2021 Edition

Background

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. France began to control the coastal areas of Dahomey in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second five-year term in March 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016 after campaigning to restore public confidence in the government.

Area

land

110,622 sq km

total

112,622 sq km

water

2,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

121 km

Elevation

highest point

Mont Sokbaro 658 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

273 m

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Geography - note

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Irrigated land

230 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km

total

2,123 km

Land use

agricultural land

31.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.)

forest

40% (2018 est.)

other

28.7% (2018 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

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 at shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Age structure

0-14 years

45.56% (male 2,955,396/female 2,906,079)

15-24 years

20.36% (male 1,300,453/female 1,318,880)

25-54 years

28.54% (male 1,735,229/female 1,935,839)

55-64 years

3.15% (male 193,548/female 211,427)

65 years and over

2.39% (male 140,513/female 167,270) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

41.55 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.8% (2017/18)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

15.5% (2017/18)

Current Health Expenditure

2.5% (2018)

Death rate

8.21 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Benin has a youthful age structure – almost 65% of the population is under the age of 25 – which is bolstered by high fertility and population growth rates. Benin’s total fertility has been falling over time but remains high, declining from almost 7 children per women in 1990 to 4.8 in 2016. Benin’s low contraceptive use and high unmet need for contraception contribute to the sustained high fertility rate. Although the majority of Beninese women use skilled health care personnel for antenatal care and delivery, the high rate of maternal mortality indicates the need for more access to high quality obstetric care.Poverty, unemployment, increased living costs, and dwindling resources increasingly drive the Beninese to migrate. An estimated 4.4 million, more than 40%, of Beninese live abroad. Virtually all Beninese emigrants move to West African countries, particularly Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Of the less than 1% of Beninese emigrants who settle in Europe, the vast majority live in France, Benin’s former colonial ruler.With about 40% of the population living below the poverty line, many desperate parents resort to sending their children to work in wealthy households as domestic servants (a common practice known as vidomegon), mines, quarries, or agriculture domestically or in Nigeria and other neighboring countries, often under brutal conditions. Unlike in other West African countries, where rural people move to the coast, farmers from Benin’s densely populated southern and northwestern regions move to the historically sparsely populated central region to pursue agriculture. Immigrants from West African countries came to Benin in increasing numbers between 1992 and 2002 because of its political stability and porous borders.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6

potential support ratio

16.7 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

82.6

youth dependency ratio

76.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 72.2% of population

improved: total

total: 76.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 81.2% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 27.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 23.6% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 18.8% of population

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.9% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,000 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

75,000 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

female

51.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

62.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

57.23 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south; half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba (once counted as a Gur language) and Fulfulde

Life expectancy at birth

female

63.71 years (2021 est.)

male

60.02 years

total population

61.82 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

31.1% (2018)

male

54%

total population

42.4%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory diseases

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

Major urban areas - population

285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.123 million Abomey-Calavi, 699,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

397 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

17.6 years (2020 est.)

male

16.4 years

total

17 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

note

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Beninese

noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.6% (2016)

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

13,301,694 (July 2021 est.)

note

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

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 at shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

3.36% (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 16% of population

improved: total

total: 36% of population

improved: urban

urban: 58.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 84% of population

unimproved: total

total: 64% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 41.3% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2016)

male

14 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.47 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

4.5% (2018 est.)

male

3.2%

total

3.9%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

49% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Capital

etymology

the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "by the river of death" in the native Fon language

geographic coordinates

6 29 N, 2 37 E

name

Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended; amended 2019

history

previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Benin

conventional short form

Benin

etymology

named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies

former

Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin

local long form

Republique du Benin

local short form

Benin

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Patricia MAHONEY (since 4 July 2019)

email address and website

ACSCotonou@state.govhttps://bj.usembassy.gov/

embassy

01 BP 2012, Cotonou

FAX

[229] 21-30-03-84

mailing address

2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC  20521-2120

telephone

[229] 21-30-06-50

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jean Claude Felix DO REGO (since 17 July 2020)

email address and website

ambassade.washington@gouv.bjhttps://beninembassy.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656; [1] (202) 232-2611

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Patrice TALON elected to a second term; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.4%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.3%, other 2.3%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026)

head of government

President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage

note

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

Legal system

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Union Progressiste 56.2%, Bloc Republicain 43.8%; seats by party - Union Progressiste 47, Bloc Republicain 36; composition - men 77, women 6, percent of women 7.2%

elections

last held on 28 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gilbert Jean DAGNON

name

"L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)

note

note: adopted 1960

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for a Triumphant Benin or ABT [Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE]African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]Benin Renaissance or RB [Lehady SOGLO]Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Yayi BONI]Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]National Alliance for Development and Democracy or AND [Valentin Aditi HOUDE]New Consciousness Rally or NC [Pascal KOUPAKI]Patriotic Awakening or RP [Janvier YAHOUEDEOU]Social Democrat Party or PSD [Emmanuel GOLOU]Sun Alliance or AS [Sacca LAFIA]Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (includes PRD, MADEP)United Democratic Forces or FDU [Mathurin NAGO]

note

note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

cassava, yams, maize, cotton, oil palm fruit, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, vegetables, soybeans

Budget

expenditures

2.152 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

1.578 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B (2019)

Moody's rating

B2 (2019)

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2018)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$808 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$1.024 billion (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$2.476 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$2.804 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

The free market economy of Benin has grown consecutively for four years, though growth slowed in 2017, as its close trade links to Nigeria expose Benin to risks from volatile commodity prices. Cotton is a key export commodity, with export earnings significantly impacted by the price of cotton in the broader market. The economy began deflating in 2017, with the consumer price index falling 0.8%.During the first two years of President TALON’s administration, which began in April 2016, the government has followed an ambitious action plan to kickstart development through investments in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and governance. Electricity generation, which has constrained Benin’s economic growth, has increased and blackouts have been considerably reduced. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for a large proportion of investment in infrastructure projects.Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory, and has used equipment from donors effectively against such piracy. Pilferage has significantly dropped at the Port of Cotonou, though the port is still struggling with effective implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Projects included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) first compact (2006-11) were designed to increase investment and private sector activity by improving key institutional and physical infrastructure. The four projects focused on access to land, access to financial services, access to justice, and access to markets (including modernization of the port). The Port of Cotonou is a major contributor to Benin’s economy, with revenues projected to account for more than 40% of Benin’s national budget.Benin will need further efforts to upgrade infrastructure, stem corruption, and expand access to foreign markets to achieve its potential. In September 2015, Benin signed a second MCC Compact for $375 million that entered into force in June 2017 and is designed to strengthen the national utility service provider, attract private sector investment, fund infrastructure investments in electricity generation and distribution, and develop off-grid electrification for poor and unserved households. As part of the Government of Benin’s action plan to spur growth, Benin passed public private partnership legislation in 2017 to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, encourage new information and communication technology, and establish Independent Power Producers. In April 2017, the IMF approved a three year $150.4 million Extended Credit Facility agreement to maintain debt sustainability and boost donor confidence.

Exchange rates

currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

494.42 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

591.45 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

593.01 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

593.01 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

605.3 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$3.85 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$3.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, refined petroleum, gold, cashews, copper (2019)

Exports - partners

Nigeria 25%, Bangladesh 14%, United Arab Emirates 14%, India 13%, China 8%, Vietnam 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

31.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

13.1% (2017 est.)

household consumption

70.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-43% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

27.6% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

26.1% (2017 est.)

industry

22.8% (2017 est.)

services

51.1% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.315 billion (2018 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

47.8 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29% (2003)

lowest 10%

3.1%

Imports

Imports 2017

$5.035 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$4.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$4.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

rice, cars, palm oil, electricity, cotton (2019)

Imports - partners

China 28%, Thailand 9%, India 8%, Togo 6%, United States 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2017 est.)

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

0% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

1.7% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

-0.8% (2019 est.)

Labor force

3.662 million (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line

38.5% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

54.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$36.3 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$38.79 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$40.29 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

2.1% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

4% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

5.6% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$3,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$3,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$3,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$57.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$698.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2014

1% (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

4.5% (2018 est.)

male

3.2%

total

3.9%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.143 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.088 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

321,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

335 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

9% (2019)

electrification - total population

33% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

58% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

38,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

1,514 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

38,040 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2020 est.)

total

29,981 (2020)

Broadcast media

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station providing a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio broadcast stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019)

Internet country code

.bj

Internet users

percent of population

28.4% (2019 est.)

total

3.5 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity only about 1 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly, exceeding 91 per 100 persons (2020)

general assessment

Benin’s telecom market is restricted by poor fixed-line infrastructure; low use of fixed-line voice and Internet; mobile networks account for almost all Internet and voice traffic; progress on fiber infrastructure through World Bank and the government investment to extend broadband and develop Smart Government program; monopolized fixed-line Internet services access is limited; ICT development will provide telecom services to 80% of the country, mostly via mobile and DSL infrastructure; Benin Smart City construction has begun; improved international Internet connectivity supports growth of m-commerce and m-banking; submarine cable connectivity from African coast to Europe (2020)

international

country code - 229; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC and ACE fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, and most West African countries; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

32,386 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

91.9 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

11,140,891 (2020)

Airports

total

6 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

total

5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TY

Merchant marine

by type

other 6 (2021)

total

6

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

805,347 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

112,392 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Pipelines

134 km gas

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Cotonou

major seaport(s)

Cotonou

Railways

narrow gauge

438 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

total

438 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

1,400 km (2006)

total

16,000 km (2006)

unpaved

14,600 km (2006)

Waterways

150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011)

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.”

Military - note

as of 2021, Benin participated in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram along with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; the Benin military contingent is in charge of MNJTF garrison duties the FAB has a close working relationship with the Belgian armed forces; the Belgians offer advice, training, and secondhand equipment donations, and deploy to Benin for limited military exercises

Military and security forces

Benin Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB): Army, Navy, Air Force; Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Benin Armed Forces (FAB) are comprised of approximately 7,000 active duty troops; est. 5,000 Republican Police (2021)

Military deployments

250 Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAB is equipped with a small mix of mostly older French and Soviet-era equipment (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.1% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.3% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

0.9% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

0.7% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; a higher education diploma is required; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2019)

Disputes - international

talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualou; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved

Illicit drugs

a significant transit and departure country for cocaine shipments in Africa destined for Europe

Terrorist group(s)

al-Qa’ida (Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (2020)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

6.48 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

5.8 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

33.11 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification (the spread of the desert into agricultural lands in the north is accelerated by regular droughts)

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

31.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.)

forest

40% (2018 est.)

other

28.7% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory diseases

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

2.24% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

26.39 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

59 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

30 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

145 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

49% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

685,936 tons (1993 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

171,484 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

25% (2005 est.)