Republic of Benin | |
|---|---|
Motto:
Fraternity, Justice, Labour | |
| Anthem: L'Aube nouvelle (French) "The Dawn of a New Day" | |
.svg) Location of Benin (dark green) | |
| Capital | Porto-Novo |
| Largest city | Cotonou |
| Official languages | French[1] |
| National languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2020[2]) | |
| Religion (2020)[3] |
|
| Demonym(s) |
|
| Government | Unitary presidential republic |
| Patrice Talon | |
| Mariam Chabi Talata | |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Independence from France | |
• Republic of Dahomey established | 11 December 1958 |
• Independence | 1 August 1960 |
| Area | |
• Total | 114,763 km2 (44,310 sq mi)[4] (100th) |
• Water (%) | 0.4% |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 13,754,688[5] (77th) |
• Density | 94.8/km2 (245.5/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total |  $59.241 billion[6] (137th) |
• Per capita | $4,305[6] (163rd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $19.940 billion[6] (141st) |
• Per capita | $1,449[6] (163rd) |
| Gini (2021) |  34.4[7]medium inequality |
| HDI (2022) |  0.504[8]low (173rd) |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Drives on | right |
| Calling code | +229 |
| ISO 3166 code | BJ |
| Internet TLD | .bj |
| |
Benin (/bɛˈniːn/ ben-EEN, /bɪˈniːn/ bin-EEN;[9] French: Bénin [benɛ̃] , Fon: Benɛ, Fula: Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin), is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey.[10] It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean.[11] The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital.[12] Benin covers an area of 112,622 km2 (43,484 sq mi),[13] and its population in 2021 was estimated to be approximately 13 million.[14][15] It is a tropical country with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture, and is an exporter of palm oil and cotton.[16][17]
From the 17th to the 19th century, political entities in the area included the Kingdom of Dahomey, the city-state of Porto-Novo, and other states to the north. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast of West Africa from the early 17th century due to the high number of people who were sold and trafficked during the Atlantic slave trade to the New World. France took over the territory in 1894, incorporating it into French West Africa as French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France. As a sovereign state, Benin has had democratic governments, military coups, and military governments. A self-described Marxist–Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the multi-party Republic of Benin.[18]
The official language of Benin is French, with indigenous languages such as Fon, Bariba, Yoruba and Dendi also spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Christianity (52.2%), followed by Islam (24.6%) and African Traditional Religions (17.9%).[3] Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophonie, the Community of Sahel–Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.
- ^ "Benin". Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "PRINCIPAUX INDICATEURS SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIQUES ET ECONOMIQUES" (PDF). www.insae-bj.org (in French). INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA STATISTIQUE ET DE L'ANALYSE ECONOMIQUE. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Religions in Benin | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Annuaire statistique 2010 (PDF) (Report) (in French). INSAE. 2012. p. 49. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "Benin". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2022. (Archived 2022 edition.)
- ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Benin)". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?name_desc=false
- ^ "Human Development Report 2023/2024" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
- ^ "Dahomey Announces Its Name Will Be Benin". The New York Times. 1975. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Hughes, R. H.; Hughes, J. S. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. IUCN. p. 301. ISBN 978-2-88032-949-5. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^
- Dossou, Krystel M.R.; Gléhouenou-Dossou, Bernadette (2007). "The vulnerability to climate change of Cotonou (Benin): the rise in sea level". Environment and Urbanization. 19 (1): 65–79. doi:10.1177/0956247807077149.
- Choplin, Armelle; Lozivit, Martin (2019). "Mapping a slum: learning from participatory mapping and digital innovation in Cotonou (Benin)" [Mettre un quartier sur la carte: Cartographie participative et innovation numérique à Cotonou (Bénin)]. Cybergeo 894. Translated by Alvin Harberts. doi:10.4000/cybergeo.32949.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
CIA Factbookwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "FAO Initiative on Soaring Food Prices". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ "Major Industries in Benin". Arise IIP. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Global Logistics Assessments Reports Handbook. Vol. 1: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries. International Business Publications USA. 2008 [2015]. p. 85. ISBN 978-0739766033.