Benin
Type of Government: Republic
Independence: 1960 from France
Head of State: President Thomas Yayi Boni (since April 6, 2006)
2007/2008 UN Development Index ranking (out of 177 countries): 163
2007 TI Corruption Perception Index (out of 179): 118
Political Development: After gaining independence in 1960 a succession of military governments and coups occurred until 1972 when a communist dictatorship took hold. In the early 1990s, with encouragement from France and other democratic nations, Benin put democratic structures in place and became the first African nation to make the transition from dictatorship to democracy. The latest election, in 2006, had some irregularities but was largely seen as free and fair.
Adult HIV Rate: 1.9%
Life Expectancy: 53.44
GDP: $4.622 billion
Inflation: 3.8%
Poverty: 33%
Petroleum: N/A
Leading Export Partner: China (20.9%)
Economic Note: Largely underdeveloped and relying on subsistence agriculture. Nigeria, as a way of protecting trade, bans many imports from Benin.
