Benin, Africa
This post was last updated by José of onez on Monday, 19 May 2025.
Image of Porto-Novo, capital city of Benin
Benin is a West African republic with stable democracy, a growing Cotonou port corridor, and rich Vodun cultural heritage driving creative industries.
Benin in one word would be “Vodun,” meaning ancestral faith.
Benin Flag
Benin armorial
Benin is a country on the Sub-Saharan Africa located in the Western Africa sub‑region of the Africa continent.
Easy learning about Benin |
The capital city of Benin is Porto-Novo.
| Benin is located in | Sub-Saharan Africa Western Africa Africa Continent |
| Benin has a population of | 14,111,034 inhabitants within a total area of 112,620 Km2 (69,979 sq mi) (2023 UN data) |
| Benin’s Global Peace Index (GPI) | 114 (world rank position) GPI scale of 2.31 This means, the closer to 1, the more peaceful the country is... (2024 data from GPI) |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | Benin HDI ranks in position nº 173 worldwide HDI of 0.515 (0.4 to 1) (2023 data from UNDP) |
| Benin’s passport | allows visa-free entry to 64 countries Benin passport ranks 75th in the world (2025 HP Index data) |
| Benin GDP per capita is | $1,532 USD (2025 estimated data from IMF) |
| Benin ’s LGBTI legal status | Same-sex sexual acts are Legal (2025 ILGA data) |
| Benin EPI (English Proficiency Index) | is classified as Very low proficiency has a score of 413 ranks 108th worldwide (2024 data from EPI) |
| Latitude & Longitude | 9° 30' N, 2° 15' E Open in Google Maps |
| Neighbouring countries | Niger, Togo, Burkina Faso, Nigeria. |
| Benin Climate | tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north |
| Most predominant religion | Muslim, |
| Second most predominant religion | Roman Catholic, |
| Currency name & code | Franc (XOF) |
| Internet ccTLD | .bj |
| Benin calling code | +229 |
Benin administrative divisions
12 departments
- Alibori,
- Atacora,
- Atlantique,
- Borgou,
- Collines,
- Couffo,
- Donga,
- Littoral,
- Mono,
- Oueme,
- Plateau,
- Zou
ONEZ World Map
This map allows you to zoom, hover over a country to identify it, and click to view its article.
Take a look at the list of articles in my personal blog
...or head straight for the next reading
If for some reason you're feeling bored on this page, go travel and find out more about the world’s countries!