🌍 Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Area & Boundaries
Total Area
112,622 km²
Land Area
110,622 km²
Water Area
2,000 km²
World Rank by Area
#null
Land Boundaries
2,123 km
Coastline
121 km
Bordering Countries
Terrain & Climate
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Elevation
Highest Point
: N/Am
Lowest Point
: nullm
Mean Elevation
273m
Natural Resources
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
👥 Demographics
Population Overview
Total Population (2024)
14,697,052
World Rank
#null
Growth Rate
3.29%
Urbanization
null%
Age & Life Expectancy
Median Age
17.2 years
Life Expectancy
null years
Birth Rate
40.3 per 1,000
Death Rate
7.6 per 1,000
Major Urban Areas
- PORTO-NOVO: 285,000,000,000 people
Languages
- 5 (Official) - 5%
- 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
Education
Literacy Rate: null% (Male: 62.6%, Female: 41.5%)
💼 Economy
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
GDP & Economic Indicators
GDP (PPP)
$56.42 billion
GDP (Official Rate)
$21.48 billion
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$3,900
World GDP Rank
#null
GDP Growth Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
null%
Inflation Rate
1.2%
Public Debt (% of GDP)
null%
GDP Composition by Sector
Agriculture
24.2%
Industry
17.4%
Services
48.9%
Major Industries
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Trade
Exports
N/A
Imports
N/A
Foreign Exchange Reserves
N/A
Currency
(null)
🏛️ Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State:
Head of Government:
Legislative Branch
National Holiday
Independence Day, 1 August (1960)
📈 Social Indicators
Physicians
0.22 per 1,000
Hospital Beds
0.4 per 1,000
Health Expenditure
2.6% of GDP
Education Expenditure
3.2% of GDP
🎨 Cultural Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
3
Notable Sites
- Royal Palaces of Abomey
- W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
- Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba