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Republic of Benin

Republic of Benin
République du Bénin  (French)
Flag of Benin
Coat of arms of Benin
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: 
  • "Fraternité, Justice, Travail" (French)
  • "Fraternity, Justice, Labour"
Anthem: 
Location of  Benin  (dark blue)– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)– in the African Union  (light blue)
Location of  Benin  (dark blue)

– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union  (light blue)

Capital Porto-Novoa
Largest city Cotonou
Official languages French
Vernacular languages
Ethnic groups (2006)
Demonym
  • Beninese
Government Presidential republic
• President
Patrice Talon
Adrien Houngbédji
Legislature National Assembly
Independence
• from France
1 August 1960
Area
• Total
114,763 km2 (44,310 sq mi) (100th)
• Water (%)
0.4%
Population
• July 2015 estimate
10,879,829 (82nd)
• 2013 census
10,008,749
• Density
94.8/km2 (245.5/sq mi) (120th)
GDP (PPP) 2016 estimate
• Total
$24.312 billion
• Per capita
$2,184
GDP (nominal) 2016 estimate
• Total
$8.930 billion
• Per capita
$802
Gini (2003) 36.5
medium
HDI (2014) Increase 0.480
low · 166th
Currency West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone WAT (UTC+1)
Drives on the right
Calling code +229
ISO 3166 code BJ
Internet TLD .bj
  1. Cotonou is the seat of government.

Coordinates: 6°28′N 2°36′E / 6.467°N 2.600°E / 6.467; 2.600

– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union  (light blue)

Benin (US /bˈnn, -ˈnɪn/ bǝ-NEEN or -NIN; UK /bɛˈnn/ beh-NEEN; French: Bénin pronounced: [benɛ̃]), officially the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin) and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. The majority of its population lives on the small southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 114,763 square kilometers and its population in 2015 was estimated to be approximately 10.88 million. Benin is a tropical nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.


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