The Bukas Palad Music Ministry (Filipino for "generous"; literally, "open palm") is a Roman Catholic, contemporary worship musical group in the Philippines that composes, records, and performs original religious music. Since 1986, Bukas Palad has recorded over a dozen albums with the Jesuit Music Ministry of Jesuit Communications Foundation, a ministry of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus, based in Ateneo de Manila University. The group has performed in over a hundred solo concerts across the country and overseas in Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada.

History
Norman Agatep, Jandi Arboleda, and Rev Fr. Manoling Francisco SJ began writing liturgical songs as high school students. Their songs were eventually popularised through use in Catholic Masses and other liturgical services nationwide.

After Francisco joined the Society of Jesus in 1986, Agatep and Arboleda gathered some friends to sing at a wedding. This group continued singing and soon recorded their first album of original songs, entitled "Bukas Palad", which also became the group's name.

Music
Bukas Palad has produced well over a hundred original liturgical and inspirational songs composed by Agatep, Arboleda, Francisco, and other members, as well as setting text to music like various Biblical passages and religious poems. Very few of Bukas Palad's members received formal musical training, yet over the years they have become a significant force in the Filipino music industry.

The group has also written hymns popular in the Philippines, such as "Hindî Kitá Malílimutan" ("I Will Not Forget You"), "Tanging Yaman" ("Only Treasure"), "Sa 'Yo Lamang" ("Only Yours"), "Anima Christi", "Humayo't Ihayág" ("Go Forth and Proclaim") and "I Will Sing Forever". Many of their musical settings for portions of the Mass, such as the Gloria, the Lord's Prayer, and the Agnus Dei, are popular throughout the country. Popular Filipino artists like Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez, Gary Valenciano, Basil Valdez, Jamie Rivera, Joey Albert, Cooky Chua, and Noel Cabangon have also covered and popularised the group's songs.

Bukas Palad has been featured in various media including radio, television, and film. Bukas Palad pieces have become theme songs and spawned films and television shows, such as the film Tanging Yaman and the 2010 series, and the 2010 film Sa 'Yo Lamang.

The group conducts liturgical music workshops for parish communities and choral groups, as well as outreach activities for the marginalised like the elderly, orphans, the sick, and the imprisoned.

Outside of liturgical use, Bukas Palad is also a highly acclaimed performing group, having staged concerts in churches, theatres, concert halls, convention centers, and shopping malls.

Discography

Albums
 Bukas Palad (1986)
 Pasko Na! (1987)
 Tanging Yaman (1989)
 Balang Araw (1992)
 In Him Alone (1995)
 The Best of Bukas Palad Vol. 1 (1997)
 The Best of Bukas Palad Vol. 2 (1997)
 Pasko Na! (1999)
 All Shall Be Well (2002)
 Tinapay ng Buhay (2002)
 Let Your Praises Be Heard (2003)
 God of Silence (2005)
 Hindi Kita Malilimutan (2007)
 To Love & Serve (2009)
 Christify (2010)
 Sing Forever (2011)
 Light From Light (2012)
 Behold the Child (2013)
 Huwag Kang Mangamba (2014)
 Behold the Cross (2016)
 Behold the Risen Lord (2019)
 If I Could Touch You: Songs and Prayers for Healing and New Hope (2020)
 Poong Jesus Nazareno (2021)

Collaborations
Narito Ako (Praise Inc., 1985)
Likhawit: Isang Handog (Praise Inc., 1993)
Tell The World Of His Love (Praise Inc., 1994)
Jubilaeum 2000: In The Fullness Of Time (Star Music, 2000)
Far Greater Love (JesCom Music, 2000)
Something More: Songs For Skeptics (JesCom Music, 2001)
Luceat Lux (Xavier School Music Greenhills, 2002)
Huwag Mangamba (JesCom Music, 2002)
Noel (JesCom Music, 2003)
Mga Mysterio Ng Liwanag (Universal Records, 2003)
Kapayapaan (JesCom Music, 2004)
Born Diva (Star Music, 2004)
Red Cross: I Move, I Give, I Love (Star Music, 2009)
Only In Love (JesCom Music, 2009)
Mercy And Compassion: Songs for Pope Francis (JesCom Music, 2015)
Mass of Mercy And Compassion: Songs from the Luneta Papal Mass (JesCom Music, 2015)

Bukas Palad Popular Singles
"Tanging Yaman" (also covered by Carol Banawa)
"Sa Yo Lamang "(also covered by Joey Albert)
"Humayot Ihayag'
"Free" (a song finalist on Himig Handog PPop Loves Song)
"Prayer of Rupery Mayer"

Awards and citations
2019 Catholic Mass Media Awards
Best Religious Album, Behold The Risen Lord - nominee
27th Awit Awards (2014)
Best Christmas Song, Tahanan (by Gino Torres, from Behold The Child) - nominee
2013 Catholic Mass Media Awards
Best Religious Album, Light From Light - nominee
25th Awit Awards (2012)
Best Inspirational Religious Song, Sing Forever/Magsiawit Magpakailanman (by Norman Agatep and Roy Tolentino, from Sing Forever) - nominee
2010 Catholic Mass Media Awards
Best Religious Album, To Love & Serve - nominee
23rd Awit Awards (2010)
Best Inspirational Religious Song, Iukit Ang 'Yong Batas (from To Love & Serve album) - nominee
2008 Catholic Mass Media Awards
Best Religious Album, Hindi Kita Malilimutan - winner
2006 Catholic Mass Media Awards
Best Religious Album, God of Silence - nominee
19th Awit Awards (2006)
Best Performance by a Group, Servant Song (fr. God of Silence album) - nominee
Best Vocal Arrangement, Servant Song (fr. God of Silence album) - nominee (Palan Reyes, arranger)
17th Aliw Awards (2004)
Best Choral Group - nominee
2004 Catholic Mass Media Awards
Best Religious Album, Let Your Praises Be Heard - nominee
17th Awit Awards
Best Inspirational Religious Song, Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosario (with Karylle) - winner
Best Inspirational Religious Song, We Are Yours (by Noel Miranda, from Let Your Praises Be Heard album) - nominee

 References

External links

Category:Filipino choirs
Category:Filipino Roman Catholics
Category:Musical groups established in 1986
Category:1986 establishments in the Philippines
Category:Performers of contemporary worship music

The Bukas Palad Music Ministry ( Filipino for " generous " ; literally , " open palm " ) is a Roman Catholic , contemporary worship musical group in the Philippines that composes , records , and performs original religious music .

Since 1986 , Bukas Palad has recorded over a dozen albums with the Jesuit Music Ministry of Jesuit Communications Foundation , a ministry of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus , based in Ateneo de Manila University .

Meet the choir that sang for the pope during his visit to the Philippines, Bukas Palad
With their popular music, they carry the message of the Gospel. They have recorded 18 albums and this year they celebrate their 30th anniversary. The Bukas Palad Music Ministry is the best-known religious choir based in the Philippines.
ALI FIGUEROA
Singer, Bukas Palad
"I think we have provided a glimpse to God's voice. Some way of hearing God's voices for many many people in the Philippines and around the world.â?
One of the founders, Fr. Manoling Francisco, was commissioned to compose the music for Pope Francis' visit to Manila.
The choir group consists of more than 100 singers. Most are not professionally dedicated to music but sound like the best choir. They are there for two reasons: their passion for music and faith.
BAROK GUTIERREZ
Singer, Bukas Palad
"That's what we encourage also with our songs: to be open to God's prayer to work in their lives and to be open to God's message.â?
Bukas Palad literally means Open Palms. It symbolizes the importance of being open to new opportunities and God's message.
SHARON SALAZAR
Singer, Bukas Palad
"I like that we start and end rehearsals with a prayer so it gathers the community first before we sing. And then for performing in front of a lot of people you just have to be reminded that it's all for God. It's not about being a famous choir.â?
BAROK GUTIERREZ
Singer, Bukas Palad
"Open Palms connotes a spirit of generosity, a disposition for generosity. That essentially is what the group is about.â?
Their popular songs are heard throughout the world. In fact, other choirs have translated and interpreted their songs. The Bukas Palad Music Ministry's songs and albums can be downloaded from their website at www.bukaspalad.com.
AQ/YA
JM
PR
Up:YA

Question: when did the bukas palad music ministry start

Answer: 1986

Question: where is the Bukas palad music ministry based

Answer: Ateneo de Manila University

Question: what does bukas palad mean

Answer: open palm

Question: what does bukas palad mean in english

Answer: generous

Question: how many albums has the bukas palad music ministry recorded

Answer: over a dozen

Question: what is the name of the roman catholic worship musical group in the philipp

Answer: Bukas Palad Music Ministry

Question: what is the name of the roman catholic, contemporary worship musical group in the

Answer: The Bukas Palad Music Ministry

Question: who does the bukas palad music ministry belong to

Answer: Jesuit Communications Foundation

History Norman Agatep , Jandi Arboleda , and Rev Fr .

Manoling Francisco SJ began writing liturgical songs as high school students .

Bukas Palad Ministry inspires others through music
MANILA, Philippines - A Sunday Mass will not be complete without best-loved hymns like Panalangin sa Pagbukas Palad, Tanging Yaman and I Will Sing Forever composed and recorded by the Bukas Palad Music Ministry. The popular hymns are sung in liturgical services of Filipino communities all over the world. Like a salve that soothes longing hearts, the prayerful lyrics continue to bring hope even to our hardworking countrymen who are yearning for home.
From the start, the Bukas Palad Ministry has forged its commitment to compose, perform and record original Pilipino religious songs. The group officially started in 1986, but its founding members, Norman Agatep, Jandi Arboleda and Manoling Francisco SJ, were composing songs of worship even during their high school days.
The group was initially known as the Ateneo Student Catholic Action (ATSCA) and Ateneo Christian Life Community (ACLC) choir or ATSCA-ACLC choir. “It was not uncommon for anyone to catch us singing together between classes. We would take over the entire Colayco lobby and conduct practices there,” relates Norman Agatep, managing director and chief creative officer of Havas Worldwide Manila.
During the Christmas season while everyone was practicing traditional yuletide carols, the ATSCA-ACLC choir was busy learning Christmas songs, composed by its members. Apart from the vocalists and instrumentalists, the group has passionate song writers and musical arrangers, who actively developed new materials for the group. “We wrote our own music, and we studied new arrangements of old Mass songs composed when we were in high school,” he said.
Because its beautiful music constantly filled the campus halls, the choir was often invited to sing in university Masses and other school activities. The ATSCA-ACLC choir would perform at the Ateneo art gallery, college cafeteria and other campus venues.
Its name was changed to Bukas Palad on its first official singing engagement. An alumna invited the group sing at her sister’s wedding, however, only nine members can be accommodated. Founders Norman and Jandi were tasked to assemble a choir. By then the other founder, Manoling Francisco has joined the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches. However, he was constantly updated with the developments in the choir.
Incidentally, Manoling Francisco is the composer of Hindi Kita Malilimutan. He wrote the song when he was still a freshman high school student. The song was popularized by Basil Valdez. To date, the composer has written more than a hundred songs which include Tanging Yaman, Sa ’yo Lamang and many others.
The wedding was the choir’s first public appearance outside the Ateneo de Manila campus. And like all performances, the founders made sure that they had an all-original repertoire. The commitment to develop its own brand of prayerful music unconsciously built the foundation for a meaningful music ministry.
From the start, it was clear that its music is bound by faith. While the message would never fail to touch the hearts of ordinary listeners, its songs were meant to serve Catholic liturgical celebrations.
In time, even churchgoers outside the Ateneo de Manila campus became aware of Bukas Palad’s music. Its growing popularity caught the attention of Fr. Joel Tabora, the priest of Sambayanan ng Kristong Hari in Commonwealth Avenue. He was looking for a fundraising activity so he can raise funds to renovate their church.
“Fr. Tabora used to be the moderator of ACLC (Ateneo Christian Life Community). He was fan of Manoling and Jandi’s music, he broached the idea of recording the songs on audio cassette and marketing them.”
Norman and Jandi agreed, although they needed to consult Manoling. The latter responded positively and even sent some arrangements from the novitiate. The two worked on the music and come recording time, Manoling was given permission to leave the novitiate for a day, so he could record the instrumental portions. The album was released in 1986 aptly called Bukas Palad.
Since then Bukas Palad has recorded numerous albums under the Jesuit Music Ministry of the Ateneo de Manila University. Aside from singing in Masses, the choir holds concerts both here and abroad. It has performed in Japan, Hong Kong and the US and finished a successful Sing Forever US-Canada Tour in 2011 going to L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Chicago, New York and Washington.
Bukas Palad songs were also recorded by top OPM artists like Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Joey Albert, Basil Valdez, Gary Valenciano, Jamie Rivera, Cooky Chua and Noel Cabangon. The compositions have also been used as theme songs and titles of movies and telenovelas.
This year, Bukas Palad will launch its 17th album titled Light From Light. It includes the new English translation of the Roman Missal. Regular churchgoers must have noticed the various changes in Mass responses, including the new version of the Apostles’ Creed. The songs in the Light From Light are based on the new developments.
“Last year when during our production meeting for the new album, Fr. Manoling has informed us on the different changes in the liturgical Mass. We based our compositions from there. In the album, the songs are even arranged according to the order of the Holy Mass.”
Among the cuts in the album are Great is Our God, Lord of Salvation, Lord Have Mercy, Glory to God and Alleluia. It also includes Holy, When We Eat This Bread, Doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer, Our Father, Lamb of God and many others.
Apart from the prayers for the Holy Mass, Fr. Manoling also suggested a composition in honor of Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint who will be canonized this month. The task of putting the music together was given to Norman while Lui Morano was assigned to do the lyrics.
Pedro Calungsod was a young catechist from Cebu who accompanied Jesuit priest Diego Luis de San Vitores on a mission to Guam in 1672. Their lives were threatened because among the non-believers was the village chief. But the two continued to spread God’s Word amid hostile territory. In time the chief ordered their persecution.
The composers were given research materials on the life of Pedro Calungsod. The task was not that easy according to Lui. “We had to study the exceptional qualities that made him a saint, and then recreate all that in the lyrics,” he said.
As for the music, Norman scoured his library of unused materials. But nothing beats the sudden surge of inspiration that guided him through the song’s completion. For Lui, what struck him most was the devotion of the young catechist. “He was just a student but he was a dedicated catechist and a missionary.”
The result is a meaningful song that spoke of the saint’s admirable qualities.
With Love and Faith
Song for Saint Pedro Calungsod
Words by Lui Morano
Music and arrangement by Norman Agatep
To be the Lord’s companion and his friend
You vowed to turn away from sin
And with your passion and your piety
You showed us how to hope and trust in him
To spread the Lord’s salvation and his truth
You traveled far to preach your dream
And with your mighty selfless heart and soul
You showed us how to live and die for Him
Refrain
With your love and faith you conquered doubt and hate
Lead us to God’s Word and bring light to the world
Guide us all as we prepare our hearts and be your company
In mission to create God’s kingdom here on earth
To prove the Lord’s compassion and his strength
You shed your blood to save a kin
And with your loyalty and sacrifice
You showed us how to laud and honor him
Other local composers are set to release songs in honor of the Filipino saint but according to Norman Love and Faith is the only material written for a congregation. “As with all other songs by Bukas Palad, dapat pwede sa choir yung iba kasi pang solo. With Love and Faith is simple, sing-able, and easy to remember.”
Aside from the album, Bukas Palad will also release the Light From Light songbook which contain the basic arrangements of all the cuts in the album. The pieces are meant to help other choirs learn their songs. If other performers gauge their success according to number of albums sold, Bukas Palad Music Ministry draws fulfillment from listening to other choirs interpret their songs.
Now on its 26th year, Bukas Palad Music Ministry continues to inspire others with music. And while its schedules are packed with rehearsals, performances and production work, the members also find time to conduct free liturgical music workshops for parish communities and choral groups. Aside from teaching them new songs, this is also the choir’s way of encouraging others to follow its path and find joy in writing songs of faith.
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Question: what did norman agatep write liturgical songs about

Answer: History

Question: when did norman agatep and jandi arboleda begin writing liturgical

Answer: high school students

Question: what type of songs did norman agatep and jandi arboleda write

Answer: liturgical

Question: what did norman agatep and jandi arboleda write as high school

Answer: liturgical songs

Question: who wrote liturgical songs as a high school student

Answer: Francisco SJ

Question: what did norman agatep and jandi arboleda do as high school

Answer: writing liturgical

Albums Bukas Palad (1986) Pasko Na! (

1 (1997) The Best of Bukas Palad Vol.

Albums Bukas Palad ( 1986 ) Pasko Na ! (

1987 ) Tanging Yaman ( 1989 ) Balang Araw ( 1992 ) In Him Alone ( 1995 ) The Best of Bukas Palad Vol .

1 ( 1997 ) The Best of Bukas Palad Vol .

Open App
Behold the Risen Lord
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
Album
2019
13 songs
46 min 35 sec
1
Tagumpay Ng Pag-Ibig
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
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2
Glory to God
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
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3
Send Forth Your Spirit - Psalm 104
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
Lou Grant Tan
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4
My Soul Longs for You - Psalm 42
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
John Basil Dungo
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5
Salmo 118 - Based On Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
Theresa Maymay
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6
Pakikinabang
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
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7
Come and See
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
Ali Figueroa
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8
Bread of Life
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
Martin Perfecto
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9
Veni Creator Spiritus
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
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10
Sa Iyong Muling Pagkabuhay
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
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11
We Are Truly Blessed
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
Carlo Santos
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12
Savior of My Soul
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
,
Cholo Malilin
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13
Alleluia! Mercy Is God's Name
Bukas Palad Music Ministry
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Question: when was the best of bukas palad released

Answer: 1997

Question: when did the song bukas palad come out

Answer: 1986

Question: what is the title of the best album of 1986

Answer: Bukas Palad

Question: when did in him alone come out

Answer: 1995

Question: when did balang araw come out

Answer: 1992

Question: what was the title of balang araw

Answer: Tanging Yaman

Question: what was the title of the 1992 album in him alone

Answer: Balang Araw

Question: when did tanging yaman come out

Answer: 1989


thumb|300px|Baptism ceremony of the Celestial Church of Christ in Cotonou, Benin.

Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Benin, with 48.5% of the nation's total population being members of various Christian denominations. Consequently, it plays an important role in shaping the country's social and cultural life.

According to the 2013 estimate by the government of Benin, the population of Benin is 27.7% Muslim, 25.5% Roman Catholic, 13.5% Protestant (which includes Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, and other Protestant 3.4%), 11.6% Vodun, 9.5% of other Christian denominations, and 12.2% of others or none.

There are Christians, Muslims, and adherents of African Traditional Religion throughout the country.International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Benin. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. However, most adherents of the traditional Yoruba religious group are in the south, while other African Traditional Religion beliefs are followed in the north. Muslims are represented most heavily in the north and southeast. Christians are prevalent in the south, particularly in Cotonou, the economic capital. It is not unusual for members of the same family to practise Christianity, Islam, African Traditional Religion, or a combination of all of these.

Faiths

African Traditional Religion
Among the most practiced African Traditional Religions in Benin is the Vodun system of belief which originated in this area of Africa.

Other African Traditional Religions are practiced in the Atakora (Atakora and Donga provinces) and Vodun and Orisha or Orisa veneration among the Yoruba and Tado peoples is prevalent in the centre and south of the country. The town of Ouidah on the central coast is the spiritual centre of Beninese Vodun.

The Tado and the Yoruba Orisha pantheons correspond closely:
 The supreme deity Mawu (in the Fon language) or Olodumare (also known as Olorun, Eledumare, Olofin-Orun and Eledaa among other names)(in Yoruba)
 The deity of the earth and smallpox, known as Sakpana (or Sopono, Sakpata), can also be spelt as 'Shakpata, Shopono, Shakpana, and also known as Babalu Aye or Obalu Aye.
 The deity of thunder and lightning, known as Shango; can also be spelt as Sango, also known as Jakuta, Chango, Xevioso and Hevioso.
 The deity of war and iron, known as Ogun, also known as Ogoun or Gu.

Christianity
thumb|250px|The cathedral of Notre Dame des Apotres in Cotonou

Christianity first reached Benin in 1680, gaining more permanent footing in the 19th century. English Methodists arrived in 1843, operating amongst the coastal Gun people. More than half of all Christians in Benin are Roman Catholic. The Catholic hierarchy in Benin consists of the Archdiocese of Cotonou (including the Dioceses of Abomey, Dassa-Zoumé, Lokossa, Porto Novo) and the Parakou (including the Dioceses of Djougou, Kandi, Natitingou, and N'Dali). There are 440 priests and 900 men and women in religious orders. Other Christian groups include Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Celestial Christians, Rosicrucians, the Unification Church. Many nominal Christians also practise traditional local religious beliefs.

Islam
Islam, which accounts for more than 27% of the country's population, was brought to Benin from the north by Hausa, and Songhai-Dendi traders. Nearly all Muslims adhere to the Sunni Maliki branch of Islam. The few Shi'a Muslims are primarily Middle Eastern expatriates. Shia population in Benin is estimated between one and twelve percent of the total Muslim population of Benin, according to Pew Forum it is less than one percent while as per Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly the population of Shia in Benin is around twelve percent of the total Muslim population of Benin. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is also present, who recently inaugurated a mosque in Benin, the Al Mahdi Mosque in 2006. Many nominal Muslims also practise traditional local religious beliefs.

Three out of twelve departments have a Muslim majority: Alibori (81.3%), Donga (77.9%) and Borgou (69.8%).https://www.insae-bj.org/images/docs/insae-statistiques/demographiques/population/Principaux%20Indicateurs%20avec%20projections%20RGPH4/Principaux%20indicateurs%20socio%20démographiques%20et%20économiques%20RGPH-4.pdf  Couffo has the lowest share of Muslims in Benin as Muslims comprise less than 1% of the total population.

Other groups
Other religious groups in Benin include Eckankar and followers of the Baháʼí Faith.

Freedom of religion

The Constitution of Benin provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. The United States government recorded no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice during 2007, and prominent societal leaders have taken positive steps to promote religious freedom.

References

According to the 2013 estimate by the government of Benin , the population of Benin is 27.7 % Muslim , 25.5 % Roman Catholic , 13.5 % Protestant ( which includes Celestial 6.7 % , Methodist 3.4 % , and other Protestant 3.4 % ) , 11.6 % Vodun , 9.5 % of other Christian denominations , and 12.2 % of others or none .

Introduction
Background
Present day Benin is comprised of about 42 ethnic groups, including the Yoruba in the southeast, who migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century; the Dendi in the north-central area, who came from Mali in the 16th century; the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Ottamari in the Atakora mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the south-central area; and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja, who came from Togo, on the coast. The Kingdom of Dahomey emerged on the Abomey plateau in the 17th century and was a regional power for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. Dahomey had an organized domestic economy, international trade with Europeans, and a highly organized military. The growth of Dahomey coincided with the growth of the Atlantic slave trade, and it became known as a major source of enslaved people. France began to control the coastal areas of Dahomey in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.
A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second five-year term in March 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016; the space for pluralism, dissent, and free expression has narrowed under his administration. Talon won a second term in April 2021.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Geographic coordinates
9 30 N, 2 15 E
Area
total: 112,622 sq km
land: 110,622 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries
total: 2,123 km
border countries (4): Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Elevation
highest point: unnamed elevation located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga 675 m
note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 273 m
Natural resources
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use
agricultural land: 31.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 40% (2018 est.)
other: 28.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
230 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west at shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Geography - note
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
People and Society
Population
13,754,688 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups
Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.)
Languages
55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south; half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba (once counted as a Gur language) and Fulfulde
Religions
Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)
Demographic profile
Benin has a youthful age structure â almost 65% of the population is under the age of 25 â which is bolstered by high fertility and population growth rates. Beninâs total fertility has been falling over time but remains high, declining from almost 7 children per women in 1990 to 4.8 in 2016. Beninâs low contraceptive use and high unmet need for contraception contribute to the sustained high fertility rate. Although the majority of Beninese women use skilled health care personnel for antenatal care and delivery, the high rate of maternal mortality indicates the need for more access to high quality obstetric care.
Poverty, unemployment, increased living costs, and dwindling resources increasingly drive the Beninese to migrate. An estimated 4.4 million, more than 40%, of Beninese live abroad. Virtually all Beninese emigrants move to West African countries, particularly Nigeria and Cote dâIvoire. Of the less than 1% of Beninese emigrants who settle in Europe, the vast majority live in France, Beninâs former colonial ruler.
With about 40% of the population living below the poverty line, many desperate parents resort to sending their children to work in wealthy households as domestic servants (a common practice known as vidomegon), mines, quarries, or agriculture domestically or in Nigeria and other neighboring countries, often under brutal conditions. Unlike in other West African countries, where rural people move to the coast, farmers from Beninâs densely populated southern and northwestern regions move to the historically sparsely populated central region to pursue agriculture. Immigrants from West African countries came to Benin in increasing numbers between 1992 and 2002 because of its political stability and porous borders.
Age structure
0-14 years: 45.56% (male 2,955,396/female 2,906,079)
15-24 years: 20.36% (male 1,300,453/female 1,318,880)
25-54 years: 28.54% (male 1,735,229/female 1,935,839)
55-64 years: 3.15% (male 193,548/female 211,427)
65 years and over: 2.39% (male 140,513/female 167,270) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 82.6
youth dependency ratio: 76.6
elderly dependency ratio: 6
potential support ratio: 16.7 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 17 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 17.6 years (2020 est.)
Birth rate
41.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)country comparison to the world: 3
Death rate
8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)country comparison to the world: 89
Net migration rate
0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)country comparison to the world: 76
Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west at shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 49.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.189 million Abomey-Calavi, 709,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.5 years (2017/18 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
397 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 27
Infant mortality rate
total: 55.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 60.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 62.21 years
male: 60.39 years
female: 64.14 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)country comparison to the world: 6
Contraceptive prevalence rate
15.5% (2017/18)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 79% of population
rural: 70.8% of population
total: 74.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 21% of population
rural: 29.2% of population
total: 25.3% of population (2020 est.)
Physicians density
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density
0.5 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 56.3% of population
rural: 18.1% of population
total: 36.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 43.7% of population
rural: 81.9% of population
total: 63.4% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever andÂ malaria
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Benin is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 54%
female: 31.1% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 14 years
female: 11 years (2016)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 3.9%
male: 3.2%
female: 4.5% (2018 est.)
Environment
Environment - current issues
inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification (the spread of the desert into agricultural lands in the north is accelerated by regular droughts)
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 33.11 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 6.48 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 5.8 megatons (2020 est.)
Land use
agricultural land: 31.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 40% (2018 est.)
other: 28.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 49.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 2.24% of GDP (2018 est.)country comparison to the world: 31
Revenue from coal
coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)country comparison to the world: 67
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever andÂ malaria
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Benin is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 685,936 tons (1993 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 171,484 tons (2005 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25% (2005 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 145 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 59 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
26.39 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin
etymology: named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "by the river of death" in the native Fon language
Administrative divisions
12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Independence
1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 August (1960)
Constitution
history: previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990
amendments: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended; amended 2019
Legal system
civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Executive branch
chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026)
election results: Patrice TALON elected to a second term; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.4%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.3%, other 2.3%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats - current 81; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Progressiste 56.2%, Bloc Republicain 43.8%; seats by party - Union Progressiste 47, Bloc Republicain 36; composition as of February 2022) - men 75, women 6, percent of women 7.4%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republicÂ upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts
Political parties and leaders
Alliance for a Triumphant Benin or ABT [Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE]
African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]
Benin Renaissance or RB [Lehady SOGLO]
Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]
National Alliance for Development and Democracy or AND [Valentin Aditi HOUDE]
New Consciousness Rally or NC [Pascal KOUPAKI]
Patriotic Awakening or RP [Janvier YAHOUEDEOU]
Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]
Sun Alliance or AS [Sacca LAFIA]
Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (includes PRD, MADEP)
United Democratic Forces or FDU [Mathurin NAGO]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Claude Felix DO REGO (since 17 July 2020)
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656; [1] (202) 232-2611
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
email address and website:
ambassade.washington@gouv.bj
https://beninembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia MAHONEY (since 4 July 2019)
embassy: 01 BP 2012, Cotonou
mailing address:
2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DCÂ 20521-2120
telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84
email address and website:
ACSCotonou@state.gov
https://bj.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbol(s)
leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red
National anthem
name: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)
lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
note: adopted 1960
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c), W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n)
Economy
Economic overview
The free market economy of Benin has grown consecutively for four years, though growth slowed in 2017, as its close trade links to Nigeria expose Benin to risks from volatile commodity prices. Cotton is a key export commodity, with export earnings significantly impacted by the price of cotton in the broader market. The economy began deflating in 2017, with the consumer price index falling 0.8%.
During the first two years of President TALONâs administration, which began in April 2016, the government has followed an ambitious action plan to kickstart development through investments in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and governance. Electricity generation, which has constrained Beninâs economic growth, has increased and blackouts have been considerably reduced. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for a large proportion of investment in infrastructure projects.
Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory, and has used equipment from donors effectively against such piracy. Pilferage has significantly dropped at the Port of Cotonou, though the port is still struggling with effective implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Projects included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) first compact (2006-11) were designed to increase investment and private sector activity by improving key institutional and physical infrastructure. The four projects focused on access to land, access to financial services, access to justice, and access to markets (including modernization of the port). The Port of Cotonou is a major contributor to Beninâs economy, with revenues projected to account for more than 40% of Beninâs national budget.
Benin will need further efforts to upgrade infrastructure, stem corruption, and expand access to foreign markets to achieve its potential. In September 2015, Benin signed a second MCC Compact for $375 million that entered into force in June 2017 and is designed to strengthen the national utility service provider, attract private sector investment, fund infrastructure investments in electricity generation and distribution, and develop off-grid electrification for poor and unserved households. As part of the Government of Beninâs action plan to spur growth, Benin passed public private partnership legislation in 2017 to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, encourage new information and communication technology, and establish Independent Power Producers. In April 2017, the IMF approved a three year $150.4 million Extended Credit Facility agreement to maintain debt sustainability and boost donor confidence.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$40.29 billion (2020 est.)
$38.79 billion (2019 est.)
$36.3 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
5.6% (2017 est.)
4% (2016 est.)
2.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$3,300 (2020 est.)
$3,300 (2019 est.)
$3,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.315 billion (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.8% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
0% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: B (2019)
Moody's rating: B2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2018)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 26.1% (2017 est.)
industry: 22.8% (2017 est.)
services: 51.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 70.5% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 13.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.6% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 31.6% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
cassava, yams, maize, cotton, oil palm fruit, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, vegetables, soybeans
Industries
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Labor force
3.662 million (2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 97
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 3.9%
male: 3.2%
female: 4.5% (2018 est.)
Population below poverty line
38.5% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
47.8 (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 20
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 29% (2003)
Public debt
54.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$1.024 billion (2017 est.)
-$808 million (2016 est.)
Exports
$3.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$3.85 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
Nigeria 25%, Bangladesh 14%, United Arab Emirates 14%, India 13%, China 8%, Vietnam 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cotton, refined petroleum, gold, cashews, copper (2019)
Imports
$4.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$4.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
$5.035 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners
China 28%, Thailand 9%, India 8%, Togo 6%, United States 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
rice, cars, palm oil, electricity, cotton (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$698.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$57.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external
$2.804 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.476 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
605.3 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 33% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 58% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 9% (2019)
Electricity - imports
1.088 billion kWh (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - installed generating capacity
321,000 kW (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - from fossil fuels
88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - from other renewable sources
2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)country comparison to the world: 134
Crude oil - proved reserves
8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)country comparison to the world: 92
Refined petroleum products - consumption
38,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - proved reserves
1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)country comparison to the world: 98
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 32,386 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 11,140,891 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.9 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Beninâs telecom market is restricted by poor fixed-line infrastructure; low use of fixed-line voice and Internet; mobile networks account for almost all Internet and voice traffic; progress on fiber infrastructure through World Bank and the government investment to extend broadband and develop Smart Government program; monopolized fixed-line Internet services access is limited; ICT development will provide telecom services to 80% of the country, mostly via mobile and DSL infrastructure; Benin Smart City construction has begun; improved international Internet connectivity supports growth of m-commerce and m-banking; submarine cable connectivity from African coast to Europe (2020)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 1 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly, nearing 92 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 229; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC and ACE fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, andÂ most West African countries; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station providing a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019)
Internet users
total: 3.66 million (2022 est.)
percent of population: 29% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 29,981 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 112,392 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 805,347 mt-km (2015)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
Railways
total: 438 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 438 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
Roadways
total: 16,000 km (2006)
paved: 1,400 km (2006)
unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)
Waterways
150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011)country comparison to the world: 101
Merchant marine
total: 6
by type: other 6 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Cotonou
LNG terminal(s) (import): Cotonou
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Benin Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB): Army, Navy, Air Force; Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2021)
Military expenditures
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Benin Armed Forces (FAB) are comprised of approximately 7,000 active duty troops; est. 5,000 Republican Police (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAB is equipped with a small mix of mostly older French and Soviet-era equipment (2021)
Military deployments
260 Mali (MINUSMA) (Oct 2021)
Maritime threats
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"
Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2021)
Military - note
as of 2021, Benin participated in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against the terrorist group Boko Haram (see Appendix T) along with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; the Benin military contingent is in charge of MNJTF garrison duties
as of 2021, the FAB had a close working relationship with the Belgian armed forces; the Belgians offered advice, training, and secondhand equipment donations, and deployed to Benin for limited military exercises
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
al-Qaâida (Jamaâat Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara; Boko Haram
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Benin-Burkina Faso: Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualau/Kourou.
Benin-Togo: Talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjarala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River.
Benin-Niger: The location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved.
Illicit drugs
a significant transit and departure country for cocaine shipments in Africa destined for Europe

Question: what is the muslim population in benin

Answer: 27.7%

Question: what percentage of others or none of benin's population are muslim

Answer: 12.2%

Question: what percentage of other christian denominations are in benin

Answer: 9.5%

Question: what percentage of benin's population is protestant

Answer: 13.5%

Question: what percentage of the population of benin is catholic

Answer: 25.5%

Question: what percentage of the population of benin is vodun

Answer: 11.6%

Question: what percentage of the population is protestant

Answer: Celestial 6.7%

Question: what is the most common religion in benin

Answer: Protestant

There are Christians , Muslims , and adherents of African Traditional Religion throughout the country .

International Religious Freedom Report 2007 : Benin .

BeninInternational Religious Freedom Report 2007
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice, and prominent societal leaders took positive steps to promote religious freedom. The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. Section I. Religious Demography The country has an area of 43,483 square miles and a population of 8,078,300. According to the 2002 census, 27.1 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 24.4 percent Muslim, 17.3 percent Vodun, 5 percent Celestial Christian, 3.2 percent Methodist, 7.5 percent other Christian, 6 percent other traditional local religious groups, 1.9 percent other religious groups, and 6.5 percent claim no religious affiliation. Many individuals who nominally identify themselves as Christian or Muslim also practice traditional local religious beliefs. Among the most commonly practiced is the animist Vodun system of belief, also known as voodoo, which originated in this area of Africa. There are few atheists. More than half of all Christians are Catholic. Other religious groups, both Christian and non-Christian, include Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Celestial Christians, Rosicrucians, the Unification Church, Eckankar, and Baha'is. Nearly all Muslims adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam. The few Shi'a Muslims are primarily Middle Eastern expatriates. There are Christians, Muslims, and adherents of traditional local religious groups throughout the country. However, most adherents of the traditional Yoruba religious group are in the south, while other local religious beliefs are followed in the north. Muslims are represented most heavily in the north and southeast. Christians are prevalent in the south, particularly in Cotonou, the economic capital. It is not unusual for members of the same family to practice Christianity, Islam, traditional local religious beliefs, or a combination of all of these. Foreign missionary groups operate freely in the country. Section II. Status of Religious Freedom Legal/Policy Framework The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. The Government at all levels sought to protect this right in full and did not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors. There is no state-sponsored religion. The Constitutional Court determines the legal guidelines that govern religious practice. In recent years this court determined that it is illegal to block the access of any group to its religious services and that criticism of religious belief is a protected free speech right. The Defense Ministry is permitted to intervene in conflicts between religious groups as a peacekeeping force to ensure public order and social peace, provided that the intervention complies with the principle of state neutrality in the management of religious affairs. Persons who wish to form a religious group must register with the Ministry of the Interior. Registration requirements are the same for all religious groups, and there were no reports that any group was refused permission to register or subjected to unusual delays or obstacles in the registration process. Religious groups are free from taxation. Government officials accorded respect to prominent leaders of all religious groups by attending their induction ceremonies, funerals, and other religious celebrations. The President regularly received leaders of all religious groups, and police forces were assigned to provide security to any religious event upon request. In accordance with article 2 of the Constitution, which provides for a secular state, public schools are not authorized to provide religious instruction. Religious groups are permitted to establish private schools. National holidays include the Christian holy days of Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Assumption Day, All Saints' Day, and Christmas; the Islamic holy days of Ramadan, Tabaski, and the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad; and the indigenous celebration of Traditional Religions holiday. State-operated television featured coverage of the celebration of religious holidays and special events in the lives of prominent religious leaders, including ordination anniversaries and funerals. Soon after his inauguration, the President received leaders and representatives of Christian, Muslim, and traditional indigenous religious groups, respectively. Ecumenical Day is celebrated every first Wednesday of May and traditionally includes a large celebration of interreligious cooperation in the historic town of Ouidah. Individual religious leaders make an effort to bridge the divide between Christians and Muslims and preach a message of tolerance. Restrictions on Religious Freedom Government policy and practice contributed to the generally free practice of religion. There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country. Forced Religious Conversion There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States. Section III. Societal Abuses and Discrimination There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice. Due to the diversity of religious affiliations within families and communities, religious tolerance was widespread at all levels of society and in all regions. Interfaith dialogue occurred regularly, and citizens respected different religious traditions and practices, including syncretistic beliefs. Many Vodun followers were also Christian or Muslim and tolerant of other religious groups. Section IV. U.S. Government Policy The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The U.S. Ambassador and other Embassy representatives regularly attended ceremonies associated with various religious groups. Embassy officials also stressed in their public remarks the value and importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion.
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice, and prominent societal leaders took positive steps to promote religious freedom.
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country has an area of 43,483 square miles and a population of 8,078,300. According to the 2002 census, 27.1 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 24.4 percent Muslim, 17.3 percent Vodun, 5 percent Celestial Christian, 3.2 percent Methodist, 7.5 percent other Christian, 6 percent other traditional local religious groups, 1.9 percent other religious groups, and 6.5 percent claim no religious affiliation.
Many individuals who nominally identify themselves as Christian or Muslim also practice traditional local religious beliefs. Among the most commonly practiced is the animist Vodun system of belief, also known as voodoo, which originated in this area of Africa. There are few atheists.
More than half of all Christians are Catholic. Other religious groups, both Christian and non-Christian, include Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Celestial Christians, Rosicrucians, the Unification Church, Eckankar, and Baha'is. Nearly all Muslims adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam. The few Shi'a Muslims are primarily Middle Eastern expatriates.
There are Christians, Muslims, and adherents of traditional local religious groups throughout the country. However, most adherents of the traditional Yoruba religious group are in the south, while other local religious beliefs are followed in the north. Muslims are represented most heavily in the north and southeast. Christians are prevalent in the south, particularly in Cotonou, the economic capital. It is not unusual for members of the same family to practice Christianity, Islam, traditional local religious beliefs, or a combination of all of these.
Foreign missionary groups operate freely in the country.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. The Government at all levels sought to protect this right in full and did not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors. There is no state-sponsored religion.
The Constitutional Court determines the legal guidelines that govern religious practice. In recent years this court determined that it is illegal to block the access of any group to its religious services and that criticism of religious belief is a protected free speech right.
The Defense Ministry is permitted to intervene in conflicts between religious groups as a peacekeeping force to ensure public order and social peace, provided that the intervention complies with the principle of state neutrality in the management of religious affairs.
Persons who wish to form a religious group must register with the Ministry of the Interior. Registration requirements are the same for all religious groups, and there were no reports that any group was refused permission to register or subjected to unusual delays or obstacles in the registration process. Religious groups are free from taxation.
Government officials accorded respect to prominent leaders of all religious groups by attending their induction ceremonies, funerals, and other religious celebrations. The President regularly received leaders of all religious groups, and police forces were assigned to provide security to any religious event upon request.
In accordance with article 2 of the Constitution, which provides for a secular state, public schools are not authorized to provide religious instruction. Religious groups are permitted to establish private schools.
National holidays include the Christian holy days of Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Assumption Day, All Saints' Day, and Christmas; the Islamic holy days of Ramadan, Tabaski, and the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad; and the indigenous celebration of Traditional Religions holiday. State-operated television featured coverage of the celebration of religious holidays and special events in the lives of prominent religious leaders, including ordination anniversaries and funerals.
Soon after his inauguration, the President received leaders and representatives of Christian, Muslim, and traditional indigenous religious groups, respectively.
Ecumenical Day is celebrated every first Wednesday of May and traditionally includes a large celebration of interreligious cooperation in the historic town of Ouidah. Individual religious leaders make an effort to bridge the divide between Christians and Muslims and preach a message of tolerance.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
Government policy and practice contributed to the generally free practice of religion.
There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Abuses and Discrimination
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice. Due to the diversity of religious affiliations within families and communities, religious tolerance was widespread at all levels of society and in all regions. Interfaith dialogue occurred regularly, and citizens respected different religious traditions and practices, including syncretistic beliefs. Many Vodun followers were also Christian or Muslim and tolerant of other religious groups.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The U.S. Ambassador and other Embassy representatives regularly attended ceremonies associated with various religious groups. Embassy officials also stressed in their public remarks the value and importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
Released on September 14, 2007
International Religious Freedom Report Home Page

Question: christians, muslims, and adherents of what religion are there in benin

Answer: African Traditional Religion

Question: where was the 2007 international religious freedom report released

Answer: Benin

Question: what is the main religion in benin

Answer: Christians

Question: when was the international religious freedom report released

Answer: 2007

Question: what religions are there in benin

Answer: Christians, Muslims

Question: what type of religion is practiced in benin

Answer: African

Question: what are christians, muslims and

Answer: adherents of African Traditional Religion


Lappert's is an ice cream manufacturer, producing "super-premium" ice cream, based on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The company runs the largest ice cream chain in Hawaii.Frommer, P. (2009) Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas p.51. John Wiley & Sons. . Retrieved November 2011

Lappert's was founded by Walter Lappert when he retired to Hawaii with his second wife Mary and opened an ice cream store.Brown, E. (2011) Scoop: 150 Specialty Ice Creams from the Nation's Best Creameries p.78. Running Press. . Retrieved November 2011The Union Democrat (Jan 23, 1986) Hobbies turn into new job Retrieved November 2011 The first batch of ice cream was created on the island of Kauai on December 21, 1983.

Lappert's ice cream is featured in many other independently owned stores. To date, the company has created 8 unique, original flavors which address specific regional demands.Johnson, M.L., (2007) USA Today (Online) Grape-Nuts, dates, red beans: Regional ice cream shops mix it up Retrieved November 2011The Bryan Times (Jun 6, 2007) Regional ice cream flavours. Retrieved November 2011

In addition to ice cream, the Lappert's roasts and sells gourmet coffee.

Walter Lappert's son, Michael Lappert, opened a California brand of his own and named it Lappert's Ice Cream.

 In fiction
 Baby StepsMcLoughlin, K.L. (2008) Baby Steps p.163. Hillcrest Publishing Group. . Retrieved November 2011
 Distant EchoesCoble, C. (2005) Distant Echoes (Book 1 of Aloha Reef series) p.176. Thomas Nelson Inc. . Retrieved November 2011
 Mahu MenPlakcy, N. (2010) Mahu Men: Mysterious & Erotic Stories p.26. ManLove Romance Press. . Retrieved November 2011

 References

 External links

Category:Ice cream parlors

Lappert 's is an ice cream manufacturer , producing " super - premium " ice cream , based on the island of Kauai in Hawaii .

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Question: what ice cream company is based on the island of kauai

Answer: Lappert's

Question: where is lappert's ice cream based

Answer: Kauai

Question: what kind of ice cream does lapperts make

Answer: super-premium

Question: what type of product is lapperts

Answer: ice cream

Question: what kind of ice cream does lappert's make

Answer: super-premium" ice cream

Question: where does lapperts ice cream come from

Answer: Kauai in Hawaii

Retrieved November 2011The Union Democrat ( Jan 23 , 1986 ) Hobbies turn into new job Retrieved November 2011 The first batch of ice cream was created on the island of Kauai on December 21 , 1983 .

In-depth news and talking heads waltzed over country music to lead the Chico radio market last fall.
Northstate Public Radio (KCHO-FM 91.7) and KPAY-AM 1290 tied for first in the share of total listeners, based on Arbitron Inc.’s ratings for fall 2005.
For the past year, country music ruled the highly segmented radio roost in the twice-yearly surveys.
The Blaze (KHSL-FM 103.5) was king in the spring but shared third place with Club 967 (KZAP-FM 96.7) in the fall. Country station KALF-FM 95.7 was first in fall 2004 but came in fourth last quarter.
Joe Oleksiewicz, KCHO’s program director, said the high placement is good news which he attributes to the station’s lineup. He noted that “Morning Edition” is the station’s best-ranked program, often ranking at or near the top compared to other morning programs.
“I’m impressed that the overall numbers are so good,” he said.
Northstate Public Radio is operated by Chico State University.
Noncommercial radio ratings aren’t listed alongside commercial stations but the data is the same, according to Arbitron spokeswoman Jessica Benbow. She said Arbitron provides commercial data to be used to help sell advertising. Noncommercial radio data is licensed to the Radio Research Consortium.
Benbow said many public radio stations appear to have a high market share, but didn’t have firm information.
“I believe it happens often,” she said.
KCHO’s No. 1 position appears to be unique among many Northern California radio markets although San Francisco’s KQED-FM 88.5 is the second-highest rated station in its market.
Chico community station KZFR-FM 90.1 ranks ninth. In Redding, KCHO’s sister station KFPR-FM 88.9 checks in at eighth. Capital Public Radio in Sacramento has two stations — KXPR-FM 88.9 and KXPR-FM 90.9 — which rank 11th and 12th there.
Nationally, KCHO is 16th on the consortium’s top 30 ranking of public radio stations based on their hold of the local market. Only one California public radio station — KCBX-FM 90.1 in San Luis Obisbo — has a larger piece of its local market.
The commercial news-talk format appears to fare better in San Francisco and Sacramento with KGO-AM 810 and KFBK-AM 1530 topping their respective cities’ charts.
Dino Corbin, general manager and co-owner of Deer Creek Broadcasting, said it’s great to have No. 1 bragging rights, but stations look at more specific data to target advertisers. Deer Creek owns KPAY, The Blaze and four other stations in Chico.
“Although that’s a nice fun thing, that doesn’t mean anything in our world,” Corbin said.
Arbitron’s publicly available data reports listeners older than 12 years who listen to the radio some time between 6 a.m. and midnight everyday. Radio stations pay Arbitron for more specific information breaking the numbers down based on certain time periods and a listener’s age and buying habits.
“Ratings — you can slice the bologna a lot of different ways,” Corbin said.
Looking at KHSL’s decline, Corbin said ratings for specific radio stations can swing from season to season. He said the station’s drop isn’t as great in its key demographic and it remains very highly ranked for women ages 18 to 49.
Corbin said Arbitron will begin averaging the ratings between two different periods to provide a more accurate picture. Arbitron collects its data by having people record their listening in diaries. The number of diaries and survey frequency depends on the market’s size. Arbitron collected 544 diaries in its twice-annual survey of Chico, the nation’s 199th largest radio market.
“The sample that we have is reflective of the population in that particular market,” Benbow said.
Although KPAY competes with Northstate Public Radio for a share of total listeners, Corbin said KPAY’s offerings of conservative talk shows don’t directly face-off with Northstate Public Radio’s mix of news and classical music.
KCHO can’t publicly compare its ratings to others, but Oleksiewicz is able to determine that younger, male listeners tend to listen to KCHO’s news programming while older, female listeners tend to skew towards classical music. In addition to “Morning Edition,” weekend fare such as “Car Talk” and “A Prairie Home Companion” are also popular.
Northstate Public Radio uses its ratings alongside pledge drives and listener feedback to determine how its programming is doing. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and others use the ratings to determine KCHO’s level of funding.
“It’s part of the mix,” Oleksiewicz said.
Staff writer Ryan Olson can be reached at 896-7763 or rolson@chicoer.com.

Question: when was the first ice cream cone made

Answer: December 21, 1983

Question: where was the first batch of ice cream created

Answer: Kauai

Question: what happened to the first batch of ice cream

Answer: Hobbies turn into new job

Question: what product was created on the island of kauai in 1983

Answer: ice cream

Question: what political party was founded on the island of kauai

Answer: Union Democrat

Question: when was the union democrat published

Answer: Jan 23, 1986

Question: jan 23, 1986 saw the first batch of ice cream created on the island of k

Answer: The Union Democrat