National Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Benin
- Official name (in French)
- République du Bénin
- Name etymology
the current name comes from a local ethnic group, the Bini, whose name may be related to the Arabic word bani, meaning "sons;" the former name, Dahomey, comes from a previous kingdom in the area called Dan Homé
Sources:- Constitution of the Republic of Benin - Fundamental Texts, Date: November 7, 2019 ↗ - Constitutional Court of Benin
- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- The National Emblem is the green, yellow and red tricolour flag. Starting from the hoist, a green band over the full height and over two fifths of its length, two equal horizontal bands: the upper yellow, the lower red.
- The green recalls the hope of democratic renewal.
- The red evokes the courage of the ancestors.
- The yellow urges the preservation of the country’s richest treasures.
Translated from the Constitutional Court of Benin Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Presidency of the Republic of Benin The meaning of the colours is explained in L’Aube Nouvelle, the national anthem of Benin.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Presidency of the Republic of Benin It was adopted on 16 November 1959 and used for the first time on 1 August 1960.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Presidency of the Republic of Benin ARTICLE 2 - The national emblem of the People's Republic of Benin is the rectangular flag with a width equal to 2/3 of the length, bright green in colour with a red star with 5 regular points.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Presidency of the Republic of Benin The Conference of the Active Forces of the Nation decided on the abolition of the green flag, national emblem of the People's Republic of Benin under the regime of the People's Revolutionary Party of Benin, and on the return to the former tricolour flag as it existed until 1976.
In legal terms, this means precisely repealing Ordinance No. 76-1 of 2 January 1976, which defined the flag of the People's Republic of Benin, and reinstating the description provided since 16 November 1959 by Law No. 59-23 defining the said tricolour flag.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- courconstitutionnelle.bj ↗ - the Constitutional Court of Benin
- gouv.bj ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of Benin
- sgg.gouv.bj ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of Benin
- sgg.gouv.bj ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of Benin
- National anthem
- L’Aube Nouvelle1:08
- Title (in French)
- L’Aube Nouvelle
- Title (in English, translated)
- The Dawn of a New Day
- Lyrics
ChorusEnfants du Bénin debout! La liberté d’un cri sonore Chante aux premiers feux de l’aurore; Enfants du Bénin debout!
1Jadis à son appel, nos aieux sans faiblesse Ont su avec courage, ardeur pleins d’allegresse Livrer au prix du sang des combats éclatants. Accourez vous aussi, bâtisseurs du présent, Plus forts dans l’unité, chaqu’jour a la tache, Pour la prosperité, construisez sans relâche.
Enfants du Bénin debout!2Quand partout souffle un vent de clère et de haine, Béninois, sois fier, et d’une âme sereine, Confiant dans l’avenir, regarde ton drapeau! Dans le vert tu liras l’espoir du renouveau, De tes aïeux le rouge évoque le courage; Des plus riches trésors le jaune est le présage.
Enfants du Bénin debout!3Tes monts ensoleillés, tes palmiers, ta verdure, Cher Bénin, partout font ta vive parure. Ton sol offre à chacun la richesse des fruits. Bénin, désormais que tes fils tous unis D’un fraternel élan partagent l’espérance De te voir à jamais heureux dans l’abondance.
Enfants du Bénin debout!Source: - Citizens
- Beninese
- Official name:Constitution of the Republic of Benin - Fundamental Texts, Date: November 7, 2019 ↗ - Constitutional Court of Benin
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Coat of arms:Image credit
- National flag:courconstitutionnelle.bj ↗ - the Constitutional Court of Benin
- National flag:gouv.bj ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of Benin
- National flag:sgg.gouv.bj ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of Benin
- National flag:sgg.gouv.bj ↗ - the Presidency of the Republic of Benin
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Total area
- 112,622 km²
- Land area
- 110,622 km²
- Water area
- 2,000 km²
- Land borders
- 2,123 km(4 countries)
- Nigeria
- 809 km
- Togo
- 651 km
- Burkina Faso
- 386 km
- Niger
- 277 km
Source:- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Coastline
- 121 km
- Terrain
Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains - Mean elevation
- 273 m
- Highest point
- 675 m
- Lowest point
- 0 mAtlantic Ocean
- Climate
Tropical hot, humid in south; semiarid in north - Avg. temperature
- 27.6 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 22.9 to 32.9 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,082 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 33.2 26.8 20.6 5 February 35.4 29.1 22.9 10 March 36.7 30.7 25 27 April 35.9 30.4 25.6 63 May 33.9 28.8 24.7 113 June 31.5 27.1 23.5 135 July 29.6 25.8 22.8 188 August 28.9 25.2 22.5 245 September 30 25.7 22.6 189 October 32.3 26.9 22.8 89 November 34.3 27.6 21.6 13 December 33.6 26.8 20.5 5 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable31.4%Perm. crops5.5%Pasture4.9%Forest28.5%Other29.7%
- Arable land
- 3,545,952 hectares (31.4%)
- Permanent crops
- 620,800 hectares (5.5%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 550,000 hectares (4.9%)
- Forest
- 3,208,034 hectares (28.5%)
- Other land
- 3,351,214 hectares (29.7%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Epidemics7.5Very high#9/191River floods6.7Very high#48/191Coastal floods1.8Very low#130/191Drought0.9Very low#153/191Earthquakes0.1Very low#127/191Tsunamis0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +2.40% per year+355,960 people/yearWorld Rank23rdof 237
- Birth rate
- 32.6 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 8.6 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −0.4 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 18.2 yearsWorld Rank221stof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years40.9%15-64 years55.9%65 years +3.2%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 3.2%
- Share aged under 18
- 47.5%
- Total dependency ratio
- 79
- Youth dependency ratio
- 73
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 6
- Sex ratio
- 1.01 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.2% 0.2% 70-79 0.7% 0.8% 60-69 1.5% 1.7% 50-59 2.7% 2.8% 40-49 4.2% 4.3% 30-39 6.2% 6.2% 20-29 8.5% 8.3% 10-19 11.7% 11.4% 0-9 14.5% 14.1% - 2026
- 1.94 above the replacement level for Benin ()4.34 births per womanreplacement 2.4012345World Rank14thof 237
- 1.83 daughters per woman0.83 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.52
- 2026
- +24.0 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 24.0 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −0.4 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 54.2% live in 8,221,652 urban residents
- Largest cities2013latest available
- Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou, GodomeyRankCity or TownPopulation (2013 census)1Cotonou679,0122Porto-Novo264,3203Parakou255,4784Godomey253,2625Abomey-Calavi117,8246Djougou94,7737Bohicon93,7448Ekpé75,3139Abomey67,88510Nikki66,109Source:
- National Institute of Statistics, Benin (2013 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- The population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west.
- Ethnic groups2013
- Fon and related38.4%Adja and related15.1%Yoruba and related12.0%Bariba and related9.6%Fulani and related8.6%Ottamari and related6.1%Yoa-Lokpa and related4.3%Dendi and related2.9%Other0.9%Foreigner1.9%
- Religions2013
- Muslim27.7%Roman Catholic25.5%Protestant13.5%Vodoun11.6%Other Christian9.5%Other traditional religions2.6%Other2.6%None5.8%
- Protestant
- 13.5%
- Celestial
- 6.7%
- Methodist
- 3.4%
- Other Protestant
- 3.4%
Source:- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Languages
- French (Français)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Institute of Statistics, Benin (2013 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President of the Republic is Head of State, elected by direct universal suffrage; a 2025 revision lengthened the term from five to seven years, kept the two-term limit and created a Senate (Arts. 1, 41, 42).Sources:
- Loi n° 90-32 du 11 décembre 1990 portant Constitution de la République du Bénin, as revised by Loi n° 2019-40 du 07 novembre 2019 ↗, Arts. 1, 41, 42
- Loi n° 2025-20 du 17 décembre 2025 modifiant et complétant la loi n° 90-32 du 11 décembre 1990 portant Constitution de la République du Bénin ↗, Arts. 1, 41, 42
- System of government
- PresidentialThe President also heads the Government and appoints its members after consulting the National Assembly's Bureau; ministers answer to the President, the Assembly has no confidence or censure vote, and the text gives no power to dissolve it (Arts. 54, 80, 113).Sources:
- Loi n° 90-32 du 11 décembre 1990 portant Constitution de la République du Bénin, as revised by Loi n° 2019-40 du 07 novembre 2019 ↗, Arts. 54, 80, 113
- Loi n° 2025-20 du 17 décembre 2025 modifiant et complétant la loi n° 90-32 du 11 décembre 1990 portant Constitution de la République du Bénin ↗, Arts. 54, 80, 113
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Government (in French)
- President (in French)
- Parliament (in French)
- Capital
- Porto-Novo264,320 people(2013)
- National holidays
- 14 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- ThuJan 8Vodoun Festival
- FriJan 9Vodoun Festival
- FriMar 20Eid al-Fitr (estimated)
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- MonMay 25Pentecost Monday
- WedMay 27Eid al-Adha (estimated)
- SatAug 1National Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- TueAug 25Prophet's Birthday (estimated)
- SunNov 1All Saints' Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- WATWest Africa TimeUTC+1
- Currency
- West African CFA Franc (XOF)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +229
- Internet TLD
- .bj
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- BJ, BEN
- Infrastructure
- Railways438 km
- Passengers carried
- 899 by the country's airlines(2016, latest available)
- Aircraft departures
- 10 by the country's airlines(2016, latest available)
- Air freight
- 0 million tonne-km(2016, latest available)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- TY
Sources:- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- 2025
- 45 / 100World Rank70thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 36 29 44 2013 36 30 42 2014 39 32 46 2015 37 30 44 2016 36 29 42 2017 39 32 46 2018 40 35 45 2019 41 36.7 45.3 2020 41 38.1 43.9 2021 42 38.1 45.9 2022 43 39 47 2023 43 37.9 48.1 2024 45 39.4 50.6 2025 45 39.4 50.6 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Loi n° 90-32 du 11 décembre 1990 portant Constitution de la République du Bénin, as revised by Loi n° 2019-40 du 07 novembre 2019 ↗ - Constitutional Court of Benin
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Loi n° 2025-20 du 17 décembre 2025 modifiant et complétant la loi n° 90-32 du 11 décembre 1990 portant Constitution de la République du Bénin ↗ - Secrétariat général du Gouvernement (Benin)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +7% per yearWorld Rank15thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $1,799 (166th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services50.1% of GDPIndustry17.5% of GDPAgriculture22.9% of GDPManufacturing10.2%part of industry
- Households
- +58.3%
- Government
- +8.9%
- Investment
- +35.8%
- Exports
- +17.1%
- Imports
- −20.1%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 0.8%down 0.3 percentage points0.3pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 6.4 million (45% of population)World Rank74thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 76.3% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 1.6%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 3.1% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $4.1 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 3.3% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 5.6% of GDP, $1.5 billion deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt54% of GDPInterest on debt1.8% of GDP
- Trade2023
- Goods$4.1 billion89.8%
- Services$461.1 million10.2%
- Total exports
- $4.5 billion
- Change from 2022
- up 5.6 percent on the previous year5.6%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- 2024
- −0.92World Rank114thof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +3.2% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Cashew nuts (in shell), Yams, Cow peas (dry), and 7 more
- 1Cashew nuts (in shell)36.8×
- 2Yams26.6×
- 3Cow peas (dry)13.4×
- 4Pineapples12.1×
- 5Cassava (fresh)9.6×
- 6Seed cotton (unginned)6.4×
- 7Sorghum3.2×
- 8Groundnuts (in shell)2.8×
- 9Oil palm fruit1.3×
- 10Maize (corn)1.3×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Average gross salary2022
- F CFA 84,525 per month$136 (USD), $411 (PPP)
- Median
- F CFA 60,000 per month($96)
- Men
- F CFA 95,886 per month($154)
- Women
- F CFA 57,628 per month($93)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2024
- F CFA 52,000 per month, gross$86 (USD), $261 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.515LowWorld Rank173rdof 193BeninWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Benin World 1990 0.351 0.608 1991 0.358 0.611 1992 0.363 0.614 1993 0.371 0.617 1994 0.375 0.620 1995 0.383 0.625 1996 0.389 0.631 1997 0.396 0.636 1998 0.401 0.641 1999 0.407 0.646 2000 0.415 0.651 2001 0.426 0.657 2002 0.435 0.662 2003 0.442 0.669 2004 0.449 0.675 2005 0.456 0.681 2006 0.462 0.688 2007 0.469 0.694 2008 0.475 0.698 2009 0.480 0.701 2010 0.485 0.707 2011 0.490 0.713 2012 0.497 0.717 2013 0.506 0.721 2014 0.509 0.726 2015 0.511 0.731 2016 0.510 0.735 2017 0.507 0.739 2018 0.507 0.741 2019 0.507 0.745 2020 0.504 0.742 2021 0.506 0.742 2022 0.512 0.752 2023 0.515 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2021
- 34.4
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 3.2 years
- Expected for a child today
- 10.4 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2022
- 51.4% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 3.2% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 15.8%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 34% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 38.4%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 18.2 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 1,350
- Fixed broadband
- 0.3 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2024
- 3% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 5%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 52%
- Mobile-money account
- 45%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 48%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 16,243 people
- Asylum seekers
- 7,013
- Internally displaced persons
- 27,10026,000 due to conflicts, 1,100 due to disasters
- Refugees from Benin abroad
- 1,126
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2020latest available
- 325,000 arrivalsup 5% against 20195% above 2019
- Per resident
- 2.5 arrivals per 100 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 29,000 arrivals
- $255.9 million(2023)
- $72 million(2023)
- Hotel beds
- 42,245
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2020A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 3 sites2 cultural1 natural
Site Type Royal Palaces of Abomey Cultural W-Arly-Pendjari Complex Natural Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba Cultural Source:- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- Medium4.7 out of 10Conflict and violenceSeverity by monthSep 2024 to Aug 2026What the score is made ofImpact of the crisis4.8Conditions of people affected4.6Complexity of the crisis4.6
Data reliability as rated by INFORM: High. Last updated Aug 26, 2026.
Source:- INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Crime rates
- 2 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Serious assault 44.3 5,335 2017 Kidnapping 4.4 530 2017 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2021
- 97 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 13,009
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 61.3 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 3.3% of GDP$47 per person
- Physicians2023
- 0.22 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2021
- 0.4 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 50.3 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 518 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 7 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2024
- 7.4% of adults
- Men
- 13.2%
- Women
- 1.6%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 26.8 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 7.05 Mt per yearup 2.3 percent on the previous year2.3% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 0.5 t per personWorld Rank172ndof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.02%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 7.64 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 2.13 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 0.95 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 17.8 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 24.6 µg/m³ of PM2.51.9 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted39thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- inadequate supplies of potable water
- water pollution
- poaching
- deforestation
- desertification
- droughts
Source:- The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- International agreements
- 19 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 91 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1993 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1993 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1994 CITES in force 1984 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 1986 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2005 Nagoya Protocol in force 2014 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2000 World Heritage Convention in force 1982 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1996 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1998 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2004 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1997 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) not a party MARPOL 73/78 in force 2000 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 22.1% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 26 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 1,918 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 61% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 0.2 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 25%
- Water stress
- 1% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 10.4% of the population1.4 million people
- Obesity2024
- 12.2% of adults
- Men
- 7.4%
- Women
- 16.8%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2021
- 19.6% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 7.82 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.02%
- Supply
- No meaningful productionproduces under 2% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Net importer, net 1.3 TWh in 2024, 70% of consumption1 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 1 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 1.8 TWh per year
- Imports
- 1.3 TWh per year
- Exports
- 0 TWh per year
- Net
- −1.3 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Production endedlast produced in 1998Oil reserves20258 million barrelsWorld Rank92ndof 99Consumption202447,217 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 0.7% of GDP$154.1 million, 3.8% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- estimated 10,000–12,000active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard)
- Military service2025
- Selective conscriptionmen and women 18–30, 18 months; voluntary 18–30
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service:The World Factbook: Benin - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
