Age structure:
0-14 years:
47% (male 1,531,636; female 1,503,552)
15-64 years:
50% (male 1,551,867; female 1,660,845)
65 years and over:
3% (male 63,717; female 84,302) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.03% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 44.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 90.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
50.18 years
male:
49.24 years
female:
51.16 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Beninese
Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
37%
male:
48.7%
female:
25.8% (1995 est.)