Benin

Present-day Benin is comprised of about 42 ethnic groups, including the Yoruba in the southeast, who migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century; the Dendi in the north-central area, who came from Mali in the 16th century; the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Ottamari in the Atakora mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the south-central area; and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja, who came from Togo, on the coast. The Kingdom of Dahomey emerged on the Abomey plateau in the 17th century and was a regional power for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The growth of Dahomey coincided with the growth of the Atlantic slave trade, and it became known as a major source of enslaved people. 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, and 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 a Marxist-Leninist government. 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 returned to power after elections in 1996 and 2001. He stepped down in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second term in 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016; the space for pluralism, dissent, and free expression has narrowed under his administration. TALON won a second term in 2021.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Table of Contents

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total : 112,622 sq km

land: 110,622 sq km

water: 2,000 sq km

comparison ranking: total 102

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries

total: 2,123 km

border countries (4): Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km

Coastline

121 km

Maritime claims

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

continental shelf: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation

highest point: unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 273 m

Natural resources

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use

agricultural land: 43.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 31.4% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 6.7% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.9% (2022 est.)

forest: 26.9% (2022 est.)

other: 30% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

530 sq km (2019)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

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, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Population

total: 14,697,052 (2024 est.)

male: 7,253,258

female: 7,443,794

comparison rankings: total 74; female 74; male 74

Nationality

noun: Beninese (singular and plural)

adjective: Beninese

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.)

Languages

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

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)

15-64 years: 52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)

65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 91.4 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 86.7 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 17.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 16.6 years

female: 17.7 years

comparison ranking: total 223

Population growth rate

3.29% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 4

Birth rate

40.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 3

Death rate

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 97

Net migration rate

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 75

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

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

Maternal mortality ratio

523 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 13

Infant mortality rate

total: 52.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 57.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 16

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63 years (2024 est.)

male: 61.1 years

female: 65 years

comparison ranking: total population 213

Total fertility rate

5.34 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 5

Gross reproduction rate

2.61 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

15.5% (2017/18)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 79% of population

rural: 70.8% of population

total: 74.7% of population

unimproved:

urban: 21% of population

rural: 29.2% of population

total: 25.3% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

2.6% of GDP (2021)

2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 56.3% of population

rural: 18.1% of population

total: 36.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 43.7% of population

rural: 81.9% of population

total: 63.4% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

9.6% (2016)

comparison ranking: 142

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 145

Tobacco use

total: 4.8% (2025 est.)

male: 8.3% (2025 est.)

female: 1.5% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 163

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.8% (2017/18)

comparison ranking: 26

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

68.3% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 5.9% (2022)

women married by age 18: 27.5% (2022)

men married by age 18: 4.6% (2022)

Education expenditure

3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

18% national budget (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 122

Literacy

total population: 51.4% (2022 est.)

male: 62.6% (2022 est.)

female: 41.5% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years

male: 12 years

female: 10 years (2020)

Environment

Environment – current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; 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

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023)

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

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 31.51 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 6.48 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 5.8 megatons (2020 est.)

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.)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

26.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Benin

conventional short form: Benin

local long form: République du Benin

local short form: Benin

former: Dahomey, People’s Republic of Benin

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

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

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

geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E

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

etymology: the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for “new port”; Cotonou means “mouth of the river of death” in the native Fon language

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990

amendment process: 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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

head of government: President Patrice TALON

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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 on 12 April 2026)

election results:
2021: Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote – Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3%

2016: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round – Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round – Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%

note: the president is both head of state and head of government

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 109 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 1/8/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28)

percentage of women in chamber: 26.6%

expected date of next election: January 2026

note: seat total includes 24 seats reserved for women

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic on 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; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de Répression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

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

Political parties

African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP
Benin Renaissance or RB
Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD
Progressive Union for Renewal
Republican Bloc
Sun Alliance or AS
The Democrats
Union Makes the Nation or UN (includes PRD, MADEP)

note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Claude Felix DO REGO (since 17 July 2020)

chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656

FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://beninembassy.us/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)

embassy: 01BP 2012, Cotonou

mailing address:

2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120

telephone: [229] 21-36-75-00

FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://bj.usembassy.gov

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, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

Flag description

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

note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

National symbol(s)

leopard

National colors

green, yellow, red

National anthem

name: “L’Aube Nouvelle” (The Dawn of a New Day)

lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON

note: adopted 1960

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c)

Economy

Economic overview

robust economic growth; slightly declining but still widespread poverty; strong trade relations with Nigeria; cotton exporter; COVID-19 has led to capital outflows and border closures; WAEMU member with currency pegged to the euro; recent fiscal deficit and debt reductions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$52.51 billion (2023 est.)
$49.374 billion (2022 est.)
$46.468 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 122

Real GDP growth rate

6.35% (2023 est.)
6.25% (2022 est.)
7.16% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 25

Real GDP per capita

$3,700 (2023 est.)
$3,600 (2022 est.)
$3,500 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 188

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.676 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2023 est.)
1.4% (2022 est.)
1.7% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 85

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 25.4% (2023 est.)

industry: 17.3% (2023 est.)

services: 47.7% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 165; industry 161; agriculture 19

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 59% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 9.5% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 40.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 21.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -30.2% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate

7.29% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 29

Labor force

6.397 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 74

Unemployment rate

1.7% (2024 est.)
1.7% (2023 est.)
1.7% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 17

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 3.3% (2024 est.)

male: 3.6% (2024 est.)

female: 2.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 187

Population below poverty line

38.5% (2018 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

34.4 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 83

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 27.2% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

1.19% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.44% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.31% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $2.024 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $2.101 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

54.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 90

Taxes and other revenues

17.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 116

Current account balance

-$1.046 billion (2022 est.)
-$734.659 million (2021 est.)
-$273.967 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 141

Exports

$4.271 billion (2022 est.)
$4.154 billion (2021 est.)
$3.506 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 145

Exports – partners

UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$5.296 billion (2022 est.)
$4.925 billion (2021 est.)
$3.942 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 150

Imports – partners

China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$698.9 million (2017 est.)
$57.5 million (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 157

Debt – external

$6.309 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 66

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
606.345 (2024 est.)
606.655 (2023 est.)
622.912 (2022 est.)
554.608 (2021 est.)
574.295 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 56.5% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 71.1%

electrification – rural areas: 45.5%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 505,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 385 million kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 76; imports 81; exports 101; consumption 156; installed generating capacity 151

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 8 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

5.948 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 379,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 5.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 306,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 130

Energy consumption per capita

6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 165

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 217

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 16.4 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 70

Broadcast media

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with 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 stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019)

Internet country code

.bj

Internet users

percent of population: 32% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 24,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total 163

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

10 (2025)

comparison ranking: 159

Railways

total: 438 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 6 (2023)

by type: other 6

comparison ranking: total 165

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 0

very small: 0

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Cotonou

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB; aka Benin Defense Forces): Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Guard (aka Republican Guard)

Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025)

note: FAB is under the Ministry of Defense and is responsible for external security and supporting the DGPR in maintaining internal security, which has primary responsibility for enforcing law and maintaining order; the DGPR was formed in 2018 through a merger of police and gendarmes

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 10,000 active-duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAB is equipped with a small mix of mostly older or secondhand French, Soviet-era, and US equipment; in recent years, the EU, France, and the US have provided it with limited amounts of newer military hardware such as armored vehicles and helicopters (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; conscript service is 18 months (2024)

Military – note

the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country’s president; it may also participate in economic development projects

a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was “at war” after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria’s northeastern border (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram

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 the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch list — Benin did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/benin/