Viewow’s Traveler Notes in Benin
International Dialling Code   +229
Internet Country Code   .bj
Time zone   GMT +1
Monetary Unit   CFA Franc

Weights and Measures   The metric system is in use
Electric Power   220 V / 50 Hz
Electric Plugs   E

E : Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin

View of Geography in Benin
Coordinates   9 30 N, 2 15 E
Land Area   110,620 sq km
Water Area   2,000 sq km
Land Boundaries   1,989 km   
Border Countries   Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Costline Lenghts   121 km
Highets Point   Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Lowest Point   Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Terrain   mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Climate   tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Average Tempretures in Summer   13°C (56°F) in June

Average Tempretures in Winter   40°C (104°F) in January  

Annual Rainfall Average   great rains fall from March to July

View of People in Benin
National Name   Republique du Benin
Nationality   Beninese

Anthem   L'Aube Nouvelle (The New Dawn)

Flag   Two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Ethnicity   African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans
Languages   French (official), Fon and Yoruba, tribal languages
Religious   Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5%
Independance Day   1 August (1960)

View of Demographics in Benin
Population Density   75.0 per sq km (July 2008 est.)
Population Growth   3.01% (2008 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate   66.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Total Fertility Rates   5.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Life Expectancy   58.56 years
Birth Rate   39.8 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death Rate   9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex Ratio   1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Divorces   unkown (annual divorces)
Literacy Rate   34.7% (2001 census)
Literacy Rate (female)   23.3% (2002 census)
Suffrage   18 years of age

View of Economy in Benin

GDP (ppp)   $12 billion (2007 est.)
Budget   revenues:$959.2 million  ,  expenditures:$1.211 billion (2007 est.)

Public Debts   % (of GDP - 2007 est.)  
Exports   $586 billion free on board (2007 est.)
Imports   $1.085 billion free on board (2007 est.)
Invenstment   19.4% (of GDP - 2007 est.)
Unemployment Rate   Unkown%
Labor Force   5.38 million (2007 est.)
Inflation Rate   1.3% (2007 est.)
Growth Rate   4.5% (2007 est.)
Arable Land   3.53% (2005)

Industries   textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Agriculture   cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock
Natural Resources   small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

View of Some Facts in Benin
Main Lines Phones   110,300 (2007) 
Mobile Phones   1.895 million (2007)
Internet Hosts   798 (2007)
Internet users   150,000 (2007)
Airports  5 (2007)
Gsm   GSM 900
Gsm Operator   BBCOM, Telecel, Areeba
Railways   758 km (2006)
Highways   16,000 km (2006)
Waterways   50 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)
Merchant Marine   No ships (1000 GRT or over - 2008)
Ports and Terminals   Cotonou

Business Week in Benin

--- Offices

Monday - Friday   8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m ,  3p.m. to 6:30p.m.

--- Retails

Monday - Friday   8:30a.m. to 1p.m. ,  4p.m. to 7:30p.m

Saturday   8:30a.m. to 1p.m., and 4p.m. to 7:30p.m.

Sunday   8a.m. to noon

--- Banks

Monday - Friday    8a.m. to 11:30a.m.  ,  3p.m. to 4:30p.m.

Saturday - Sunday   closed

--- Government

Monday - Friday   8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m.  ,  3p.m. to 6:30p.m.

Official Holidays of Benin

New Year's Day   January 1

Traditional Day   January 10

International Labor Day   May

National Day   August 15

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary   August 15

Armed Forces Day October 26

All Saints' Day   November 1

National Day November 30

Christmas Day   December 25

Eid Al Adha (Tabaski)

Easter

Easter Monday

Ascension (Christian)

Whit Monday

Prophet's Birthday

Eid Al Fitr