Benin
sovereign state in West Africa
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Benin is a country in Africa.[1]
Its population is 14.1M (2023).[2] Its area is 115k.
Its time zone is UTC+01:00 and Africa/Porto-Novo.[3]
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Natural resources
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
People & Society
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.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 August (1960)
Legal system
civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$56.424 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$3,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
7.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
1.8% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Benin
Summary
Benin is a sovereign state[1]. Benin draws 12,985 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign_state category, ranking #59 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Benin was a member of United Nations[3].
- Benin was a member of African Union[4].
- Benin was a member of World Trade Organization[5].
- Benin was a member of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[6].
- Benin was a member of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[7].
- Benin was a member of International Development Association[8].
- Benin is on the body of water Atlantic Ocean[9].
- Benin's head of government is recorded as Patrice Talon[10].
- Benin is on the continent of Africa[11].
- Benin's instance of is recorded as sovereign state[12].
- Benin's instance of is recorded as country[13].
- Benin's head of state is recorded as Patrice Talon[14].
- Benin's capital is recorded as Porto-Novo[15].
- Benin's capital is recorded as Cotonou[16].
- Benin's official language is recorded as French[17].
- Benin's currency is recorded as West African CFA franc[18].
- Benin's shares border with is recorded as Burkina Faso[19].
- Benin's shares border with is recorded as Niger[20].
- Benin's shares border with is recorded as Nigeria[21].
- Benin's shares border with is recorded as Togo[22].
- Benin's top-level Internet domain is recorded as .bj[23].
- Benin's anthem is recorded as L'Aube Nouvelle[24].
- Benin's basic form of government is recorded as republic[25].
- Bight of Benin is named after Benin[26].
- Benin's contains the administrative territorial entity is recorded as Alibori Department[27].
Body
Geography
Benin is on the body of water Atlantic Ocean[9]. Benin is on the continent of Africa[11].
Designation and Status
Recorded instance of include sovereign state[12] and country[13].
History and Context
Bight of Benin is named after Benin[26].
Why It Matters
Benin draws 12,985 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign_state category, ranking #59 of 197).[2] Benin has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[28] Benin is known by 38 alternative names across languages and contexts.[29]