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Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Population:
6,395,919
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
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)
Area:
total: 112,620 sq km,
land: 110,620 sq km,
water: 2,000 sq km
Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
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