Benin

COUNTRY FLAG

COAT OF ARMS
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LOCATION MAP

AREA MAP
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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: 10,879,829 (2015)

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

Major Ethic 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

  • Wed - Sep 13, 2017: Benin Superstar Building Bridges Between China and Africa - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Focac] "You can speak Chinese!"
  • Tue - Aug 22, 2017: European Museums to Return West African Artefacts - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [This is Africa] There is a demand for the return of stolen artefacts to the continent. Over 3,000 bronze statues were stolen from the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi after the British invaded Benin Kingdom and killed its inhabitants by sending a punitive force of 1,200 soldiers.