198 different nations, it measures the information and services that are online, chart the variations that exist across countries, and discuss how e-government sites vary by region of the world. In order to see how the 198 nations ranked overall, the E-Government Ranking 2002 created a 0 to 100 point index and applied it to each nation's websites based on the availability of contact information, publications, databases, portals, and number of online services. (2002); The Information for Development Program; hamcity.com; ITU; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; CIA World Factbook, December 2003

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

Internet

Broadband subscribers	196	[109th of 117]
Country code	.bj
Hosts	848	[156th of 228]
International Internet bandwidth > Mbps	45 Mbps	[63rd of 167]
International Internet bandwidth > Mbps (per $ GDP)	10.496 Mbps per $1 trillion of	[60th of 184]
Internet Service Providers	4	[122nd of 229]
ISP	4	[8th of 162]
Linux web servers	1	[91st of 107]
Livejournal users	48	[161st of 226]
Price basket for Internet > US$ per month	20.73 $/month	[101st of 180]
Secure Internet servers	2	[158th of 183]
TLD	.bj
Users	150,000	[115th of 190]

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database; IANA: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; Netcraft Linux server survey; LiveJournal

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Benin, Republic of Benin, Republique du Benin

4) Tourism

Right Now
Although the Beninese musical ambassador Angélique Kidjo is the subject of something approaching hero worship in this small West African nation, to experience the country’s fabulous music scene is merely to scratch the surface of its eclectic culture. Marked by influences from the Americas, Europe, and elsewhere in Africa, along with native voodoo practices, Benin is unlike any other place in the world. Indeed, although visitors often come for the northern region’s abundant wildlife, including elephants, cheetahs, lions, and more than 500 species of birds, they often leave happily enthralled by the nation’s untouched beaches, fascinating indigenous traditions, and the thrills and chaos of the main city, Cotonou.

The Top 10: What to Do in Benin
1. Shopping and Clubbing in Cotonou: Benin’s largest city, Cotonou, is characterized by the same kind of chaos and grit as other large West African metropolises, but it also has one of the finest cultural scenes in the region and a thriving nightlife. The Fondation Zinsou, a museum dedicated to contemporary African art, is superb, and it hosts a painting workshop on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—an excellent diversion for young children. In addition to the city’s numerous cinemas are the French and Chinese cultural centers, which hold weekly film screenings. The sprawling Grand Marché du Dantokpa offers everything from pirated DVDs to voodoo fetish objects and is worth visiting for the spectacle as much as the shopping. The Jonquet strip contains several bars and nightclubs with Beninese music and low or nonexistent cover charges.
2. Ganviè: Possibly Benin’s most unusual attraction, the town of Ganvié is built entirely on stilts in the middle of a large lagoon. Its inhabitants are descended from the Tofinu people, who were captured and sold as slaves by the rival Abomey tribe. Because the Abomey were forbidden by a religious taboo to attack people on water, the Tonfinu constructed an entire town so that they would never have to go on land. The lagoon itself suffers from pollution, and locals hawking guided tours can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, but this city makes for an unforgettable respite from Cotonou’s mainland dominance.
3. Safaris in Pendjari National Park: Lions, elephants, and cheetahs are the popular animals here—and that’s to say nothing of the crocodiles, baboons, and hippos that also inhabit Pendjari National Park, in northern Benin. It has some of Benin’s best scenery, and the well-run park administration uses quality control measures, including a rating system, to ensure that you’ll get your money’s worth from guides.
4. Voodoo Fetish Markets: Although most Beninese nominally practice Catholicism or Islam, the country’s official religion is voodoo, and it wields the most influence over the spiritual lives of Benin’s people. Most open-air markets in Benin will have a fetish section, where buyers can purchase talismans, or “fetishes,” such as statues, dried animal parts, and potions. Hollywood has sensationalized many aspects of voodoo, or vodun, and it is important to treat the religion’s practitioners with respect. That said, many locals are happy to answer questions about their religion from polite, interested foreigners.
5. Slave History: A highlight of the city of Ouidah (which itself is steeped in Beninese history and voodoo mythology), the Route des Esclaves is a four-kilometer trail that traces the road from the historical slave auction square to the Door of No Return, where slaves boarded the ships that would carry them to the New World. The auction square is currently home to the Musée d’Histoire de Ouidah, inside a former Portuguese fort; there you can hire guides for the rest of the route as well as browse the museum’s sizable collection of artifacts. Various monuments and fetishes can be seen along the route.
6. Royal Palaces of Abomey: From 1625 to 1900, 12 kings of the long-vanished kingdom of Abomey lived in this enclosure, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside, visitors can view bas-reliefs and artifacts, including a throne mounted on human skulls. Descendants of the royal family live near the site and help to maintain it.
7. Route des Pêches: The Route des Pêches, which technically comprises Benin’s entire Atlantic coast, has some of West Africa’s quietest beaches. The best way to experience the region is at one of the small bed-and-breakfast inns that dot the coast. Canoes and kayaks are available for rental at the Mono River delta.
8. Fidjrosse Beach: Although it does not compare to some of the more remote locations on the Route des Pêches, Fidjrossé deserves credit for its agreeable climate and clean, reasonably quiet environment, especially given its proximity to Cotonou. It also offers opportunities to surf and is home to a wider variety of accommodations than you will find elsewhere.
9. Lake Ahémé: Famous as a voodoo holy place, Lake Ahémé supplies tranquillity to believers and nonbelievers alike. It is possible to camp here, and local tour operators offer traditional fishing lessons and excursions into the nearby forests.
10. Festivals in Ouidah: Benin’s main holiday is the Voodoo Festival, or Fête du Vodoun, which is observed in mid-January with raucous celebrations, music, and drinking throughout the country. The best place to enjoy the festivities is Ouidah, which is also home to the Quintessence Film Festival, a major attraction for African movie buffs. The Quintessence festival generally takes place in the days immediately before and after the Voodoo Festival.

When to Go
It is best to visit during the dry seasons, from December to February and from July to September, when temperatures are higher and overland travel is generally much easier. Weather in Benin is the most temperate and pleasant in August and September. Visiting in mid-January will allow you to witness the Voodoo Festival. Some tourist facilities, particularly in the south, close during the rainy season.

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