Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.28 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
24,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
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)
Communications: Internet country code
.bj
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
34.0% (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.01 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1,350 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
125.94 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
18.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$2.101 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$2.024 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$734.659 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$991.005 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.609 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$-1.609 billion (2023, World Bank)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$14.163 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
574.295 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.608 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
622.912 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.655 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$4.154 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$4.271 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$4.511 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$4.189 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
17.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
8.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
58.3% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
20.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
35.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
22.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
17.5% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
50.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,817 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$24.566 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$60.980 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
34.4 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
34.40 (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
27.2% (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.1% (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Imports - commodities
rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$4.925 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$5.296 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$6.189 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$4.929 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
9.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
1.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Labor force
6,644,562 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Population below poverty line
36.2% (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$49.374 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$52.51 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$60.980 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
8.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,600 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,700 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
1.7% of GDP (2023, World Bank)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
12.9% of GDP (1979, World Bank)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
1.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
1.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
1.6% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
2.6% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.2% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
2.9% (2025, World Bank)
Energy: Coal: consumption
164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
45.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
59.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
71.6% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
505,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
385 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
8 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
379,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
306,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
5.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
5.948 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Environment: Environmental issues
inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; droughts
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
41.8% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
31.4% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
26.5% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: other
29.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
106.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
63.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
43.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
34.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
32.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
26.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
59 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
145 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
53.4% (2025, World Bank)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
685,900 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
56.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Geography: Area: land
110,622 sq km
Geography: Area: water
2,000 sq km
Geography: Coastline
121 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
273 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography: Geography - note
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Geography: Irrigated land
530 sq km (2019)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,123 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
41.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
28.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
29.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Geography: Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Government: Administrative divisions
12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Government: Capital: etymology
the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "mouth of the river of death" in the native Fon language
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
6 29 N, 2 37 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Benin
Government: Country name: etymology
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: Country name: former
Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin
Government: Country name: local long form
République du Benin
Government: Country name: local short form
Benin
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSCotonou@state.gov https://bj.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
01BP 2012, Cotonou
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[229] 21-30-03-84
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[229] 21-36-75-00
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Agniola AHOUANMENOU (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
ambassade.washington@gouv.bj https://beninembassy.us/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 265-1996
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 232-6656
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)
Government: Executive branch: election results
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%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
12 April 2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
11 April 2021
Government: Flag
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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
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)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
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
Government: Legal system
civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
January 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
1/8/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
109 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
26.6%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1960
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Gilbert Jean DAGNON
Government: National color(s)
green, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 1 August (1960)
Government: National symbol(s)
leopard
Government: Political parties
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)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10-12,000 active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
0.7% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; compulsory service is 18 months (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
41.3% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
55.6% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.2% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
33.42 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
4.6% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
5.9% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
27.5% (2022)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
19.6% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Contraceptive prevalence rate
22.4% (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.3% of GDP (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.71 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
4.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
21 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
91.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
86.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 60.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
69.6% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
18% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
2.59 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
2.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.43 (2021, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
40.20 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
49.80 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
45.20 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
62.42 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
59.52 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: female
41.5% (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: male
62.6% (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
51.4% (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
518.00 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Median age: female
17.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
16.6 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.5 years (2017/18 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Beninese
People and Society: Net migration rate
0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
9.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.22 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Population
14,814,460 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.4% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: female
7,383,962 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: male
7,430,498 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 20.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
22.2% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
9 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
11 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
10 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.94 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.84 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
8.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
4.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.48 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.9% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
53.4% (2025, World Bank)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
27,294 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
16,974 (2025, UNHCR)
Transportation: Airports
10 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TY
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
other 6
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
6 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Cotonou
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
438 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.