NationLookup
Home
Countries
Compare
Explore
NationLookup

Your comprehensive resource for exploring detailed information about every country in the world. Discover demographics, geography, economy, and more.

Explore

  • All Countries
  • Rankings
  • Compare Countries

Popular Rankings

  • By Population
  • By Area
  • By Density
  • Largest Countries

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 NationLookup. All rights reserved.

Data provided by REST Countries API

Home/Countries/Benin
The flag of Benin features a green vertical band on its hoist side that takes up about two-fifth the width of the field and two equal horizontal bands of yellow and red adjoining the vertical band.
Coat of arms of Benin
🇧🇯

Benin

Republic of Benin

Porto-Novo
Africa
Western Africa
View on Google Maps

Population

13.22M

Area

112,622 km²

Region

Western Africa

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Currency

West African CFA franc (Fr)

Languages

French

Capital

Porto-Novo

UN Member

Yes

About Benin

Republic of Benin, commonly known as Benin, is a sovereign country located in Western Africa, Africa. The capital and seat of government is Porto-Novo. Situated on the continent of Africa, Benin covers a total area of 112,622 km², making it a sizable country by global standards. Benin is an independent nation and a member state of the United Nations.

The population of Benin is approximately 13,224,860 people. With a population density of 117.4 people per square kilometer, Benin is moderately populated. The people of Benin are known as Benineses. Benin ranks 78th globally by population.

Benin is located at approximately 9.5° latitude and 2.3° longitude. It shares land borders with Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo, giving it 4 neighboring countries. The country operates on the UTC+01:00 time zone.

The official language of Benin is French. The international dialing code for Benin is +229. The country's internet top-level domain is .bj.

The official currency of Benin is the West African CFA franc (Fr, XOF).

Population of Benin

Total Population

13,224,860

Population Density

117.4 people/km²

Demonym

Beninese (male) / Beninese (female)

Geography of Benin

Total Area

112,622 km² (43,484 sq mi)

Region / Subregion

Africa / Western Africa

Coordinates

9.5°, 2.25°

Continents

Africa

Landlocked

No

Timezones

UTC+01:00

Bordering Countries

🇧🇫Burkina Faso🇳🇪Niger🇳🇬Nigeria🇹🇬Togo

Economy of Benin

Currencies

Fr West African CFA franc (XOF)

Government of Benin

Capital

Porto-Novo

UN Member

Yes

Status

officially-assigned

Independent

Yes

Languages Spoken in Benin

French

Additional Information

Top-Level Domain

.bj

Calling Code

+229

Driving Side

N/A

FIFA Code

N/A

ISO Codes

BJ / BEN

Frequently Asked Questions About Benin

What is the population of Benin?

The population of Benin is approximately 13,224,860 people. With a total area of 112,622 km², the population density is about 117.4 people per square kilometer. Benin ranks 78th globally by population.

Where is Benin located?

Benin is located in Western Africa, on the continent of Africa. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 9.5° latitude and 2.3° longitude. Benin shares borders with Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo.

What is the capital of Benin?

The capital city of Benin is Porto-Novo. As the political and administrative center, Porto-Novo is the seat of the national government of Republic of Benin.

How big is Benin?

Benin covers a total area of 112,622 km² (43,484 square miles). This makes Benin a sizable country by global standards.

What languages are spoken in Benin?

The official language of Benin is French. The people of Benin are referred to as Benineses.

What currency does Benin use?

Benin uses the West African CFA franc (Fr, XOF) as its official currency.

Is Benin a member of the United Nations?

Yes, Benin is a recognized member state of the United Nations. It is an internationally recognized sovereign nation with full UN membership rights.

What countries border Benin?

Benin shares land borders with 4 countries: Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo. These neighboring nations are also located in the Africa region.

What time zone is Benin in?

Benin operates in the UTC+01:00 time zone.

What are the key facts about Benin?

Benin (officially Republic of Benin) is a sovereign country in Western Africa. It has a population of 13,224,860, covers 112,622 km², and its capital is Porto-Novo. The official language is French. The currency is West African CFA franc.

Compare Benin with Other Countries

See how Benin compares in population, area, and other key metrics.

Benin vs United StatesBenin vs ChinaBenin vs IndiaBenin vs GermanyBenin vs United Kingdom

Other Countries in Africa

Explore more countries in the Western Africa region.

The flag of Angola features two equal horizontal bands of red and black, with a yellow emblem at its centre. This emblem consists of a five-pointed star within the hoist-side facing half of a cogwheel that is crossed on its lower end by a machete.
Africa

Angola

Republic of Angola

Luanda
36.17M
Africa
The flag of Libya is composed of three horizontal bands of red, black and green, with the black band twice the height of the other two bands. At the center of the black band is a fly-side facing white crescent and a five-pointed white star placed just outside the crescent opening.
Africa

Libya

State of Libya

Tripoli
7.46M
Africa
The flag of Mali is composed of three equal vertical bands of green, yellow and red.
Africa

Mali

Republic of Mali

Bamako
22.40M
Africa
The flag of South Sudan is composed of three equal horizontal bands of black, red with white top and bottom edges, and green. A blue equilateral triangle which spans about two-fifth the width of the field is superimposed on the hoist side with its base on the hoist end of the field. At the center of this triangle is a five-pointed yellow star.
Africa

South Sudan

Republic of South Sudan

Juba
15.79M
Africa
The flag of Cameroon is composed of three equal vertical bands of green, red and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star in the center.
Africa

Cameroon

Republic of Cameroon

Yaoundé
29.44M
Africa
The flag of Seychelles is composed of five broadening oblique bands of blue, yellow, red, white and green, which extend from the hoist side of the bottom edge to the top and fly edges of the field.
Africa

Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles

Victoria
122.7K
Africa