Population: 4,831,823 (July 1991), growth rate 3.3% (1991)

Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 119 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Beninese (sing., pl.); adjective--Beninese

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); Europeans 5,500

Religion: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Language: French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in south; at least six major tribal languages in north

Literacy: 23% (male 32%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force: 1,900,000 (1987); agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%; 49% of population of working age (1985)

Organized labor: about 75% of wage earners

NOTE: The information regarding Benin on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Benin People 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Benin People 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.