贝宁(Benin)

正式名称贝宁人民共和国（Republic of Benin）

旧称达荷美（Dahomey，迄1975）

西非国家。面积约112,600平方公里。人口约6,591,000（2001）。首都︰波多诺伏（正式首都）、科托努（事实上的首都）。丰人和其相关种族构成全国人口的3/4，其他少数民族包括约鲁巴人、富拉尼人和操伏塔语的种族。语言：法语（官方语）和丰语。宗教：传统宗教（占2/3）、伊斯兰教和基督教（1/3）。货币：非洲金融共同体法郎（CFAF）。该国从内陆延伸到几内亚湾，长约675公里，西北部为丘陵区，最高海拔650公尺。东部和北部是平原，南部是沼泽区，海岸线长达120公里。境内最长的河流韦梅河流入波多诺伏泻湖，全长450公里，可通航200公里。属开发中、中央计画型经济，主要以农业为主，并开发其近海油田。政府形式为共和国，一院制。国家元首暨政府首脑是总统，由总理辅佐。

1625年达荷美人或丰人在贝宁南部建立了阿波美王国。18世纪此王国势力扩张到包括阿拉达和维达王国，17世纪时法国人已在那里建立了要塞。1857年法国人重新在此区建立势力，最後引起一连串的战争。1894年达荷美成为法国的保护地，1904年并入法属西非的一部分。1960年取得独立。1975年达荷美改名为贝宁。20世纪末，长期的经济衰弱使劳工和政府之间的关系紧绷。

English version：

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.

参考文章

• 贝宁共和国的历史沿革专项地理