Benin: Introduction

Capital: Porto-Novo

Population

Total Population: 8,849,892

Annual Growth Rate: 2.8%

Density: 80 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 42.0%

Ethnic Origins: Fon 39.2%, Adja 15.2%, Yoruba 12.3%, Bariba 9.2%, Peulh 7%, Ottamari 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa 4%, Dendi 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9%.

Official Language: French

Other Languages Spoken: Fon and Yoruba in South of Benin and six major tribal languages in the North

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Christians 42.8%, Muslims 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Other 15.5%.

Literacy Rate: 34.7%

Local Time:

It is %T:%M %A In Porto Novo

Exchange Rate on :

National Currency: CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF)

Country Overview

Area: 112,620 km²

Type of State: Democratic Republic.

Type of Economy: Low-income economy.
Much corruption and few natural resources.

HDI*: 0.435/1

HDI (World Rank): 134/169

Note: (*) The HDI, Human Development Index, is an Indicator Which Synthesizes Several Data Such as Life Expectancy, Level of Education, Professional Careers, Access to Culture etc.

F° | C°

31°

Low: 25° | High: 31°

Humidity: 70% | Wind: 31 km/h
Sunrise: 7:07 am | Sunset: 7:00 pm

Porto-Novo, Source: Yahoo Weather

Telecommunication

Telephone Code:
To Make a Call From Benin, Dial 00
To Make a Call to Benin, Dial +229

Internet Suffix: .bj

Telephone Lines: 1.3 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 1.9 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 22% of the Population

Foreign Trade in Figures

Foreign Trade Indicators	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Imports of Goods (million USD)	1,228	2,037	2,289	2,110	2,350
Exports of Goods (million USD)	736	1,047	1,282	1,100	1,250
Imports of Services (million USD)	342	491	500	440	-
Exports of Services (million USD)	196	281	328	263	-

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization - Last Available Data.

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