Quick Data on Benin
| Short Name | Benin |
| Capital | Porto-Novo |
| Long Name | Republic of Benin |
| Country Code | BN |
| Continent | Africa |
| Total Area | 112,622 sq km |
| Population | 12,864,634 |
| Language | French |
| Nationality | Beninese (singular and plural) |
Geography of Benin
As a country in Africa, with coordinates at 9 30 N, 2 15 E, Benin neighbors Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km. The terrain in Benin is described as mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains, with an average elevation point of 273 m. The climate of Benin: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north.
| Surface Total | 112,622 sq km |
| Land Surface | 110,622 sq km |
| Water Surface | 2,000 sq km |
| Land Boundaries | 2,123 km |
| Neighbor Countries | Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km |
| Coastline | 121 km |
| Lowest Elevation Point | Atlantic Ocean 0 m |
| Highest Elevation Point | Mont Sokbaro 658 m |
Resources of Benin
The country enjoys many types of natural resources, with the main ones being small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. The agricultural land occupies 31.30% of Benin, while the land covered with forests is estimated at 40.00%.
| Percent of Total Land | Surface Sq km | Data | |
| Agricultural Land | 31.30% | 34,625 sq km | 2011 est. |
| Irrigated Land | 230 sq km | 2012 | |
| Forest Land | 40.00% | 44,249 sq km | 2011 est. |
| Other Land | 28.70% | 31,749 sq km | 2011 est. |
Population of Benin
The population of the country is estimated at 12,864,634 people, with the biggest urban area having 285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.056 million Abomey-Calavi, 692,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2020). Known as Beninese (singular and plural), the people from Benin come from diversified ethnic groups such as 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.). The official language is French. 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.).
| Population | 12,864,634 |
| Nationality | Beninese (singular and plural) |
| Official Language | French |
| Other Languages | French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) |
| Birth Rate | 42.1 births / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
| Death Rate | 8.4 deaths / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
| Urban Population | 48.40% of total population (2020) |
| Physicians Density | 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2016) |
| Hospital Beds Density | 0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010) |
Governing Type of Benin
Benin is a presidential republic. The legal system makes use of civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law.
| Governing Type | presidential republic |
| Citizenship by Birth | no |
| Citizenship by Descent | at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin |
| Dual Citizenship | yes |
| Residency Requirement for Naturalization | 10 years |
| Suffrage Vote | 18 years of age; universal |
Economy of Benin
From a population total of 12,864,634, the labor force is 3.662 million (2007 est.). The main products in agriculture are: cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock. Among the main industries considerable for the economy are: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement. Its exports cover cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood. The main import products are: foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products.
| Exports | $1.974 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports | $2.787 billion (2017 est.) |
| Export Partners | Bangladesh 18.1%, India 10.7%, Ukraine 9%, Niger 8.1%, China 7.7%, Nigeria 7.2%, Turkey 4% (2017) |
| Import Partners | Thailand 18.1%, India 15.9%, France 8.5%, China 7.5%, Togo 5.9%, Netherlands 4.3%, Belgium 4.3% (2017) |
| GDP / Capita | $2,300 (2017 est.) |
| Electricity Production | 335 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electrification Rate | population without electricity: 8 million (2017) |
| Internet Users | 1,288,336 |
| Internet Penetration Rate | 12.00% (July 2016 est.) |
For latest imports and exports data we recommend checking the website for the National Bank of Benin, statistics sectio
