Flag of Benin

Flag of Benin

  • Officially » République du Bénin
    • Republic of Benin (English)
  • Capital » Porto-Novo

Facts

  • Population » 11 million
  • Languages » French (official) Fon, Ge, Bariba, Yoruba, Dendi
  • Religions » Indigenous beliefs, Christianity, Islam
  • Life expectancy » 59 years (men), 62 years (women)
  • Currency » 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc

Geography

  • Area » 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles)
  • Benin is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east.

Notes

  • Formerly known as Dahomey, Benin is one of Africa’s most stable democracies
  • Benin is severely underdeveloped, and corruption is rife
  • It ranks among the world’s poorest countries
  • One of Africa’s largest cotton producers

Media