COUNTRY FACT SHEET Location: West Africa Surface area: 114,763 km Population: 8,053,690 inhabitants (2007) 2 Life expectancy: 55 (2005, United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF) Annual population growth rate: 3.3% (1990-2005, UNICEF) Estimate of HIV prevalence rate in adults (15-49 years): 1.8 (end 2005, UNICEF) Main cities: Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou, Abomey, Bohicon, Natitingou, Djougou, Lokossa Administrative capital: Porto-Novo Economic capital: Cotonou Independence: 1958: Independent state within the French community 1 August 1960: Independence under the name of the Republic of Dahomey Constitution: 2 December 1990: Adoption by referendum of the draft constitution establishing a presidential regime and multiparty politics Administrative divisions: 12 departments and 77 communes, 546 districts and 3,743 villages or city neighbourhoods Political governance: Presidential regime, multiparty democracy Political parties: 1xx President: Since 6 April 2006, His Excellency Dr Thomas Boni Yayi Electoral system: Two fundamental laws govern elections in Benin: Law 2000-18 of 3 January 2001, which concerns the general rules on elections; and Law 98-006 of 9 March 2000, which concerns the municipal and communal electoral regime. Voting method: There are two voting rounds in the presidential election, and election is by majority vote. The legislative elections are based on voting lists drawn up in the departments (12 departments), and on the largest remainder proportional representation method. The single-chamber Parliament (National Assembly) has 83 seats. Macroeconomic indicators: Gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices: 2,459.4 billion CFA franc (2006) Real GDP: 1021.8 billion CFA franc (2006) x