Benin

Code: BN | Region: Africa

Introduction

Background

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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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references

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Africa

Area

total

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112,622 sq km

land

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110,622 sq km

water

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2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries

total

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2,123 km

border countries

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Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km

Coastline

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121 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

continental shelf

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200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

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200 nm

Climate

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tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain

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mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation

highest point

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unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga

lowest point

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Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

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273 m

Natural resources

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small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use

agricultural land

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41.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)

forest

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28.5% (2023 est.)

other

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29.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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530 sq km (2019)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

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Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Population distribution

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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

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

total

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15,186,090 (2025 est.)

male

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7,500,771

female

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7,685,319

Nationality

noun

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Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective

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Beninese

Ethnic groups

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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

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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

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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

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45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)

15-64 years

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52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)

65 years and over

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2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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91.1 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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86.3 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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4.8 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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21 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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17.2 years (2025 est.)

male

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16.6 years

female

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17.7 years

Population growth rate

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3.26% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

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Urbanization

urban population

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50.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.84 male(s)/female

total population

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0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

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20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

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note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total

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51.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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57.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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47.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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63 years (2024 est.)

male

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61.1 years

female

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65 years

Total fertility rate

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5.3 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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2.59 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 60.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 67.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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2.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 20.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 39.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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9.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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4.8% (2025 est.)

male

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8.3% (2025 est.)

female

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1.5% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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19.6% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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65.7% (2022 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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5.9% (2022)

women married by age 18

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27.5% (2022)

men married by age 18

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4.6% (2022)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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18% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population

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51.4% (2022 est.)

male

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62.6% (2022 est.)

female

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41.5% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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10 years (2022 est.)

male

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11 years (2022 est.)

female

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9 years (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; droughts

International environmental agreements

party to

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Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Land use

agricultural land

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41.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)

forest

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28.5% (2023 est.)

other

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29.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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50.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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5.948 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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379,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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5.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

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306,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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32.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions

energy

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63.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture

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106.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

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34.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other

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43.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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685,900 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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56.9% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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145 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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59 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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26.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Republic of Benin

conventional short form

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Benin

local long form

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République du Benin

local short form

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Benin

former

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Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin

etymology

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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

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presidential republic

Capital

name

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Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)

geographic coordinates

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6 29 N, 2 37 E

time difference

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UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "mouth of the river of death" in the native Fon language

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history

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previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990

amendment process

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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

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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citizenship by descent only

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at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin

dual citizenship recognized

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yes

residency requirement for naturalization

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10 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

head of government

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President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

cabinet

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Council of Ministers appointed by the president

election/appointment process

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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

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11 April 2021

election results

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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

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12 April 2026

note

note: the president is both head of state and head of government

Legislative branch

legislature name

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National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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109 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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proportional representation

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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4 years

most recent election date

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1/8/2023

parties elected and seats per party

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

percentage of women in chamber

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26.6%

expected date of next election

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January 2026

note

note: seat total includes 24 seats reserved for women

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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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

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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

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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

note

note: jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office

Political parties

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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)

note

note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Agniola AHOUANMENOU (since 24 July 2025)

chancery

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2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

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[1] (202) 232-6656

FAX

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[1] (202) 265-1996

email address and website

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ambassade.washington@gouv.bj https://beninembassy.us/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)

embassy

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01BP 2012, Cotonou

mailing address

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2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120

telephone

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[229] 21-36-75-00

FAX

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[229] 21-30-03-84

email address and website

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ACSCotonou@state.gov https://bj.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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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

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1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

Flag

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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)

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leopard

National color(s)

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green, yellow, red

National anthem(s)

title

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"L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)

lyrics/music

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Gilbert Jean DAGNON

history

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adopted 1960

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c)

Economy

Economic overview

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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

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$56.424 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$52.51 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$49.374 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

text

7.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

6.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

6.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$3,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$3,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

text

$3,600 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$21.483 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

1.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

2.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

1.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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24.2% (2024 est.)

industry

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17.4% (2024 est.)

services

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48.9% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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58.9% (2024 est.)

government consumption

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9% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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34.7% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

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0.4% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

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18.8% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-21.8% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate

text

9.7% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

text

6.397 million (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

1.8% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

1.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

1.7% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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3.3% (2024 est.)

male

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3.6% (2024 est.)

female

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2.9% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

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38.5% (2018 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

text

34.4 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

3.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%

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27.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2023

text

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

text

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$2.024 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures

text

$2.101 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023

text

-$1.609 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$991.005 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2021

text

-$734.659 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2023

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$4.511 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$4.271 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

text

$4.154 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2023

text

$6.189 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$5.296 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

text

$4.925 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

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

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$6.309 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

606.655 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

622.912 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

554.608 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

574.295 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

56.5% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

71.1%

electrification - rural areas

text

45.5%

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

505,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

text

2 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

text

844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

385 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption

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164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

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164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

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40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

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8 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

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157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

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157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

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1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

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6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

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1,350 (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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(2024 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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18.2 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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126 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

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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

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.bj

Internet users

percent of population

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32% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

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24,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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(2023 est.) less than 1

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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Airports

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10 (2025)

Railways

total

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438 km (2014)

narrow gauge

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438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total

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6 (2023)

by type

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other 6

Ports

total ports

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1 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Cotonou

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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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)

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note: FAB is under the Ministry of Defense and is responsible for external security and supporting the DGPR in maintaining internal security, which has primary responsibility for enforcing law and maintaining order; the DGPR was formed in 2018 through a merger of police and gendarmes

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

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0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

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0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

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0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

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0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

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0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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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

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

Military - note

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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)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

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Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

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23,225 (2024 est.)

IDPs

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12,501 (2024 est.)