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 Elephants at Pendjari National Park in north western Benin, the national park is known for its wildlife and is home to some of the last populations of big game. Image: Marc Auer |
 Location map of Benin With an area of 112,622 km² the country is slightly larger than Bulgaria, or slightly smaller than the U.S. state Pennsylvania. Benin's former name, until 1975, was Dahomey. Benin has a population of 10 million people (in 2013), Porto-Novo, a port on an inlet of the Gulf of Guinea is the nations capital city, largest city and economic capital is Cotonou. Spoken languages are French (official), Fon and Yoruba. |
Republic of Benin | Republique du Bénin |
Country Profile |
Background: Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. 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 a 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. related countries: France, Haiti (Most Haitians trace their ancestry to Benin.) |
Official Name: Republique du Bénin short form: Bénin int'l long form: Republic of Benin int'l short form: Benin formerly: Dahomey ISO Country Code: bj, ben Time: Local Time = UTC +1h Actual Time: Fri-Jan-17 11:38 Country Calling Code: +229 Capital City: Porto-Novo (pop. 295 000) Largest city and economic capital is Cotonou (pop. 2 million) Other Cities: Abomey, Gavié, Kandi, Ouidah Government: Type: Republic under multiparty democratic rule. Independence: 1 August 1960 (fom France). Constitution: 10 December 1990. Geography: Location: Western Africa Area: 112,622 km² (43,483 sq. mi.). Terrain: Mostly flat plains of 200 meters average elevation, but the Atacora Mountains with the highest points being Mont Sokbaro 658 m, Mont Tanekas 641 m. Climate: Tropical, average temperatures between 24 and 31 C. Humid in south; semiarid in north. People: Nationality: Beninese Population: 10 million (2013) Ethnic groups: 42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, and Bariba. Religions: Indigenous beliefs (animist) 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%. Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba in the south; Nagot, Bariba and Dendi in the north. Literacy: Total population 39%; men 53%, women 25%. Natural resources: Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. Agriculture products: Cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) Industries: Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001) Exports - commodities: cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood Exports partners: India 24.2%, Gabon 14.6%, China 7.2%, Niger 6%, Bangladesh 5%, Nigeria 4.9%, Vietnam 4.2% (2015) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products Imports partners: China 42.1%, USA 8.9%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.8%, Thailand 4.3%, France 4% (2015) Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) |
 Palais des Congres, a multi-purpose government building in Cotonou, the capital city of Benin. Image: Loic Pinseel Official Sites of BeninNote: External links will open in a new browser window.Gouvernement de la République du Bénin The official government of Benin portal site. L’Assemblée Nationale du Benin Benin's national assembly. Ministère des Affaires Étrangères du Bénin Official Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin. (in French) Diplomatic Missions Embassy of Benin Embassy of Benin in Washinton, DC. L’Ambassade de la République du Bénin au Canada Embassy of Benin in Canada. Ambassade du Bénin en France Embassy of Benin in France. Maps Map of BeninPolitical map of Benin. Administrative Map of BeninMap showing the administrative regions (departments) of Benin.  Google
Earth BeninSearchable map and satellite view of Benin. Google
Earth Porto-NovoSearchable map and satellite view of Benin's capital city. Google
Earth CotonouSearchable map and satellite view of Benin's economic capital and largest city. West Africa MapPolitical Map of West Africa. Map
of AfricaPolitical Map of Africa. Relief Map
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NewsBenin has a vibrant media landscape. The Constitution of Benin, adopted in 1990, guarantees and protects freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, but harsh libel laws have been used against journalists. A new media law has decriminalized media offences except for insulting the president and endangering national security.Online Newspaper (in French) Fraternite A private daily newspaper. La Montagne Recent news from Benin. L'événement Précis National and Africa related news. Le Matinal Quotidien Le Matinal is a private daily newspaper. La Nation Benin government daily with official news and information. BeninInfo Benin website with recent news. TV Broadcasting and Television of Benin (ORTB) National Television. |
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 Arrival of the Zangbeto, the masked spirits of the Ewe and Yoruba people. The highly revered Zangbeto are the voodoo guardians of the night in the Yoruba religion of Benin and Togo. Image: Linda De Volder Arts & CultureAbomey Historical Museum Created by the French colonial administration in 1943, situated on the palatial site and comprises the palaces of King Guézo and King Glèlè. West African Vodun Wikipedia article about Voodoo tradition which is closly related with Benin and theFon and Yoruba people of West Africa. Vodun Festival in Ouidah Orishala, the Voodoo music festival (in French). Music Angélique Kidjo SIte of the Benin born singer. |
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 Fisher boats near Ganvié, a lake village in Lake Nokoué near Cotonou, Benin. Image: jbdodan Business & EconomyThe economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology.Bank of Africa The Bank of Africa Group is a multinational bank in Africa. Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) Central Bank of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) West African Economic and Monetary Union (in French) IZF.net, le portail de la Zone Franc CFA Information about business and investment in the African countries within the monetary system of the Franc Zone - CFA. (in French) Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry Provides information about the chamber and business and investment in Benin. Conseil des Investisseurs Privés au Bénin Council of Private Investors in Benin, the CIPB association website. |
 Street Scene Cotonou © ambassade-benin.org |
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 Benin village in Atakora province. Image: Martin Wegmann Travel and Tour Consumer Information
Destination Benin - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover Benin: Ganvie, Ouidah, Cotonou, Abomey, Parakou, Grand-Popo, Port-Novo, Natitingou, Pendjari National Park. Links to accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, tours and much more. Tourisme Benin Benin's official tourism website. (in French) Travel to Benin and Tourism Benin Embassy with some information about travel in the country. Discover Benin Website about tourism in Benin with information about the country. Benin Travel Information and Travel Guide by Lonely Planet. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Benin  Royal Palaces of AbomeyA was the capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to 19th centuries. Twelve kings succeeded one another as the head of the Kingdom of Abomey, they all had their palaces built within the same cob-wall area.  Tamberma village near Boukoumbe. Image: Panoramas |
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EducationEcole du Patrimoine Africain School of African Heritage, an institution for vocational training in heritage conservation in Benin. |
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 Antilope herd in the Pendjari Nationalpark Benin. Image: Martin Wegmann Environment & NatureAtlas of natural and agronomic resources of Niger and Benin The "Atlas of Natural and Agronomic Resources of Niger and Benin" wants to summarise spatial data related to these subjects collected within the successful 15 years lasting Special Research Programme. |  Ouidah, Tata Somba house. © ambassade-benin |
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History Benin History TimelineTimeline of events of Dahomey and Benin. |
 "Door Of No Return", a memorial to slavery at the beach of Ouidah, one of the large slave-trade ports in Africa, a main departure point for those sold into slavery between the 15th and 19th centuries. |
Major Cities in West Africa Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Cotonou, Dakar, Freetown, Lagos, Lomé, Monrovia, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou, Porto-Novo, Praia, Sao Tome City, Yamoussoukro Other Countries of Western Africa Burkina Faso | Cape Verde | Côte d'Ivoire | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Liberia | Mali Mauritania | Niger | Nigeria | Senegal | Sierra Leone | Togo |
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