Benin Information:

Population: 6,305,567 (1999 est.)

Age structure:
 0-14 years: 48%
15-64 years: 50%
65 years and over: 2%

Life expectancy: 54 years

Ethnic groups: 42 ethnic groups
Fon (most important)

Religions:
Traditional (animism) 70%,
Muslim 15%,
Christian 15%

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba

Literacy: age 15 and over of total population 37%

Size of Benin: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south

Government type: republic under multiparty
Democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism in 1989; transition to multiparty system complete in 1991

Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of the government

Independence: August 1, 1960 from France