government: presidential republic

state of civil and political rights: Partly free

constitution: 2 December 1990; amended 2019

legal system: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law; has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

legislative system: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

judicial system: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

religion: Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)

death row:

year of last executions: 23-9-1987

death sentences: 0

executions: 0