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Introduction
BACKGROUNDRepublic of Benin is a sovereign nation in Western Africa, Africa. The capital is Porto-Novo. The government is a sovereign state. Official/primary language(s): French. UN member since 1960.
CIA World Factbook (archived) · World Bank · Government Sources
14.5M
Population
$21.5B
GDP (Nominal)
N/A
Area
Porto-Novo
Capital
🌍
Geography
COREN/A
Total Area
Porto-Novo
Capital
Africa
Continent
+1 UTC
Timezone
Location
Region
Africa — Western Africa
Continent
Africa
Land Use
Forest Area
26.5%
World Bank (2023)
Arable Land
31.4%
World Bank (2023)
Total Area
N/A
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People & Society
DEMOGRAPHICS14.5M
Population
60.8 yr
Life Expectancy
4.6
Fertility Rate
52.5%
Urban Pop.
Population & Language
Population
14.5M
World Bank (2024)
Languages
French
Urbanization
52.5%
World Bank (2024)
Vital Rates
Birth Rate /1000
33.9
Death Rate /1000
8.8
Fertility Rate
4.6
Life Expectancy
60.8 years
Health Indicators
Infant Mortality /1000
46.4
World Bank (2023)
Under-5 Mortality /1000
77.9
World Bank (2023)
Maternal Mortality /100K
518
World Bank (2023)
Literacy Rate
51.4%
World Bank (2022)
Education
Literacy Rate
51.4%
World Bank (2022)
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
3.2%
World Bank (2023)
Internet Users
32.2%
World Bank (2023)
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Environment
CLIMATE & ECOLOGYEnvironmental Indicators
Forest Area (% of land)
26.5%
World Bank (2023)
Arable Land (%)
31.4%
World Bank (2023)
Renewable Energy (% total)
54.5%
World Bank (2021)
Access to Electricity
57.0%
World Bank (2023)
Water & Sanitation
Access to Safe Water
69.6%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Sanitation
22.2%
World Bank (2024)
Electricity Access
57.0%
World Bank (2023)
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Government
POLITICAL STRUCTUREOverview
Type
N/A
Capital
Porto-Novo
Official Name
Republic of Benin
UN Member Since
1960
Executive
Head of State
N/A
Head of Government
N/A
National Information
Currency
CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF)
Calling Code
+229
ISO Codes
BJ / BEN
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Economy & Growth
ECONOMIC DATA$21.5B
GDP Nominal
$1,485
GDP Per Capita
7.5%
GDP Growth
1.6%
Unemployment
GDP
GDP (Current USD)
$21.5B
World Bank (2024)
GDP Per Capita (USD)
$1,485
World Bank (2024)
Real GDP Growth
7.5%
World Bank (2024)
GNI Per Capita
$1,430
World Bank (2024)
Labor & Prices
Unemployment Rate
1.6%
World Bank (2024)
Inflation (CPI)
1.2%
World Bank (2024)
Poverty Rate (<$2.15/day)
27.2%
World Bank (2021)
GINI Index
34.4
World Bank (2021)
Trade
Exports (USD)
$4.0B
World Bank (2024)
Imports (USD)
$4.7B
World Bank (2024)
FDI Net Inflows (USD)
$543.0M
World Bank (2024)
Trade (% of GDP)
40.6%
World Bank (2024)
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Energy & Resources
ENERGYEnergy Access & Mix
Access to Electricity
57.0%
World Bank (2023)
Renewable Energy (% total)
54.5%
World Bank (2021)
Resource Indicators
Military Expenditure (% GDP)
0.7%
World Bank (2024)
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
3.3%
World Bank (2023)
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
3.2%
World Bank (2023)
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Communications
TELECOMInternet Users (% of pop.)
32.2%
World Bank (2023)
Mobile Subscriptions /100 people
116.0
World Bank (2023)
Calling Code
+229
Languages
French
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Transportation
LOGISTICSTransportation data for Benin is available through national government sources, ICAO (aviation), IMO (maritime), and the CIA World Factbook (archived). Key indicators include airports, roadways, railways, merchant marine fleet, and major ports.
CIA World Factbook (archived) · ICAO · IMO
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Military & Security
DEFENSEDefense Spending
Military Expenditure (% GDP)
0.7%
World Bank (2024)
Government Type
N/A
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Terrorism
GTI3.83/10
GTI Score
MODERATE
Threat Level
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Travel Advisory
Institute for Economics & Peace — Global Terrorism Index 2024 · US State Department Travel Advisories
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Transnational Issues
CROSS-BORDERTrafficking in Persons
Tier 2
US State Dept TIP Report 2024
Freedom Status
Partly Free (53/100)
Freedom House 2024
Travel Advisory
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
US Department of State
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Agriculture & Food Security
WORLD BANKArable Land (% of area)
31.4%
World Bank (2023)
Forest Area (%)
26.5%
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (AG.LND.ARBL.ZS, AG.LND.FRST.ZS)
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Financial Sector
WORLD BANKGovernment Debt (% GDP)
N/A
World Bank
FDI Net Inflows (USD)
$543.0M
World Bank (2024)
Currency
CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF)
World Bank WDI (GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS, BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD)
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Gender Equality
WORLD BANKMaternal Mortality /100K
518.0
World Bank (2023)
Fertility Rate
4.6
World Bank (2023)
Life Expectancy at Birth
60.8
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (SH.STA.MMRT, SP.DYN.TFRT.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.IN)
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Poverty & Inequality
WORLD BANKPoverty Rate (<$2.15/day)
27.2%
World Bank (2021)
GINI Index
34.4
World Bank (2021)
GNI Per Capita (USD)
$1,430
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SI.POV.DDAY, SI.POV.GINI, NY.GNP.PCAP.CD)
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Science & Technology
WORLD BANKInternet Users (% of pop.)
32.2%
World Bank (2023)
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions /100
116.0
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.CEL.SETS.P2, GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS)
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Urban Development
WORLD BANKUrban Population (%)
52.5%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Electricity
57.0%
World Bank (2023)
Access to Safe Water
69.6%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Sanitation
22.2%
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS, SH.H2O.BASW.ZS, SH.STA.BASS.ZS)
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Health (Expanded)
WORLD BANK + GOVLife Expectancy
60.8
World Bank (2023)
Infant Mortality /1000
46.4
World Bank (2023)
Under-5 Mortality /1000
77.9
World Bank (2023)
Maternal Mortality /100K
518.0
World Bank (2023)
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
3.3%
World Bank (2023)
Safe Water Access
69.6%
World Bank (2024)
Sanitation Access
22.2%
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SH.DYN.MORT, SH.STA.MMRT, SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS)
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Governance & Rule of Law
EXTENDED INTELLIGENCE42/100
CPI Score
3.92/10
Democracy Index
#67
Press Freedom Rank
Partly Free
Freedom Status
Corruption & Transparency
CPI Score
42/100 (Rank: #83)
Transparency International CPI 2024
Basel AML Index
N/A/10
Basel Institute on Governance 2024
FATF Status
N/A
FATF Mutual Evaluations
Democracy & Freedom
Democracy Index
3.92/10
Economist Intelligence Unit 2023
Freedom Status
Partly Free (53/100)
Freedom House FIW 2024
Press Freedom
Rank: #67/180
Reporters Without Borders 2024
State Fragility
Fragile States Index
73.2/120
Fund for Peace FSI 2024
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Trade & Sanctions
EXTENDEDExports (USD)
$4.0B
World Bank (2024)
Imports (USD)
$4.7B
World Bank (2024)
Trade (% of GDP)
40.6%
World Bank (2024)
FDI Net Inflows
$543.0M
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI · Global Affairs · OFAC · EU Sanctions Map
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All Data Sources
35+ SOURCESCIA Factbook (Archived)
CIA World Factbook — DISCONTINUED Feb 4, 2026. All 258 country pages removed from cia.gov. This platform preserves and extends Benin's data using 35+ alternative open sources.
World Bank Open Data
| Category | Key Indicators |
|---|---|
| Economy & Growth | NY.GDP.MKTP.CD, NY.GDP.PCAP.CD, FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG, SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Health | SH.DYN.MORT, SH.STA.MMRT, SP.DYN.LE00.IN, SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS |
| Education | SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS, SE.ADT.LITR.ZS |
| Environment | AG.LND.FRST.ZS, AG.LND.ARBL.ZS, EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Infrastructure | IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.CEL.SETS.P2, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Poverty | SI.POV.DDAY, SI.POV.GINI, NY.GNP.PCAP.CD |
| Trade | NE.EXP.GNFS.CD, NE.IMP.GNFS.CD, BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD |
| Demographics | SP.POP.TOTL, SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
International Risk & Governance Sources
| Source | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Transparency International | CPI — Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 |
| Freedom House | Freedom in the World 2024 |
| US State Department | TIP Report 2024 · Travel Advisories |
| Institute for Economics & Peace | Global Terrorism Index 2024 |
| Basel Institute on Governance | Basel AML Index 2024 |
| Fund for Peace | Fragile States Index 2024 |
| Economist Intelligence Unit | Democracy Index 2023 |
| Reporters Without Borders | Press Freedom Index 2024 |
| FATF / FSRBs | AML/CFT Mutual Evaluations |
| UNDP | Human Development Index |
| IMF | World Economic Outlook, Article IV |
| OECD | Comparative indicators |
| SIPRI | Military expenditure, arms transfers |
| UNHCR | Refugee data |
| IEA | Energy statistics |
Categories Coverage
This platform covers 25+ categories with 100+ data fields from 35+ validated sources. World Bank data is fetched via API v2 from the most recent available year (2018-2024). All risk indices use the latest published edition.
Social Protection & Labor
WORLD BANK