_#_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
_*Government #_Long-form name: Republic of Benin
_#_Type: dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
_#_Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)
_#_Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
_#_Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)
_#_Constitution: 2 December 1990