Country Benin Time zone WAT (UTC+1) | Capital Savalou (TBA) Area 13,931 km² | |
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Collines is one of the twelve departments of Benin. The departments that border Collines are Plateau, Borgou, Zou, and Donga. The main ethnic groups in the department according to the National population census are Yoruba of the Nagot group at 46.8% and the Yoruba of the Idasha at 14.9% for a total of 61.7% to constitute the majority, the Yoruba group is followed by the Mahi at 25.7% or just over a quarter of the regional population, while the Fon represent 13% of the population. The département of Collines was created in 1999 when it was split off from Zou Department. Since 2008, the capital is Savalou.
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Map of Collines Department, Benin
Per 2013 census, the total population of the department was 717,477 with 353,592 males and 363,885 females. The proportion of women was 50.70 per cent. The total rural population was 72.50 percent, while the urban population was 27.50 per cent. The total labour force in the department was 213,069 out of which 45.30 per cent were women. The proportion of households with no level of education was 57.60.
Geography
The region of Collines Department is characterized by plateaus ranging from 20 m (66 ft) above the mean sea level. The plateaus are split by valleys running from north to south, created by the Couffo, Zou and Oueme rivers. The southern regions receive two spells from March to July and September to November while the northern regions of the country receive one season of rainfall from May to September. The country receives an average annual rainfall of around 1,200 mm (47 in).
Demographics
Per 2013 census, the total population of the department was 717,477 with 353,592 males and 363,885 females. The proportion of women was 50.70 per cent. The total rural population was 72.50 percent, while the urban population was 27.50 per cent. The proportion of women in child bearing age of 15 to 49 years was 23.50 per cent. The total foreign population in the department was 9,647 which formed 1.30 per cent of the total population in the department. The propotion of assets of foreigners aged 10+ years was 42.80 per cent, while for the people aged 15-64 years, it was 41.60 per cent. The proportion of women in foreign population constituted 46.30 per cent. The number of households in the department was 129,159 and the average household size was 5.6. The intercensal growth rate of population was 2.60 per cent.
The average age of women during first marriage in the department was 21 and the average age at maternity was 28.2. The synthetic index of fertility of women was 5.1. The average number of kernels in a house was 1.3 and the average number of persons in a room was 1.9. The total labour force in the department was 213,069 out of which 45.30 per cent were women. The proportion of households with no level of education was 57.60 and the proportion of households with children attending school was 72.50. The crude birth rate was 37.6, general rate of fertility was 160.40 and the gross reproduction rate was 2.50.
Administrative divisions
The département of Collines was created in 1999 when it was split off from Zou Department and its capital is Savalou. Collines is subdivided into six communes, each centered at one of the principal towns, namely, Bantè, Dassa-Zoumè, Glazoué, Ouèssè, Savalou and Savé. Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, was a French colony till 1894. It gained independence during 1960 and was admitted to the United Nations. From 1960 to 1972, there was political instability with frequent change of leadership. Benin originally had six administrative divisions, but was further bifurcated to make it 12. Each deconcentrated administrative services, called directions départementales(DD) of the sectoral ministries, take care of two administrative regions. A law passed during 1999 empowered the territorial administration to local governments. Municipalities and communal councils have elected representatives who manage the administration of the regions. The latest elections of the municipal and communal councils were held during June 2015.