什麼是貝寧

正式名稱貝寧人民共和國（Republic of Benin）

舊稱達荷美（Dahomey，迄1975）

西非國家。面積約112,600平方公里。人口約6,591,000（2001）。首都︰波多諾伏（正式首都）、科托努（事實上的首都）。豐人和其相關種族構成全國人口的3/4，其他少數民族包括約魯巴人、富拉尼人和操伏塔語的種族。語言：法語（官方語）和豐語。宗教：傳統宗教（佔2/3）、伊斯蘭教和基督教（1/3）。貨幣：非洲金融共同體法郎（CFAF）。該國從內陸延伸到幾內亞灣，長約675公里，西北部為丘陵區，最高海拔650公尺。東部和北部是平原，南部是沼澤區，海岸線長達120公里。境內最長的河流韋梅河流入波多諾伏瀉湖，全長450公里，可通航200公里。屬開發中、中央計畫型經濟，主要以農業為主，並開發其近海油田。政府形式為共和國，一院制。國家元首暨政府首腦是總統，由總理輔佐。

1625年達荷美人或豐人在貝寧南部建立了阿波美王國。18世紀此王國勢力擴張到包括阿拉達和維達王國，17世紀時法國人已在那裏建立了要塞。1857年法國人重新在此區建立勢力，最後引起一連串的戰爭。1894年達荷美成為法國的保護地，1904年併入法屬西非的一部分。1960年取得獨立。1975年達荷美改名為貝寧。20世紀末，長期的經濟衰弱使勞工和政府之間的關係緊繃。

Benin

formerlyDahomeyCountry, western Africa. Area: 43,483 sq mi (112,621 sq km). Population (1997): 5,902,000. Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto). The Fon people and related groups constitute three-fifths of the population; minorities include the Yoruba, Fulani, and a Voltaic-speaking group. Languages: French (official), Fon. Currency: CFA franc. Religion: traditional religions (two-thirds of the population), Islam and Christianity (one-third). Extending about 420 mi (675 km) inland from the Gulf of Guinea, the republic consists of a hilly region in the northwest, where the maximum elevation is 2,150 ft (650 km). There are plains in the east and north, and a marshy region in the south, where the coastline extends about 75 mi (120 km). Benin's longest river, the Ouémé, flows into the Porto-Novo Lagoon and is navigable for 125 mi (200 km) of its 280 mi (450 km) length. Benin has a developing, centrally planned economy based largely on agriculture, and is developing its offshore oil field. It is a republic with one legislative house; the head of state and government is the president, assisted by the prime minister. In southern Benin, the Dahomey, or Fon, established the Abomey kingdom in 1625. In the 18th century the kingdom expanded to include Allada and Ouidah, where French forts had been established in the 17th century. In 1857 the French reestablished themselves in the area, and eventually fighting ensued. In 1894 Dahomey became a French protectorate; it was incorporated into the federation of French West Africa in 1904. It achieved independence in 1960. Dahomey was renamed Benin in 1975. At the end of the 20th century, its chronically weak economy produced tension between laborers and the government.