Benin

COUNTRY FLAG	COAT OF ARMS

LOCATION MAP	AREA MAP

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: 12,864,634 (2020)

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

Major Ethnic Groups:

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: 1.8% (includes Europeans)

Religions:

Catholic: 25.5%
Muslim: 27.7%
Vodoun: 11.6%
Protestant: 13.5% (Celestial: 6.7%, Methodist: 3.4%, other Protestant: 3.4%)
Other Christian: 9.5%
Other: 11%

Language(s):

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

Links:

RECENT NEWS

Tue - Jun 30, 2020: Investigative Journalist Ignace Sossou Released From Prison - AllAfrica News: Benin
[MFWA] The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes the release from prison of Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou.
Fri - Jun 12, 2020: As Cases Rise Along With Economic Hardship, Countries Grapple With Safely Easing Lockdowns - AllAfrica News: Benin
[Africa Renewal] Some four months after the first COVID-19 case in Africa was reported in Egypt, countries on the continent are beginning to ease public health and social measures, such as lockdowns and curfews, imposed to curb the spread of the pandemic.