Data as of Aug 2, 2026, 8:02 PM

SERIAL · 204Africa

Benin

CapitalPorto-Novo

CurrencyXOF · West African CFA franc

LanguageFrench

Since1960

ISOBEN · BJ

Population

—

— 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 2026-07-21

— 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 2026-08-02

— LAND —

5 of 5 figures unavailable for Benin.

— PEOPLE —

16 of 16 figures unavailable for Benin.

— MONEY —

External debt

$14.16Bcurrent US$

#63 of 1212024

18% of world average

Income inequality (Gini)

340-100

#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

▸ ISSUE 3 MORE

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

27 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 2 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

1 of 12 figures unavailable for Benin.

— HEALTH —

19 of 19 figures unavailable for Benin.

— LEARNING —

10 of 10 figures unavailable for Benin.

— WORK —

12 of 12 figures unavailable for Benin.

— CONNECTED —

18 of 18 figures unavailable for Benin.

— NATURE —

12 of 12 figures unavailable for Benin.

— STATE —

7 of 7 figures unavailable for Benin.

— 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 since 2016

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)

Ayra StarrBeninese-Nigerian singer

History

01 Aug 1960Benin — founding / independence (Wikidata)

Size, side by side

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1960 → now

2026

Population14.8M2025

GDP$24.57B2025

GDP per person$1,6582025