Background: 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.

Area
Total: 112,622 km²
Land: 110,622 km²
Water: 2,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Total: 2,123 km
Border countries (4): (4) Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation
Highest point: unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 273 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 29.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 530 km² (2019)

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

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

Population
Total: 14,697,052 (2024 est.)
Male: 7,253,258
Female: 7,443,794
Distribution: 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
Growth rate: 3.29% (2024 est.)

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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)
65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 91.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 86.7 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 17.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 16.6 years
Female: 17.7 years

Population growth rate: 3.29% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 40.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: 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

Urbanization
Urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 518 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 52.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 57.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63 years (2024 est.)
Male: 61.1 years
Female: 65 years

Total fertility rate: 5.34 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19.6% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1.8% (2024 est.); 1.7% (2023 est.); 1.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
Geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for 'new port'; Cotonou means 'mouth of the river of death' in the native Fon language

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

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)
Head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: 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: 11 April 2021
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: 12 April 2026
Note: the president is both head of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 109 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 1/8/2023
Parties elected and seats per party: Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28)
Percentage of women in chamber: 26.6%
Expected date of next election: January 2026
Note: seat total includes 24 seats reserved for women

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) to the right, with a vertical green band on the left side

National anthem
Title: 'L'Aube Nouvelle' (The Dawn of a New Day)
Lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
History: adopted 1960

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 7.5% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 6.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 7.5% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 6.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 58.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 34.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -21.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 24.2% (2024 est.)
Industry: 17.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 48.9% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 6.397 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (2024 est.); 1.7% (2023 est.); 1.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1.8% (2024 est.); 1.7% (2023 est.); 1.7% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $2.024 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $2.101 billion (2019 est.)

Exports: $4.511 billion (2023 est.); $4.271 billion (2022 est.); $4.154 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $6.189 billion (2023 est.); $5.296 billion (2022 est.); $4.925 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 505,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 385 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 56.5% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 71.1%
Access electrification - rural areas: 45.5%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 8 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.948 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 379,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 5.263 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 306,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 16.4 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 32% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 24,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Military expenditures: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 10 (2025)

Railways
Total: 438 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 6 (2023)
By type: other 6