Benin - Geography

Here, let us take a look at the Geography of Benin. Sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands. Mother's mean age at first birth is 20.5 years (2017/18 est.) (Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 523 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Geographical data of Benin
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references Africa
Tarrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Natural Resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Natural Hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Irrigated Land 172 sq km (2017)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Major aquifers
Land Boundaries 2,123 km
Border Countries Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km
Coastline 121 km
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Area
Total Area
Land Area 110,622 sq km
Water Area 2,000 sq km
comparative Area slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Continental shelf 200 nm
Exclusive fishing zone 200 nm
Elevations
Highest point unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation 273 m
Land Use
Agricultural land 31.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.)
Forest 40% (2018 est.)
Other 28.7% (2018 est.)
Population Distribution

The population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west as shown in this population distribution map

People and Society

In Benin, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have: Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.)

Population
Pop growth rate 3.29% (2024 est.)
Birth rate 40.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate 7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Health expenditure 2.6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians Density
Hospital bed Density 0.5 beds/1,000 population
Total fertility rate 5.34 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate 2.61 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate 15.5% (2017/18)
Est married women (ages 15-49) 68.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy age 15 and over can read and write
Education expenditures 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Net Migration rate 0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Nationality Beninese | Beninese (singular and plural)
Languages 55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language), 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
Religions Muslim 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.)
Age Structure
0-14 years 45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)
15-64 years 52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)
65 years and over 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)
Dependency Ratios
Total dependency ratio 84
Youth dependency ratio 78.3
Elderly dependency ratio 5.7
Potential support ratio 17.7 (2021 est.)
Median Age
Total 17.2 years (2024 est.)
Male 16.6 years
Female 17.7 years
Urbanization
Urban population 50.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas (Pop) 285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022).
Sex Ratio
At birth 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.84 male(s)/female
Total population 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant Motality
Total 52.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male 57.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy at birth
Total population 63 years (2024 est.)
Male 61.1 years
Female 65 years
Drinking Water Sources
Improved: urban urban: 79% of population
Improved: rural rural: 70.8% of population
Improved: total total: 74.7% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 21% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 29.2% of population
Unimproved: total total: 25.3% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility acess
Improved: urban urban: 56.3% of population
Improved: rural rural: 18.1% of population
Improved: total total: 36.6% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 43.7% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 81.9% of population
Unimproved: total total: 63.4% of population (2020 est.)
Major Infectious diseases
Degree of risk very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases dengue fever, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases: hepatitis B (2024)
Animal contact diseases rabies
Respiratory diseases meningococcal meningitis
Alcohol consumption per capita
Total 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
Total 6.9% (2020 est.)
Male 11.8% (2020 est.)
Female 1.9% (2020 est.)
Child marriage
Women married by age 15 9.4%
Women married by age 18 30.6%
Men married by age 18 4.8% (2018 est.)
Demographic profile

Benin has a youthful age structure – almost 65% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2022 – which is bolstered by high fertility and population growth rates. Benin’s total fertility has been falling over time but remains high, declining from almost 7 children per women in 1990 to 5.4 in 2022. Benin’s low contraceptive use and high unmet need for contraception contribute to the sustained high fertility rate. Although the majority of Beninese women use skilled health care personnel for antenatal care and delivery, the high rate of maternal mortality indicates the need for more access to high quality obstetric care.

Poverty, unemployment, increased living costs, and dwindling resources increasingly drive the Beninese to migrate. An estimated 4.4 million, more than 30%, of Beninese live abroad. Virtually all Beninese emigrants move to West African countries, particularly Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Of the less than 1% of Beninese emigrants who settle in Europe, the vast majority live in France, Benin’s former colonial ruler.

With about 40% of the population living below the poverty line as of 2019, many desperate parents resort to sending their children to work in wealthy households as domestic servants (a common practice known as vidomegon), mines, quarries, or agriculture domestically or in Nigeria and other neighboring countries, often under brutal conditions. Unlike in other West African countries, where rural people move to the coast, farmers from Benin’s densely populated southern and northwestern regions move to the historically sparsely populated central region to pursue agriculture. Immigrants from West African countries came to Benin in increasing numbers between 1992 and 2002 because of its political stability and porous borders.

All Important Facts about Benin

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Benin is found in Western Africa