National name: Republique du Benin

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Ethnicity/race: Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)

Religions: Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)

National Holiday: National Day, August 1

Literacy rate: 42.4% (2010)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $16.65 billion; per capita $1,600. Real growth rate: 5%. Inflation: 2.4%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 22.48%. Agriculture: cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts;livestock. Labor force: 3.662 million; Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement. Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. Exports: $1.108 billion (2013 est.): cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood. Imports: $1.835 billion (2013 est.): foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products. Major trading partners: India, China, U.S., France, Niger, Nigeria, Malaysia, Lebanon (2012).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 156,700 (2012); mobile cellular: 8.408 million (2012). Broadcast media; state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it a wide broadcast reach; several privately-owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately-owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2007). Internet hosts: 491

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