Country Profile: Benin

Benin, situated in West Africa, shares borders with Nigeria and Togo and has a coastline along the Bight of Benin. The country has a diverse population comprising around 42 ethnic groups, with the largest being the Fon. Benin's economy is primarily agrarian, relying heavily on cotton exports, while political governance has transitioned from military rule to a presidential republic since gaining independence from France in 1960. Despite progress, challenges such as poverty and political restrictions remain.

Geography

Benin is located in Western Africa, bordered by Nigeria to the east and Togo to the west. Its total area is approximately 112,622 square kilometers, with a mostly flat terrain and some hills. The climate varies from tropical in the south to semiarid in the north. The country has natural resources including small offshore oil deposits and timber and faces challenges like inadequate access to potable water.

41.8% of land is agricultural (2023 estimate).
The coastline measures 121 km.
Highest point reaches 675 m above sea level.

People and Society

With an estimated population of 15,186,090 in 2025, Benin's population is predominantly young, with a median age of 17.2 years. The country recognizes a rich tapestry of cultures and languages, with French as the official language and several indigenous languages spoken. Urbanization is notable, with 50.1% of the population living in urban areas as of 2023.

39.82 births per 1,000 population (2025 estimate).
Literacy rate is around 51.4% (2022 estimate).
Life expectancy at birth is 63 years (2024 estimate).

Economy

Benin's economy has shown robust growth, aided by agriculture, particularly as a cotton exporter. The GDP (PPP) is estimated at $56.424 billion for 2024, with a growth rate of 7.5%. However, the country copes with widespread poverty despite structural changes. The public debt is around 49.7% of GDP as of 2016.

24.2% of GDP comes from agriculture (2024 estimate).
Unemployment rate is projected at 1.8% (2024 estimate).
Exports were valued at $4.511 billion in 2023.

Government

Benin is a presidential republic with Porto-Novo as the constitutional capital and Cotonou as the seat of government. The country has seen significant political changes since independence, including a transition to democracy. The current president, Patrice Talon, has been in office since April 2016.

Voter eligibility starts at 18 years of age.
The National Assembly consists of 109 seats.
The most recent presidential election occurred on 11 April 2021.

Military and Security

The Beninese Armed Forces are responsible for national and internal security, comprising an army, air force, and national navy. Military expenditures are projected to represent 0.7% of GDP in 2024. The military faces threats from terrorist groups operating nearby, leading to increased troop deployments in border areas.

Estimated active military personnel range between 10,000-12,000 (2025).
The military service age is 18-30 years.
Participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

Energy

Benin's energy landscape relies heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to 96.7% of total electricity generation capacity in 2023. The country faces challenges in access to electricity, with 56.5% of the total population having access.

Installed electricity generating capacity stands at 505,000 kW.
Total energy consumption per capita is 6.472 million Btu (2023 estimate).
Electricity imports amount to 844.888 million kWh (2023 estimate).

Environment

Benin battles several environmental issues, such as water pollution, deforestation, and inadequate supplies of potable water. The country is a party to various international environmental agreements, including the Climate Change Paris Agreement.

41.8% of land is also classified as agricultural land (2023 estimate).
Municipal solid waste generated annually is approximately 685,900 tons (2024 estimate).
Carbon dioxide emissions are estimated at 5.948 million metric tonnes (2023).

Transportation

Benin has a limited transport infrastructure with a total of 438 km of railways and major reliance on its port in Cotonou. The country has 10 airports and a merchant marine consisting of 6 vessels.

The number of airports is expected to remain 10 by 2025.
Cotonou is the key port for maritime trade.
Railways are primarily of a narrow gauge type.

Communications

The communication sector in Benin is expanding, with 18.2 million mobile cellular subscriptions reported in 2024. The penetration of internet access stands at 32% as of 2023.

Fixed-line connections are limited, with 1,350 total subscriptions (2024).
Broadband subscriptions number about 24,000 (2023).
Official internet domain is designated as .bj.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	15,186,090 (2025 est.)
Area	112,622 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$56.424 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	39.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Unemployment Rate	1.8% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	63 years (2024 est.)
Urban Population	50.1% (2023)
Military Expenditures	0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	51.4% (2022 est.)