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Benin

This article is about the country, the Republic of Benin. For the pre-colonial kingdom in Nigeria, see Kingdom of Benin. For the city in Nigeria, see Benin City. For other uses, see Benin (disambiguation).

Republic of Benin
République du Bénin (French)
Motto: 
  • "Fraternité, Justice, Travail" (French)
Fraternity, Justice, Labour
Anthem: L'Aube nouvelle (French)
"The Dawn of a New Day"
Location of Benin (dark green)
Location of Benin (dark green)
CapitalPorto-Novo
Largest cityCotonou
Official languagesFrench[1]
National languages
List:
Ethnic groups
(2020[2])
Religion
(2020)[3]
Demonym(s)
  • Beninese
GovernmentUnitary presidential republic
• President
Patrice Talon
Mariam Chabi Talata
LegislatureNational Assembly
Independence 
from France
• Republic of Dahomey established
11 December 1958
• Independence
1 August 1960
Area
• Total
114,763 km2 (44,310 sq mi)[4] (100th)
• Water (%)
0.4%
Population
• 2022 estimate
13,754,688[5] (74th)
• Density
94.8/km2 (245.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $59.241 billion[6] (137th)
• Per capita
Increase $4,305[6] (163rd)
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $19.940 billion[6] (141st)
• Per capita
Increase $1,449[6] (163rd)
Gini (2015)Negative increase 47.8[7]
high
HDI (2021)Decrease 0.525[8]
low (166th)
CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
Driving sideright
Calling code+229
ISO 3166 codeBJ
Internet TLD.bj
  1. Cotonou is the seat of government.

Benin (/bɛˈniːn/ ⓘ ben-EEN, /bɪˈniːn/ bin-EEN;[9] French: Bénin [benɛ̃] ⓘ, Fon: Benɛ, Fula: Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin), and also known as Dahomey[10], is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. 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.[11] The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital.[citation needed] Benin covers an area of 114,763 km2 (44,310 sq mi),[4] and its population in 2021 was estimated to be approximately 13 million.[12][13] It is a small, tropical country. It is one of the least developed, with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture, and is an exporter of palm oil and cotton. Some employment and income arise from subsistence agriculture.[14][better source needed]

From the 17th to the 19th century, political entities in the area included the Kingdom of Dahomey, the city-state of Porto-Novo, and other states to the north. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast of West Africa from the early 17th century due to the high number of people who were sold and trafficked during the Atlantic slave trade to the New World. France took over the territory in 1894, incorporating it into French West Africa as French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France. As a sovereign state, Benin has had democratic governments, military coups, and military governments. A self-described Marxist–Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the multi-party Republic of Benin.[15]

The official language of Benin is French, with indigenous languages such as Fon, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi also spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Christianity (52.2%), followed by Islam (24.6%) and African Traditional Religions (17.9%).[3] Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophonie, the Community of Sahel–Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.

  1. ^ "Benin". Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ^ "PRINCIPAUX INDICATEURS SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIQUES ET ECONOMIQUES" (PDF). www.insae-bj.org (in French). INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA STATISTIQUE ET DE L'ANALYSE ECONOMIQUE. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Religions in Benin | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b Annuaire statistique 2010 (PDF) (Report) (in French). INSAE. 2012. p. 49. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Benin". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2022. (Archived 2022 edition.)
  6. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Benin)". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. ^ "GINI index (World Bank estimate)". databank.worldbank.org. World Bank. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  9. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
  10. ^ "Dahomey Announces Its Name Will Be Benin". The New York Times. 1975. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  11. ^ Hughes, R. H.; Hughes, J. S. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. IUCN. p. 301. ISBN 978-2-88032-949-5. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  12. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  13. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  14. ^ "FAO Initiative on Soaring Food Prices". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  15. ^ Global Logistics Assessments Reports Handbook. Vol. 1: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries. International Business Publications USA. 2008 [2015-10-06]. p. 85. ISBN 978-0739766033.

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