Benin

COUNTRY FLAG

COAT OF ARMS
flag_benin coatofarms_benin

LOCATION MAP

AREA MAP
locationmap_benin areamap_benin

INFORMATION

Capital: Porto-Novo

Government: Presidential Representative Democratic Republic

Current President: Patrice Talon

Economy:

  • Underdeveloped. Dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.

Population: 11,340,504 (2018)

Land Size: 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles)

Major Ethnic Groups:

  • Fon and related: 39.2%
  • Adja and related: 15.2%
  • Yoruba and related: 17.3%
  • Bariba and related: 9.2%
  • Peulh and related: 7%
  • Ottamari and related: 6.1%
  • Yoa-Lokpa and related: 4%
  • Dendi and related: 2.5%
  • Other: 1.6% (includes Europeans)
  • Unspecified: 2.9%
 Religions:

  • Catholic: 27.1%
  • Muslim: 24.4%
  • Vodoun: 17.3%
  • Protestant: 10.4% (Celestial: 5%, Methodist: 3.2%, other Protestant: 2.2%)
  • Other Christian: 5.3%
  • Other: 15.5%

Language(s):

  • French (official)
  • Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south)

Links:

RECENT NEWS

  • Sat - Oct 19, 2019: Expanding Sahara Leaves Broken Families and Violence in Its Wake - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [IPS] Bamako, Mali/Cotonou, Benin -Abdoulaye Maiga proudly displays an album showing photos of him and his family during happier times when they all lived together in their home in northern Mali. Today, these memories seem distant and painful.
  • Tue - Oct 15, 2019: What Benin, Niger Must Do to Get Borders Reopened - Govt - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Vanguard] Abuja -The Federal Government has commenced negotiations with the nation's neighbours, especially Benin Republic and Niger, with a view to re-opening Nigeria's borders with them.
  • Tue - Oct 15, 2019: Govt Denies Alleged Attack On Nigerian Mission in Cotonou - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Vanguard] The Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disowned a video circulating on social media purportedly showing an attack on the Embassy of Nigeria in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
  • Tue - Oct 8, 2019: Cotton Is Trade and That's Why It Matters - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [ITC] From Africa to China, cotton remains an important commodity across the world, but four states from West Africa - Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali (also known as the Cotton 4 countries) - have taken the initiative and applied to the United Nations General Assembly for official recognition of World Cotton Day on 7 October.
  • Fri - Oct 4, 2019: VP Taylor Holds Interactive Dialogue With Ecowas Volunteers - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Observer] VP Taylor (3nd from right) poses with Amb. Ajisomo and the Volunteers.