Economy of Benin

Imports

Imports commoditiesfoodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Import partnersChina 37.2%, US 8.9%, India 6.7%, France 5.6%, Malaysia 5.3% (2012)

Exports

Exports commoditiescotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Export partnersChina 25%, India 23.5%, Lebanon 18.7%, Niger 4.3%, Nigeria 4% (2012)

Economy sectors

Agriculture productscotton, corn, cassava (manioc), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock

Industrial productstextiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Economy

Unemployment1.00 % (2012)1.00 % (2011)1.00 % (2010)

GDP - Official Exchange Rate8.36 Billion $ (2013)7.46 Billion $ (2012)7.29 Billion $ (2011)

GDP growth rate5.00 % (2013)5.40 % (2012)3.50 % (2011)

GDP per Capita (PPP)1,600 $ (2013)1,600 $ (2012)1,600 $ (2011)

GDP - Purchasing Power Parity16.7 Billion $ (2013)15.6 Billion $ (2012)15.0 Billion $ (2011)

GDP PPP per land area148 Thousand $ per square kilometer (2013)139 Thousand $ per square kilometer (2012)133 Thousand $ per square kilometer (2011)

Electricity

Banking

Central bank discount rate4.25 % (2010)4.25 % (2009)4.75 % (2008)

GDP decomposition by sector

Agriculture % of GDP31.6 % (2013)32.0 % (2012)

Industry % of GDP12.9 % (2013)13.0 % (2012)

Services % of GDP55.6 % (2013)55.0 % (2012)

Tourism

International tourism, number of arrivals220 Thousand (2012)209 Thousand (2011)199 Thousand (2010)

Debt, Current Account Balance and Budget Deficit

Public debt (Percentage of GDP)29.7 % of GDP (2013)31.9 % of GDP (2012)31.3 % of GDP (2011)

Current Account Balance (Percentage of GDP)-7.08 % of GDP (2011)-8.09 % of GDP (2010)-9.85 % of GDP (2009)

External Debt Stocks (Percentage of GNI)27.4 % of GNI (2012)25.8 % of GNI (2011)24.6 % of GNI (2010)

Short-term debt (percentage of total external debt)26.4 % of total external debt (2012)26.6 % of total external debt (2011)21.3 % of total external debt (2010)

Current Account Balance (Total)-699.30 Million $ (2013)-684.90 Million $ (2012)-699.90 Million $ (2011)

External Debt (Total)1.24 Billion $ (2013)1.12 Billion $ (2012)914 Million $ (2011)

External Debt (Percentage of GDP)14.8 % of GDP (2013)15.0 % of GDP (2012)12.5 % of GDP (2011)

External Debt per Capita120 $ (2013)112 $ (2012)98.0 $ (2011)