Data as of Nov 4, 2026, 4:51 PM UTC

SERIAL · 204Africa

Benin

CapitalPorto-Novo

CurrencyXOF · West African CFA franc

LanguageFrench

Area114,760 km²

Since1960

ISOBEN · BJ

Population

14.8Mas of 2025

— THE COUNTRY —

Country in West Africa

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 112,622 km2 (43,484 sq mi), and its population in 2026 was estimated to be approximately 15 million. It is a tropical country with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture and the exports of palm oil and cotton.

Text: Wikipedia — BeninCC BY-SA 4.0 · revised 2026-10-29

— FACTS —

Capital: Porto-Novo
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Official language: French
Drives on the: Right
Calling code: +229
Licence plate code: DY
Top-level domain: .bj
Independence / founding: 01 Aug 1960
Highest point: Mont Sokbaro (658 m)
Lowest point: Bight of Benin (0 m)
Anthem: L'Aube Nouvelle

Facts: Wikidata (CC0) · as of 2026-11-04

— LAND —

Land covered by forest

28.1%% of land area

#114 of 2132024

89% of world average

Forest area

31,333km²

#91 of 2132025

17% of world average

Agricultural land

43.1%% of land area

#92 of 2092024

116% of world average

Farmable (arable) land

32.3%% of land area

#27 of 2062024

232% of world average

Land area

114,760km²

#102 of 2152024

18% of world average

— PEOPLE —

Population

14.8Mpeople

#75 of 2162025

39% of world average

Population growth

2.4%% per year

#27 of 2162025

243% of world average

Population density

128people per km²

#87 of 2152024

28% of world average

People living in cities

53.4%% of population

#147 of 2162025

84% of world average

Urban population growth

3.9%% per year

#23 of 2162025

258% of world average

People living rurally

46.6%% of population

#70 of 2162025

127% of world average

Population aged 0-14

41.3%% of population

#14 of 2162025

164% of world average

Population aged 15-64

55.6%% of population

#202 of 2162025

87% of world average

Population aged 65+

3.2%% of population

#189 of 2162025

29% of world average

▸ ISSUE 7 MORE

Age dependency ratio

79.9%% of working-age population

#15 of 2162025

139% of world average

Female population

49.8%% of population

#151 of 2162025

100% of world average

Births per woman

4.48births per woman

#14 of 2162024

191% of world average

Birth rate

33.4 /1,000per 1,000 people

#14 of 2162024

194% of world average

Death rate

8.7 /1,000per 1,000 people

#69 of 2162024

113% of world average

Net migration

-7,847people (5-year total)

#146 of 2162025

-7126% of world average

Migrants living in the country

2.9%% of population

#136 of 2152024

22% of world average

— MONEY —

GDP

$24.57Bcurrent US$

#125 of 2112025

4% of world average

GDP, purchasing power parity

$71.36Bcurrent int'l $

#117 of 1992025

7% of world average

GDP per person

$1,658current US$

#179 of 2112025

7% of world average

GDP per person, purchasing power parity

$4,817current int'l $

#168 of 1992025

14% of world average

GDP growth

8.1%% per year

#11 of 2102025

239% of world average

GDP per person growth

5.5%% per year

#24 of 2102025

232% of world average

Gross national income

$24.29Bcurrent US$

#124 of 2042025

4% of world average

Gross national income per person

$1,600current US$

#172 of 2032025

8% of world average

Gross national income per person, PPP

$4,760current int'l $

#168 of 1972025

15% of world average

▸ ISSUE 26 MORE

Inflation

1.1%% per year

#42 of 1902025

13% of world average

Inflation (GDP deflator)

1.6%% per year

#50 of 2092025

22% of world average

Real interest rate

4.6%%

#70 of 1342021

110% of world average

Lending interest rate

6.3%%

#95 of 1342021

55% of world average

Government revenue

12.9%% of GDP

not enough data to rank1979

49% of world average

Government consumption

8.9%% of GDP

#165 of 1812025

51% of world average

Household consumption

58.3%% of GDP

#108 of 1812025

90% of world average

Investment (gross capital formation)

35.8%% of GDP

#11 of 1782025

154% of world average

Fixed investment

35.4%% of GDP

#8 of 1732025

159% of world average

Gross savings

30.3%% of GDP

#35 of 1682023

138% of world average

Foreign investment inflows

$481.7Mcurrent US$

#120 of 2012025

6% of world average

Foreign investment inflows

2.0%% of GDP

#83 of 1982025

no comparison

Foreign investment outflows

0.2%% of GDP

#95 of 1792025

10% of world average

Current account balance

-8.2%% of GDP

#161 of 1912023

no comparison

External debt

$14.16Bcurrent US$

#63 of 1212024

18% of world average

Income inequality (Gini)

34.40-100

#75 of 1472021

97% of world average

People below the poverty line

27.2%% of population

#120 of 1472021

213% of world average

Income share held by richest 10%

27.2%%

#79 of 1472021

98% of world average

Income share held by poorest 10%

3.1%%

#45 of 1472021

111% of world average

Money sent home by workers abroad

$338.5Mcurrent US$

#128 of 1862023

7% of world average

Foreign aid received

5.3%% of GNI

#45 of 1372023

88% of world average

Exchange rate

582local currency per US$

#30 of 2112025

40% of world average

Agriculture's share of the economy

22.9%% of GDP

#30 of 1992025

230% of world average

Industry's share of the economy

17.5%% of GDP

#148 of 2022025

72% of world average

Manufacturing's share of the economy

10.2%% of GDP

#95 of 1952025

92% of world average

Services' share of the economy

50.1%% of GDP

#145 of 2022025

87% of world average

4 of 39 figures unavailable for Benin.

— TRADE —

Exports

17.1%% of GDP

#157 of 1872025

39% of world average

Imports

20.1%% of GDP

#172 of 1872025

40% of world average

Trade balance

-3.0%% of GDP

#95 of 1872025

no comparison

Total trade (openness)

36.4%% of GDP

#158 of 2052025

56% of world average

Goods exported

$3.99Bcurrent US$

#130 of 2072025

3% of world average

Goods imported

$4.95Bcurrent US$

#141 of 2072025

4% of world average

Services exported

$461.1Mcurrent US$

#160 of 1912023

1% of world average

Services imported

$1.54Bcurrent US$

#132 of 1912023

4% of world average

Goods and services exported

$4.51Bcurrent US$

#136 of 1912023

3% of world average

▸ ISSUE 3 MORE

Goods and services imported

$6.19Bcurrent US$

#138 of 1912023

4% of world average

High-tech share of exports

30.5%% of manufactured exports

#16 of 1792024

252% of world average

Terms of trade

103index

#98 of 2062024

98% of world average

— HEALTH —

Life expectancy

61.0 yrsyears

#208 of 2162024

82% of world average

Life expectancy, women

62.4 yrsyears

#207 of 2162024

81% of world average

Life expectancy, men

59.5 yrsyears

#208 of 2162024

83% of world average

Infant deaths

45.2 /1,000per 1,000 live births

#180 of 1962024

244% of world average

Deaths under age 5

74.7 /1,000per 1,000 live births

#185 of 1962024

309% of world average

Maternal deaths

518per 100,000 live births

#187 of 1942023

446% of world average

Health spending

3.3%% of GDP

#172 of 1932023

49% of world average

Health spending per person

$47current US$

#176 of 1932023

3% of world average

Physicians

0.2 /1,000per 1,000 people

#155 of 1872023

10% of world average

▸ ISSUE 10 MORE

Nurses and midwives

0.6 /1,000per 1,000 people

#182 of 1962023

13% of world average

Hospital beds

0.4 /1,000per 1,000 people

#149 of 1572021

15% of world average

Access to clean drinking water

69.6%% of population

#191 of 2142024

77% of world average

Access to basic sanitation

22.2%% of population

#204 of 2132024

28% of world average

Suicide rate

7.12per 100,000 people

#89 of 1852021

83% of world average

Adults who smoke

7.4%% of adults

#12 of 1662024

37% of world average

HIV prevalence

0.7%% aged 15-49

#98 of 1532024

51% of world average

Tuberculosis cases

40per 100,000 people

#100 of 2082024

40% of world average

Undernourishment

11.1%% of population

#126 of 1682024

110% of world average

Children vaccinated against measles

44.0%% of children 12-23 months

#189 of 1932024

51% of world average

— LEARNING —

Education spending

3.2%% of GDP

#137 of 1902023

75% of world average

Education spending

18.0%% of government spending

#32 of 1892025

133% of world average

Adult literacy

51.4%% aged 15+

#109 of 1192022

61% of world average

Youth literacy

71.3%% aged 15-24

#114 of 1262022

78% of world average

Primary school enrolment

108.0%% gross

#42 of 2002022

107% of world average

Secondary school enrolment

43.6%% gross

#173 of 1882022

50% of world average

University enrolment

10.2%% gross

#149 of 1672022

21% of world average

Primary school completion

61.6%% of relevant age group

#163 of 1802022

69% of world average

Pupils per teacher, primary school

39.2pupils per teacher

#141 of 1602018

177% of world average

▸ ISSUE 1 MORE

Years of compulsory education

6.0 yrsyears

#177 of 1972025

60% of world average

— WORK —

Unemployment

1.6%% of labour force

#13 of 1862025

23% of world average

Youth unemployment

2.9%% of labour force aged 15-24

#11 of 1862025

18% of world average

Labour force participation

76.4%% aged 15+

#16 of 1862025

126% of world average

Women in the labour force

75.2%% of women aged 15+

#10 of 1862025

147% of world average

Men in the labour force

77.6%% of men aged 15+

#33 of 1862025

111% of world average

Labour force

6.6Mpeople

#74 of 1862025

33% of world average

Working in agriculture

40.2%% of employment

#40 of 1862025

183% of world average

Working in industry

18.3%% of employment

#103 of 1862025

93% of world average

Working in services

41.4%% of employment

#152 of 1862025

71% of world average

▸ ISSUE 3 MORE

Self-employed

79.8%% of employment

#17 of 1862025

206% of world average

Labour force with advanced education

76.0%% of labour force

#104 of 1712022

100% of world average

Employed

75.1%% aged 15+

#13 of 1862025

133% of world average

— CONNECTED —

People online

34.0%% of population

#178 of 2072024

48% of world average

Mobile phone subscriptions

126per 100 people

#73 of 2102024

109% of world average

Fixed broadband subscriptions

0.277per 100 people

#185 of 2082024

2% of world average

Fixed telephone lines

0.00933per 100 people

#205 of 2132024

0% of world average

Access to electricity

59.0%% of population

#188 of 2142024

66% of world average

Access to clean cooking fuel

8.0%% of population

#172 of 1892024

11% of world average

Electricity used per person

123kWh per person

#140 of 1492024

3% of world average

Energy used per person

430kg oil equivalent per person

#131 of 1492024

19% of world average

Air passengers carried

899passengers

#163 of 1652016

0% of world average

▸ ISSUE 7 MORE

Air freight

0.00644million tonne-km

#146 of 1632016

0% of world average

Rail network

758route-km

not enough data to rank2006

7% of world average

Rail passengers

66million passenger-km

not enough data to rank2003

0% of world average

Container port traffic

510,896TEU

#86 of 1672019

9% of world average

Scientific journal articles published

437count

#106 of 1972023

3% of world average

Tourists arriving

337,000count

#139 of 1942019

7% of world average

Money earned from tourism

$240.9Mcurrent US$

#116 of 1752019

7% of world average

2 of 18 figures unavailable for Benin.

— NATURE —

Carbon emissions per person

0.487tonnes per person

#40 of 2032024

11% of world average

Carbon emissions

7.05Mt CO2

#78 of 2032024

4% of world average

Greenhouse gas emissions

17.8Mt CO2-equivalent

#80 of 2032024

7% of world average

Protected land

36.1%% of land area

#26 of 2132025

191% of world average

Protected coastal waters

0.8%% of territorial waters

#106 of 1742025

8% of world average

Freshwater withdrawn

1.3%% of internal resources

#31 of 1772022

1% of world average

Renewable water available per person

749m³ per person

#144 of 1832022

5% of world average

Renewable energy use

54.5%% of final energy consumption

#44 of 2122021

188% of world average

Electricity from renewables

0.3%% of total

#197 of 2062021

1% of world average

▸ ISSUE 3 MORE

Electricity from fossil fuels

92.6%% of total

#178 of 2092024

156% of world average

Electricity from nuclear power

0.0%% of total

#33 of 2082021

0% of world average

Energy imported (net)

43.8%% of energy use

#59 of 1432024

no comparison

— STATE —

Military spending

0.9%% of GDP

#133 of 1562025

40% of world average

Military spending

$216.9Mcurrent US$

#132 of 1602025

1% of world average

Military spending

4.8%% of government spending

#108 of 1532025

65% of world average

Armed forces personnel

12,000people

#124 of 1702020

7% of world average

Armed forces

0.2%% of labour force

#153 of 1682020

17% of world average

Tax revenue

10.8%% of GDP

not enough data to rank1979

64% of world average

Homicides

1.13per 100,000 people

#50 of 1582017

14% of world average

— TRADE PARTNERS —

Loading trade partner map…

— TRADE —

No trade data available for Benin.

— EXTRAS —

Anthem

L'Aube NouvelleAudio: Wikimedia Commons

Capital time

--:--:--Porto-Novo · approx. UTC+0

Neighbours

Landmarks

Royal Palace MuseumImage: Wikimedia Commons

W-Arly-Pendjari ComplexImage: Wikimedia Commons

People

Patrice TalonPresident of Benin between 2016 and 2026

Thomas Boni YayiBeninese politician and Former President of Benin

Angelique KidjoBeninese-French world music singer (born 1960)

Mathieu Kérékoupolitician (1933-2015)

Djimon HounsouBeninese actor

CiaraAmerican singer, songwriter, and dancer (born 1985)

Hubert Magafirst president of Benin (1916-2000)

Stéphane SessègnonBeninese footballer

Nicéphore SogloPrime Minister of Benin

Sourou-Migan ApithyBeninese politician (1913-1989)

Justin Ahomadégbé-TomêtinBeninise politician (1917-2002)

Ayra StarrBeninese-Nigerian singer

History

01 Aug 1960Benin founded as a sovereign state

01 Mar 1990Joined the United Nations

Size, side by side

Loading size comparison…

1960 → now

2026

Population14.8M2025

GDP$24.57B2025

GDP per person$1,6582025