Capital:
Porto-Novo Total Area: 114,763 km² (44,310 mi²) (
101th)
Approximate population: 14,462,724 (
76th) - (2024 est.)
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Languages:
French (official);
Fon (a
Gbe language),
Yom (a
Gur language) and
Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south, other local languages over 50 languages
Religions:
Islam 27.7%,
Roman Catholic 25.5%,
Protestant 13.5% (
Celestial 6.7%,
Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%),
Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other
traditional religions 2.6%, Other 2.6%, None 5.8%, - (2013 est.)
Ethnic groups:
Fon 38.4%,
Adja & Mina 15.1%,
Yoruba 12%,
Bariba 9.6%,
Fula 8.6%, Ottamari 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa 4.3%,
Dendi 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% - (2020 est.)
Currency:
West African CFA franc (
XOF)
Calling code: (
+229)
Organizations: United Nations
- There are over 40 different ethnic groups and 51 languages spoken in the country.
- Most Haitians trace their ancestry to Benin.
- Benin's capital Porto-Novo, is also known as "the city with three names" (Porto-Novo, Hogbonou, and Adjatche).