with runways 1,229–2,439 m:3
Telecommunications:
8,650 telephones; above-average system based on microwave radio relay;
broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
@Belize, Defense Forces
Branches:
British Forces Belize withdrawn by the end of 1993 except for a small
training detachment, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15–49 48,789; fit for military service 29,040; reach
military age (18) annually 2,175 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $4.8 million, 1.8% of GDP (1992)
@Benin, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and
Togo
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
112,620 sq km
land area:
110,620 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644
km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
limited supply of safe drinking water; illegal hunting threatens
wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north;
no natural harbors
@Benin, People
Population:
5,341,710 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
47.67 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
110.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
51.77 years
male:
49.92 years
female:
53.68 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Beninese
Ethnic divisions:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba,
Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south),
tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
