Benin

Republic of Benin

Africa Porto-Novo

Population

15.19M

Area

112,622 km²

GDP

$21.48B

GDP Per Capita

$3,900

Pop. Density

135/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

FrWest African CFA franc(XOF)

Calling Code

+229

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Languages

French

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Beninese

Background

Present-day Benin is comprised of about 42 ethnic groups, including the Yoruba in the southeast, who migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century; the Dendi in the north-central area, who came from Mali in the 16th century; the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Ottamari in the Atakora mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the south-central area; and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja, who came from Togo, on the coast. The Kingdom of Dahomey emerged on the Abomey plateau in the 17th century and was a regional power for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The growth of Dahomey coincided with the growth of the Atlantic slave trade, and it became known as a major source of enslaved people. France began to control the coastal areas of Dahomey in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960, and it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.

A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and a Marxist-Leninist government. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU returned to power after elections in 1996 and 2001. He stepped down in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second term in 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016; the space for pluralism, dissent, and free expression has narrowed under his administration. TALON won a second term in 2021.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑205.4% since 2006

$7B (2006)$21B (2024)

Population

↑66.4% since 2006

8.7M (2006)14.5M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 60.8 years

2006: 58.0 years2023: 60.8 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography18

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total : 112,622 sq km
land: 110,622 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries

total: 2,123 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km

Coastline

121 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation

highest point: unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 273 m

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use

agricultural land

41.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)

forest

28.5% (2023 est.)

other

29.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

530 sq km (2019)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Population distribution

the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Geography - note

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

People & Society36

Population

total: 15,186,090 (2025 est.)
male: 7,500,771
female: 7,685,319

Nationality

noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups

Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.)

Languages

55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language), Yom (a Gur language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south; half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba and Fulfulde

Religions

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)
65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 91.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 86.3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 21 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 17.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 16.6 years
female: 17.7 years

Population growth rate

3.26% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

39.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.45 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

518 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 57.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63 years (2024 est.)
male: 61.1 years
female: 65 years

Total fertility rate

5.3 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.59 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 60.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 67.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 20.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 39.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 4.8% (2025 est.)
male: 8.3% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

19.6% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.7% (2022 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 5.9% (2022)
women married by age 18: 27.5% (2022)
men married by age 18: 4.6% (2022)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 18% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population: 51.4% (2022 est.)
male: 62.6% (2022 est.)
female: 41.5% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years (2022 est.)
male: 11 years (2022 est.)
female: 9 years (2022 est.)

Government23

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Benin

conventional short form

Benin

local long form

République du Benin

local short form

Benin

former

Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin

etymology

the current name comes from a local ethnic group, the Bini, whose name may be related to the Arabic word bani, meaning "sons;" the former name, Dahomey, comes from a previous kingdom in the area called Dan Homé

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "mouth of the river of death" in the native Fon language

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Legal system

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Constitution

history: previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990
amendment process: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

head of government

President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

most recent election date

11 April 2021

election results

2021: Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3%

2016: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%

expected date of next election

12 April 2026

Legislative branch

legislature name

National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

109 (all directly elected)

electoral system

proportional representation

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

most recent election date

1/8/2023

parties elected and seats per party

Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28)

percentage of women in chamber

26.6%

expected date of next election

January 2026

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic on the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de Répression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

Political parties

African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP
Benin Renaissance or RB
Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD
Progressive Union for Renewal
Republican Bloc
Sun Alliance or AS
The Democrats
Union Makes the Nation or UN (includes PRD, MADEP)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Agniola AHOUANMENOU (since 24 July 2025)
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
email address and website:
ambassade.washington@gouv.bj

https://beninembassy.us/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)

embassy

01BP 2012, Cotonou

mailing address

2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120

telephone

[229] 21-36-75-00

FAX

[229] 21-30-03-84

email address and website

ACSCotonou@state.gov

https://bj.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) to the right, with a vertical green band on the left side

meaning: green stands for hope and revival, yellow for wealth, and red for courage

history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

National symbol(s)

leopard

National color(s)

green, yellow, red

National anthem(s)

title: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)
lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
history: adopted 1960

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c)

Economy29

Economic overview

robust economic growth; slightly declining but still widespread poverty; strong trade relations with Nigeria; cotton exporter; COVID-19 has led to capital outflows and border closures; WAEMU member with currency pegged to the euro; recent fiscal deficit and debt reductions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $56.424 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $52.51 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $49.374 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 7.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$21.483 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1.4% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 24.2% (2024 est.)
industry: 17.4% (2024 est.)
services: 48.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

58.9% (2024 est.)

government consumption

9% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

34.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

18.8% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-21.8% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023)

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate

9.7% (2024 est.)

Labor force

6.397 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 1.7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 3.3% (2024 est.)
male: 3.6% (2024 est.)
female: 2.9% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.5% (2018 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 34.4 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 27.2% (2021 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.024 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $2.101 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023: -$1.609 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$991.005 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$734.659 million (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2023: $4.511 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $4.271 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $4.154 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities

gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)

Imports

Imports 2023: $6.189 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $5.296 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $4.925 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $6.309 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

606.655 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

622.912 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

554.608 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

574.295 (2020 est.)

Energy7

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 56.5% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 71.1%
electrification - rural areas: 45.5%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 505,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 385 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 8 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,350 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 18.2 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019)

Internet country code

.bj

Internet users

percent of population: 32% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 24,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Transportation5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

10 (2025)

Railways

total: 438 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 6 (2023)
by type: other 6

Ports

total ports

1 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Cotonou

Military & Security6

Military and security forces

Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB; aka Benin Defense Forces): Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Guard (aka Republican Guard)

Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 10-12,000 active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military is equipped with a mix of older, secondhand, and limited amounts of newer equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Germany, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, Spain, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; compulsory service is 18 months (2025)

Military - note

the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects

a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 23,225 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 12,501 (2024 est.)

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