Benin

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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

  • Fri - Jul 21, 2017: Kenya Edge Out Benin in Davis Cup Thriller - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Nation] Kenya made it three wins on the trot after a hard fought 2-1 victory over Benin on Wednesday night in the ongoing Davis Cup Africa Zone Three Tennis Championship at the Solaimaneyah Club in Cairo.
  • Fri - Jul 21, 2017: Angélique Kidjo and Benin's Music Stars Say No to Child Marriage! - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Unicef] Cotonou, Benin -UNICEF international Goodwill Ambassador, Angélique Kidjo and UNICEF Benin national Goodwill Ambassador Zeynab Abib, along with seven of Benin's greatest artists have joined forces to create a song calling on the population to say NO to child marriage, as part of the national Zero Tolerance Campaign against child marriage.
  • Fri - Jul 14, 2017: 90% of Our Students Are Nigerians - Houdegbe Varsity - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Daily Trust] Lagos -The Chancellor, Houdegbe North American University, Republic of Benin (HNAUB), Prof. Octave Cossi Houdegbe has said the institution was established to support the economic wellbeing of West Africans.
  • Tue - Jun 27, 2017: Benin Students Learn Kite-Making At Confucius Institute - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Focac] Cotonou -Benin students at the Confucius Institute of the Abomey-Calavi University learned how to make traditional Chinese kites at a workshop here on Saturday.
  • Mon - Jun 26, 2017: Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui Visits Benin - AllAfrica News: Benin
    [Focac] From June 15 to 16, 2017, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui visited Benin, during which he met with Secretary-General of the Presidency and Minister of State Pascal Irénée Koupaki of Benin, and held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Aurelien Agbenonci of Benin, exchanging extensive views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern.