Benin

Location

• Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
• sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Cotonou	679,012
Abomey-Calavi	385,755
Porto-Novo	264,320	Capital
Parakou	255,478
Godomè	253,262
Abomey	117,824
Djougou	94,773
Bohicon	93,744
Ekpé	75,313
Nikki	66,109

Size

• 43,483 square miles
• 112,620 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

History

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.

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

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.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990amendment 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
• 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 presidentelection/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 2021election 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%expected date of next election: 12 April 2026note: the president is both head of state and head of 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) 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 NAsubordinate 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 courtsnote: 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
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 109 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 1/8/2023parties 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 2026note: seat total includes 24 seats reserved for women

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $2.024 billion (2019 est.)expenditures: $2.101 billion (2019 est.)
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
• Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
• Agricultural Products: cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 43.1% (2022 est.)arable land: 31.4% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 6.7% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 4.9% (2022 est.)forest: 26.9% (2022 est.)other: 30% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports