World Context: Benin

Source and mapping status

This page maps the site registry entry “Benin” to the supplied dataset entity “Benin.” Mapping status: exact-name. The source is a frozen 2025 snapshot; dates embedded in individual fields remain controlling.

• Source entity count: 1.
• Selected public fields present: 19.
• Independent corroboration in this page: none.

Place and environment

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo Area: total : 112,622 sq km; land: 110,622 sq km; water: 2,000 sq km Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March Environmental issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; droughts

Population, settlement, and language context

Population: total: 15,186,090 (2025 est.); male: 7,500,771; female: 7,685,319 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 Urbanization: urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023); rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 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

Public and legal context

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 Government type: presidential republic Legal system: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Economy and connectivity context

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 Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement Electricity access: electrification - total population: 56.5% (2022 est.); electrification - urban areas: 71.1%; electrification - rural areas: 45.5% Internet users: percent of population: 32% (2023 est.) Airports: 10 (2025) Ports: total ports: 1 (2024); large: 0; medium: 1; small: 0; very small: 0; ports with oil terminals: 1; key ports: Cotonou

Interpretation and freshness boundary

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