← THE SECTION CUT · AFRICA

Benin

9.5N 2.3E · 28 EVENTS · 9 DOMAINS
INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE · 1 AUGUST 1960
▼ PULL DOWN TO EXTRACT THE CORE
1990 – present · The National Conference and modern Benin
5 EVENTS
19–28 February 1990 · The National Conference 3 REFS
December 1990 · Multiparty constitution adopted 2 REFS
1960 – 1990 · Coups, Kérékou, and the People's Republic of Benin
5 EVENTS
1963 · The cycle of coups begins 2 REFS
26 October 1972 · Kérékou seizes power 2 REFS
1889 – 1960 · Behanzin, the French conquest, and colonial Dahomey
5 EVENTS
1890 · First Franco-Dahomean War 3 REFS
1892–1894 · French conquest of Dahomey 3 REFS
c. 1670 – 1889 · Ouidah, the slave trade, King Ghezo and the Agojie
5 EVENTS
c. 1670s–1860s · Ouidah and the Atlantic slave trade 3 REFS
1729 · First written record of the women warriors 2 REFS
c. 1620 – 1818 · The Fon Kingdom of Dahomey and the palaces of Abomey
5 EVENTS
early 17th century · Foundation of Dahomey at Abomey 3 REFS
1727 · Conquest of Ouidah (Whydah) 3 REFS
c. 1100 – 1600 · The Aja migrations and the kingdoms of Allada and Porto-Novo
3 EVENTS
c. 12th–15th centuries · Aja migrations from Tado 3 REFS
16th century · Rise of the Kingdom of Allada 2 REFS
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EVERY ERA, EVENT AND REFERENCE ON ONE PAGE
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Quick facts · atlas reference
Capital
Porto-Novo
Population
11 m
Area
112,622 km²
Region
Western Africa
Languages
French
Currency
West African CFA franc (Fr)
Demonym
Beninese
UN member
Yes
Dossier · press a specimen — it turns over

Economy

GDP
$25 B’25 WB-WDI
GDP per capita
$1,658’25 WB-WDI
GDP growth
8.1%’25 WB-WDI
Inflation
1.1%’25 WB-WDI
Trade openness
37.1%’25 WB-WDI

Society

Population
15 m’25 WB-WDI
Life expectancy
61.0 yrs’24 WB-WDI
Urban population
53.4%’25 WB-WDI
Fertility rate
4.5’24 WB-WDI
Literacy rate
51.4%’22 WB-WDI

Governance

Voice & accountability
50.2’24 WB-WGI
Political stability
59.0’24 WB-WGI
Government effectiveness
47.7’24 WB-WGI
Regulatory quality
50.5’24 WB-WGI
Rule of law
49.9’24 WB-WGI
Control of corruption
43.0’24 WB-WGI

Health

Health spending
3.3%’23 WB-WHO
Physicians
0.22’23 WB-WHO
Under-5 mortality
74.7’24 WB-UNICEF-WHO
Measles immunisation
44.0%’24 WB-UNICEF-WHO
Safe drinking water
17.7%’24 WB-WHO

Education

Adult literacy
51.4%’22 WB-UNESCO
Education spending
3.2%’23 WB-UNESCO
Primary enrolment
108.0%’22 WB-UNESCO
Secondary enrolment
43.6%’22 WB-UNESCO
Tertiary enrolment
10.2%’22 WB-UNESCO

Technology

Internet users
34.0%’24 WB-ITU
Mobile subscriptions
126’24 WB-ITU
High-tech exports
30.5%’24 WB-WDI

Geography

Land area
112,760 km²’23 WB-WDI
Forest area
26.5%’23 WB-WDI
Agricultural land
41.8%’23 WB-WDI
CO₂ per capita (t)
0.5’24 WB-WDI
Renewable energy
54.5%’21 WB-WDI

Resources

Resource rents
2.3%’21 WB-WDI
Oil rents
0.0%’21 WB-WDI
Mineral rents
0.0%’21 WB-WDI
Forest rents
2.3%’21 WB-WDI
Electricity access
59.0%’24 WB-WDI

Military

Military burden
0.7%’24 WB-SIPRI
Defense spending
$154 M’24 WB-SIPRI
Armed forces
12,000’20 WB-SIPRI

A hatched gap has no underside — there is nothing to turn over. Absence is stated, never zeroed.

The record · what changed here
EVERY CLAIM SOURCED
ABSENCE ≠ ZERO
NO SIDES