Benin

Overview Karlee) I have learned that half of this African country has HIV/AIDS and also I have learned that they were the first African country to transition from dictatorship to pluralistic political system. (Kasey) i learned that benin produces most of the best consumables and that their rupublic is under rebublican rule

Statistics The population of Benin is 7,460,025, but half of these people have HIV/AIDS or other dieases. Benin Flag [] (Karlee)

Geography [] Benin has fields of lying fallow, mangroves, and remnants of large sacred forests: the rest of the country has the savanna forest and is hot and humid**__.__** (Karlee)


 * __Benin i__**s between Togo on the west and Nigeria on the east,and is about the size of Tennessee.[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Benin_sat.png width="294" height="589"]]

History Before this country was named Benin, Dahomey was it's orignal name; but it had gotten changed in 1975 to the People's Republic of Benin, after the body of water on which the country lies.

Former president of Benin in 2006 [] (Karlee

Between 1960 and 1972, a succession of military coups brought about many changes of governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Benin (copy ad past this)

Economy The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence and agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in about the past seven years, but the rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. [] (Karlee)

There is also production of [|textiles], palm products, and [|cocoa]. [|Maize] (corn), [|beans], [|rice], [|peanuts], [|cashews], [|pineapples], [|cassava], [|yams], and other various tubers are grown for local subsistences.

GDP** || CFA franc (XOF) $12.81 Billion (2007 est.) || below poverty line** || 37.4% (2007 est.) ||
 * ~ **Currency
 * ~ **GDP growth** || 4.5% (2007 est.) ||
 * ~ **GDP per capita** || $1,500 (2007 est.) ||
 * ~ **GDP by sector** || Agriculture (33.2%), industry (14.5%), services (52.3%) (2007 est.) ||
 * ~ **Inflation** (CPI) || 2.5% (2007 est.) ||
 * ~ **Population
 * ~ **Labour force** || 5.38 million (2007 est.) ||
 * ~ **Main industries** || Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement ||

Government Benin was the first African Country to successfully effect a transition from dictatorship to pluralistic political system. The President of Benin is Yoyi Boni. [] (Karlee)

Republic under a multiparty democratic rule.

Religion There are 3 types of "religion." 50% indigenous beliefs 30% Christian 20% Muslim [] (Karlee)

Culture Benin has played an important role in African music; the country was home to vibrant and innovative music scene, where native folk music combined with, Ghanaian Highlife, French Cabaret, American Rock, Funk, Soul, and Congolese rumbaria. [] (Karlee)

Social Problems By this time, Benin's major social problems are mainly caused by the poor economy. Benin has high unemployment and low wages; educated people can only has low payed jobs like taxi.One of the most significant social divisions is between the educated, urban, elite, and the rural population. [] (Karlee)



Other There major sport in Benin is Soccer. It is watched by Beninese everywhere and is played mainly by boys and young men. Entertainment is different in the cities and villages of Benin, in the towns and cities where electricity is available, Beninese can watch state run television. (Karlee)