| BACKGROUND |
| Official Name of the Country |
|
| National Anthem |
|
| National Day |
1 August |
| Capital City |
Porto-Novo |
| Other Major Cities |
Cotonou, Djougou, Abomey-Calavi |
| Official Language(s) |
|
| GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE |
| Location and Geographic Coordinates |
(9 30 N, 2 15 E) Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo |
| Total Area |
|
| Total Land Area |
|
| Total Water Area |
2,000 km² |
| Land Boundaries |
2,123 km |
| Border Countries |
4 border countries: Burkina Faso (386 km); Niger (277 km); Nigeria (809 km); Togo (651 km) |
| Coastline |
|
| Climate and Weather |
| Benin has a tropical climate (hot and humid) with two rainy and two dry seasons. The principal rainy season is from April to late July, with a shorter less intense rainy period from late September to November. The main dry season is from December to April, with a short cooler dry season from late July to early September. Its climatic condition is therefore typical of the West African climate which alternates between the monsoon (from the ocean) during the cool and wet season, and the high thermal amplitude harmattan wind that blows daily during the dry season (from the Sahara). These two sets of powerful winds (Monsoon and Harmattan) recede alternately towards North and South. Their point of contact, called the Inter-tropical Front (ITF), is the central point of all precipitation that causes atmospheric disruptions. Temperatures and humidity are high along the tropical coast. In Cotonou for example, the average maximum temperature is 31°C; the minimum is 24°C. |
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| SOCIETY AND DEMOGRAPHICS |
| Nationality |
|
| Human Development Index |
0.5 Index Value (2022) |
| Human Development Index Rank |
|
| Population, Total |
13,712,830 Number (2023) |
| Growth Rate of Population, Annual |
2.66 Percent (2023) |
| Total Fertility Rate |
4.82 Births per Woman (2023) |
| Population Density, per km2 |
|
| Adult Literacy Rate |
|
| ECONOMY AND SECTORS |
| Rate of Exchange, per USD, End of Period |
| 615 National Currency Units (2022) |
|
| GDP, Current Prices |
| 17,396,779,760 USD (2022) |
|
| GDP per Capita (Current Prices) |
|
| Government Expenditure on Education, % of GDP |
|
| Current Health Expenditure, % of GDP |
|
| Unemployment Rate, Ages 15+, Both Sexes |
1.38 Percent (2024) |
| Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Inward Flows (Current Prices in Millions) |
|
| ODA: Total, Net (Current Prices in Millions) |
844 USD (2022) |
| Merchandise Exports |
849,932,257 USD (2022) |
| Main Merchandise Export Partners |
Bangladesh, India, Egypt, China, Vietnam |
| Merchandise Imports |
3,580,403,546 USD (2022) |
| Main Merchandise Import Partners |
India, China, France, Belgium, UAE |
| Intra-OIC Merchandise Exports |
584,989,136 USD (2022) |
| Main Merchandise Export Partners (in the OIC) |
Bangladesh, Egypt, Chad, Niger, Pakistan |
| Intra-OIC Merchandise Imports |
1,062,119,226 USD (2022) |
| Main Merchandise Import Partners (in the OIC) |
UAE, Togo, Morocco, Türkiye, Pakistan |
| Natural Resources |
Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber |
| Main Agricultural Products |
Yams; Cassava; Maize; Cashew nuts with shell; Cotton lint |
| LOGISTIC |
| Time Zones |
UTC/GMT +01:00 |
|
|
229 |
| Electricity |
220 V, C / E |
| Emergency Numbers |
|
| Police |
117 |
| Ambulance |
|
| Fire |
112 |
|
|
| Presidency |
http://gouv.bj/ |
| Prime Ministry |
http://gouv.bj/ |
| Parliament |
http://www.assemblee-nationale.bj |
| Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries |
http://www.agriculture.gouv.bj |
| Ministry of Digital Economy and Communications |
https://numerique.gouv.bj |
| Ministry of Economy and Finance |
http://www.finances.bj |
| Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development |
https://www.cadredevie.bj |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation |
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.bj |
| Ministry of Health |
|
| Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research |
https://enseignementsuperieur.gouv.bj/ |
| Ministry of Industry and Commerce |
https://commerce.gouv.bj/ |
| Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport |
https://transports.bj |
| Ministry of Justice and Legislation |
https://www.justiceetlegislation.bj |
| Ministry of Labor and Civil Service |
http://www.travail.gouv.bj |
| Ministry of Secondary Education, Technical and Vocational Training |
https://www.enseignementsecondaire.gouv.bj/ |
| Ministry of SMEs and Employment Promotion |
https://emploi.gouv.bj |
| Ministry of Social Affairs and Micro-Finance |
https://social.gouv.bj |
| Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts |
https://tourisme.gouv.bj |
| National Statistical Office |
http://www.insae-bj.org/ |
| Central Bank / Monetary Authority |
http://www.bceao.int/ |
| Higher Education Authority |
http://mesrs-bj.org |
