Benin

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Located in West Africa, Benin forms as the narrow strip of land that spans from the Sahara in the north to the Gulf of Guinea in the south. The land is mostly formed by a dense tropical forest as well as several mountains. To the north it borders Burkina Faso as well as Niger, to the east it borders Nigeria, to the south it borders the Gulf of Guinea which is connected to the southern Atlantic Ocean and to the west it borders Togo.   

Benin, officially known as the Republic of Benin is located in Western Africa. It was incorporated by the French Empire at the end of the 19th century and was named Dahomey. After decolonization, it was renamed as Benin and has gained its independence in 1960. Right after its independence, it became subject to several coups when finally, the current government was established after 1974. After the start of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, Benin has shifted its politics towards a multiparty democracy.   

It has a total surface area of 115,000 square kilometers or 44,500 square miles which ranks it as the 100th largest state in the world. This makes Benin slightly larger than Honduras and slightly smaller than Eritrea.   

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Its total water surface is around 460 square kilometers or 177 square miles which ranks it as the 120th largest state in terms of water surface area.  

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Drinking water largely comes from underground wells. The quality of this drinking water is questionable. Around 0.4 percent of its surface consists of water. This water is mainly in the form of rivers that permanently flow throughout Benin   

On average, the temperature of Benin is around 27.2 degrees Celsius or 81 degrees Fahrenheit which ranks it as the 14th warmest state in the world. It is warm all year round and only has a dry and a wet season with the dry season starting from November until March and a wet season from April until October.   

Temperature

During the wet season, the average temperature can reach as high as 31.7 degrees Celsius or 89 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Its lowest temperatures are experienced during its dry season when the average temperature is around 22.2 degrees Celsius or 71.9 degrees Fahrenheit.   

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

On average, Benin receives around 110 centimeters or 43 inches of rainfall annually. This ranks Benin as the 86th state with the highest precipitation.   

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

The capital of Benin, Porto-Novo is home to around 230,000 people. The largest city however, is Cotonou with a population of 735,000 people which is also home to the seat of government. The capital that is closest to Porto-Novo is Lomé, Togo with a distance of 119 kilometers or 74 miles. The capital that is furthest removed from Porto-Novo is Funafuti, Tuvalu with a distance of 19,611 kilometers or 12,186 miles.   

The economy of Benin is characterized by being an underdeveloped agricultural economy. In order to transition away from this, the government of Benin is trying to attract foreign capital as well as starting investment in tourism and the modernization of its agricultural sector. Its main export product is by far and large cotton. Other sources of exports are gold as well as nuts which it trades with its main trading partners are China, India and Bangladesh.   

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

 

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

In total, Benin is a member of 14 international economic organizations. This ranks Benin as the 56th most economically interconnected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:  

  • Caribbean Development Bank 
  • Inter-American Development Bank 
  • International Monetary Fund 
  • World Bank Group 
  • World Customs Organization 
  • World Trade Organization 
  • Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States 
  • Caribbean Community 
  • Central American Bank for Economic Integration 
  • Central American Integration System 
  • International Renewable Energy Agency 
  • International Solar Alliance 
  • Group of 77 

The total GDP of Benin is around US$13.3 billion which ranks it as the 130th highest GDP representing a share of 0.016 percent of total global GDP.   

The GDP per capita is around US$1127. This ranks the citizens of Benin among the lowest in the world with a rank of 166.   

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) has shown that the average Afghani earns $517.54 per year. The figure below displays the average amount that inhabitant of other states earn for every 1$ that an average Afghan citizen makes.

Its GDP per square kilometer is around US$1156 or US$2994 per square mile. This ranks Benin as the 142nd highest GDP per service area globally.   

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

The purchasing power per capita is also among the lowest in the world and corresponds to around US$3000 per capita.   

The graph on the left displays the purchasing power parity of the rest of the world in relation to the purchasing power of 1$ in Benin. 

Most of the population of Benin is located in the south and consists of a several tribes with the Fon Being the largest tribe that represents around 40 percent of the total population of nearly 12 million people. The official language of Benin is French with several tribal languages spoken as well.   

Population

Population density

it is the 81st most densely populated state with 102 people per square kilometer or 265 people per square mile.   

Emigration

In total, around 665,000 people have emigrated from Benin. This represents around 5.6 percent of the total population. The main destinations of emigration are within the vicinity of Benin, with Niger representing around half of the total emigration, as well as economic migrants that are looking for work in France.   

Immigration

Benin is host to around 350,000 immigrants. This represents around 2.9 percent of the total population and around 0.14 percent of total global immigration. These immigrants mainly originate from states that directly border Benin.   

Literacy

The literacy rate of Benin is among the lowest in the world with a rank of 187. Even though enrollment to schools has increased to over 90 percent, the percentage of women is still under 80 percent. At present, Benin has a total literacy rate of 39.5 percent of the total population.   

Health

Healthcare in Benin is of relatively low standards due to the fact that it is a low-income country as well as centrally planned and often mismanaged interference from the government. With around three quarters of the population of Benin having access to healthcare, communicable diseases that are fairly easily treated are putting the lives of the Benin population at risk. The most prominent of these are respiratory diseases as well as malaria. On average, the life expectancy of the Benin citizens is around 62.9 years with women averaging around 64.5 years and men averaging around 61.2 years. This ranks Benin as the 132nd highest in the world.   

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Benin is a home to a wide array of religions which are fairly evenly spread out throughout its territory. It is ranked as the fifth most multi religious state in the world and provides freedom of religion towards all religions and has virtually no reports of discrimination.   

Around 48.8 percent of the population of Benin adheres to the Christian faith. The Catholic denomination represents the largest share within the Christian population. It is ranked as the 119th most Christian state in the world.   

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Islam is also fairly largely represented with its population residing mostly and the northern and northeastern part of Benin. It is ranked as the 54th most Islamic state with a share of 26.5 percent of the population adhering to Islam.   

There is no official data of Buddhists residing within Benin.   

Buddhism (share of the total population)

The same goes for people that adhere to Hinduism.   

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

A small African Jewish community resides within the capital of Benin where it has a small synagogue. It is estimated that around 0.03 percent of the Benin population adheres to the Jewish faith.   

Other religions (share of the total population)

Other religions that are largely represented within Benin are traditional African religions as well as religions that are related to voodoo which are practiced by specific tribes within Benin. It is estimated that around 12 percent of the Benin population adheres to these religions.   

Non-religious (share of the total population)

There is also a relatively large share of non-religious people within Benin which represent around 3.7 percent of the population.   

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

. In total, the Beninese Army receives around US$68.1 million which represents around 0.45 percent of its total GDP. This makes Benin the 146th largest military spender in the world.   

The military of Benin is officially called the Benin Armed Forces. It consists of an Army, Navy, and Air Force and the national police. The Beninese Army has received international training which has been provided by France, Belgium as well as North Korea

Military membership

It is, however, a member of four international military organizations which ranks it as the 101st most militarily interconnected state in the world. These organizations are:  

  • South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone  
  • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons International Atomic Energy Agency  
  • Non-Aligned Movement

Military membership

International wars

Since its independence, Benin has not been active in any international wars.   

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Benin is a member of 13 international political organizations which ranks it as the 60th most politically interconnected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:   

  • African Union  

  • Conseil de l'Entente  

  • International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Propery 

  • Member states of the Organization internationale de la Francophonie  

  • Organization of Islamic Cooperation  

  • International Criminal Court  

  • Interpol  

  • Association of World Election Bodies  

  • International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance  

  • South Centre (organization)  

  • World Organization for Animal Health

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

Benin is ranked as the 70th most democratic state in the world. This is due to its struggle that it has towards democracy as well as its dictatorial past. In recent decades, regular elections have taken place on the macro level, but on the local level it is relatively underdeveloped.   

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Benin is represented by a democratic republic with the president fulfilling the role as head of state as well as head of government. Its politics is characterized by a multiparty system which largely represents the different tribes within Benin.   

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