Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Benin
- Status
- Sovereign country profile
- Demonym
- Beninese
- Codes
- BJ / BEN
Daily discoveryDid you know?
Listed official languages include French.
BJRepublic of BeninSovereign country profile
Benin
Benin is in Western Africa. This profile brings its status, flag, geography, people, languages, and latest available indicators into one clear visual story.
FlagBEN · 020 / 207
🇧🇯 The flag shown for Benin. Profile code: BJ / BEN.
01Population15.2M
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
02CapitalPorto-Novo
Republic of Benin
03CurrencyXOF
West African CFA franc (XOF)
04Life expectancy61.3 years
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
National anthemL'Aube NouvelleNational anthem audio · Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons · 1:08
Basic info
Expanded country facts
Core identity, people, geography, government, and practical reference data in one scan-friendly board.
People
- Population
- 15.2M · UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
- Median age
- 18.2 years · UN DESA 2026 medium projection
- Languages
- French
- Largest cities
- Porto-Novo
Place
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Western Africa
- Area
- 112,622 km²
- Coordinates
- 9.5° N, 2.3° E
Practical
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Calling code
- +229
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Emergency
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Government
- Type
- republic
- Head of state
- Romuald Wadagni
- Head of government
- Patrice Talon
- Constitution
- Comparable date pending
Geography
- Connections
- This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical zones
- Highest point
- Mont Sokbaro
- Driving side
- Right
Compare profiles
See Benin
in context.
Start with a neighbor or a similar regional profile, then adjust the matchup across the complete atlas.
At a glance
Meet
Benin.
Benin is a world profile in Western Africa. Its status is sovereign country profile.
RegionWestern Africa
DemonymBeninese
Area112,622 km²
Calling code+229
Economy
The latest available indicators.
Economic values use the latest non-empty World Bank year from 2019–2026, shown below each figure.
GDP$24.6B2025 · current USD
GDP per person$1.7K2025 · current USD
GDP growth8.1%2025 annual growth
A deeper profile
People, systems
& everyday life.
Comparable facts are shown with clear dates and neutral framing. Gaps stay visible instead of being filled with guesses.
How people live
Urban 53.4%Rural 46.6%
World Bank · 2025- Median age
- 18.2 years
- Languages
- French
- Capital / principal city
- Porto-Novo
Ethnic and religious categories vary by national census and are not presented without a directly comparable, dated source.
Placed in context
Population0.4× atlas average
GDP#123 of 192
Population compares the 207 atlas profiles. GDP ranking includes profiles with a published World Bank value.
A concise timeline
Wikidata records the current state as dating from 1960. Earlier state forms, independence milestones, and later constitutional changes may use different dates, so this is a starting point rather than a complete national timeline.
- Government
- republic
- Head of state
- Romuald Wadagni
- Head of government
- Patrice Talon
- Current constitution
- Comparable date pending
Land and climate
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical zones
- Geography
- Benin is in Western Africa and has coastal access. Its listed area is 112,622 km².
- Highest point
- Mont Sokbaro
- Major rivers
- Profile-specific value pending
- Natural resources
- Profile-specific value pending
Practical essentials
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +229
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Plug types
- Profile-specific value pending
- Tipping
- Local customs vary by setting
- Emergency numbers
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Remember Benin
- Porto-Novo is the capital city.
- Benin covers 112,622 km².
- Benin has coastal access.
- It shares land borders with Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Togo.
- Listed official languages include French.
- Its international calling code is +229.
- The latest published population in this atlas is 14.8M (2025).
- The listed currency code is XOF.
Connected places
Neighboring profiles
Continue exploring across each listed land border or connected geography.
This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
Visual atlas
Benin in view
People & place
Country
essentials.
French
Languages listed in the open country catalog for Benin.
4 listed connections
This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
West African CFA franc (XOF)
The primary currency code and name used in the country catalog.
Identity card
Four essentials
BJTwo-letter country code
BENThree-letter country code
Porto-NovoCapital city
AfricaWorld region
Sources & notes
Numbers you can trace.
Statistics show their reference year because country data changes. Unavailable values are clearly marked instead of estimated.
- UN DESA World Population Prospects — population, age, sex balance, and longevity ↗
- World Bank — latest available economic indicators ↗
- World Bank — urban population share ↗
- Wikidata — government and current officeholders ↗
- National anthem audio source — L'Aube Nouvelle ↗
- Open country catalog — names, codes and geography ↗
- OpenStreetMap — map data ↗
Verified data & AI projection
Benin
Special Report.
Benin is profiled through long-run World Bank indicators covering the economy, population, health, work, technology, and environment. Western Africa context, regional connectivity, demographic direction, and long-run development indicators.
Current demographic baselineUN DESA · 2026
Medium projection from World Population Prospects, 2024 Revision
Executive read
What the numbers suggest
- Population has moved up since 2000, giving the report a clear demographic baseline.
- Life expectancy is higher than in 2000, showing the direction of health and longevity conditions.
- Recent GDP growth averages 7.1% across the latest 5 available observations.
Human development pressure
19.3MPopulation base
63.1 yrsLife expectancy
3.40Fertility rate
61.9%Internet access
2035 scenarios are simple educational trend projections from recent historical observations. They are not official forecasts.
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG
HighGDP growth
20005.86%
20258.07%
2035 base6.17%
Low6.84%Base6.17%High5.51%
recent average · % annual
people · SP.POP.GROW
HighPopulation growth
20003.08%
20252.40%
2035 base1.81%
Low2.02%Base1.81%High1.61%
linear trend · % annual
people · SP.POP.TOTL
HighPopulation
20007.2M
202514.8M
2035 base19.3M
Low17.6MBase19.3MHigh21.2M
compound trend · people
health · SP.DYN.LE00.IN
HighLife expectancy
200056.6 yrs
202461.0 yrs
2035 base63.1 yrs
Low62.3 yrsBase63.1 yrsHigh63.8 yrs
linear trend · years
people · SP.DYN.TFRT.IN
HighFertility rate
20005.94
20244.48
2035 base3.40
Low3.78Base3.40High3.03
linear trend · births per woman
people · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
HighUrban population
200038.3%
202553.4%
2035 base60.9%
Low58.2%Base60.9%High63.5%
linear trend · % of total
economy · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
HighInflation
20004.17%
20251.10%
2035 base1.20%
Low1.17%Base1.20%High1.24%
recent average · % annual
work · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
HighUnemployment
20000.86%
20251.59%
2035 base1.61%
Low1.60%Base1.61%High1.61%
recent average · % labor force
economy · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD
HighGDP per capita
2000$487.4
2025$1.7K
2035 base$2.7K
Low$2.3KBase$2.7KHigh$3.3K
compound trend · current US$
environment · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5
HighCO2 per person
20000.21
20240.49
2035 base0.36
Low0.40Base0.36High0.31
linear trend · t CO2e/capita
technology · IT.NET.USER.ZS
HighInternet access
20000.23%
202434.0%
2035 base61.9%
Low52.1%Base61.9%High71.6%
linear trend · % of people
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.CD
HighGDP
2000$3.5B
2025$24.6B
2035 base$53B
Low$40.8BBase$53BHigh$68.4B
compound trend · current US$
Educational projection, not an official forecast.Historical values are World Bank observations retrieved 2026-08-13. The 2026 demographic baseline is the official UN DESA medium projection from World Population Prospects 2024. The atlas's 2035 scenarios use simple trend math.