Google maps and detailed facts of Benin (BN). This page lets you explore Benin and its border countries (Country Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo) through detailed Satellite imagery – fast and easy as never before Google maps.
Find comprehensive information below about this country in its diversity: Google maps, geography, economy, science, people, culture, environment, government, and history – All in One Wiki page.
There is also Street View and free Driving Directions at your service. Your Google Satellite Map Sightseeing in Benin, in Africa, starts here at Driving Directions and Maps.com.
Benin Google Maps & Satellite Maps
Benin stretches north from the west African coast. In 1990, Benin became one of the pioneers of African democratization, ending 17 years of one-party Marxist-Leninist rule. Sandy coastal region. Numerous lagoons lie just behind the shoreline. Forested plateaus inland. Mountains in the northwest.
The map below shows Benin with its cities, towns, highways, main roads, streets, and Street Views. To find a location, use the form below, type any city or place, view just a simple map, and click on the “show map” button.
The Google map above shows Benin with its location: Africa (geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E) and the international borders of Benin; total: 2,123 km. Border countries (total: 4): Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km; furthermore, it’s inland counties boundaries.
Hint: Look at the Street view in Benin or Africa. All you have to do is drag and pull the little yellow man (named: Pegman) on the Google map above the desired location. After that, whenever it is available (in more than 50 countries globally), blue stripes will appear to show the photos and details from Google’s regularly updated data image base. If you have signed in to your Google account currently, you may have a look at the satellite map of this country/area as well.
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About Benin in detail
| Borderline map of Benin | Location map of Benin | Flag of Benin |
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Where is Benin?
Benin is looking on the map under the Coordinates 6 29 N 2 37 E otherwise in Africa, in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo.
What is the capital city of Benin?
The capital city of Benin is Porto Novo.
What is the time in Porto Novo?
It is 6 hours ahead of Washington, D.C. during Standard Time; Porto Novo’s timezone is UTC+1.
What is the Internet code for Benin?
The Top Level Domain (TLD) for Benin is: .bj
What is the size of Benin?
The territory of Benin is total: 112,622 sq km; land: 110,622 sq km, water: 2,000 sq km.
If we want to describe the size of the territory of Benin is somewhat smaller than Pennsylvania.
If we would like to walk around and discover Benin, we can cover a total distance: 2,123 km.
What is the water coverage of Benin?
We have already mentioned what percentage of Benin is covered by water (see below), including a 121 km coastline.
What is the climate like in Benin?
The climate of Benin is tropical: hot, humid in the south: semiarid in the north.
Geographical data of Benin
Benin’s elevation; mean elevation: 273 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m, Mont Sokbaro 658 m.
Benin’s specific geographical details include mostly flat to the undulating plain, some hills, and low mountains.
Suppose we would like to describe the countries location from a different perspective. In that case, it is safe to say and easy to read from a map; Benin is sandbanks that create difficult access to the coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands.
Resources and land use of Benin
The country’s main mined products are small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. The population partly uses the earlier highlighted land territory and partly left in its natural state: agricultural land: 31.3%; arable land 22.9%; permanent crops 3.5%; permanent pasture 4.9%; forest: 40%; other: 28.7% (2011 estimate).
Population data of Benin
The number of inhabitants of Benin is 10,741,458 (July 2016 estimate).
If we examine the proportion of the population distribution, it is safe to say that N/A.
If we look at the proportion of the urbanized and barely populated areas, these are the urban population: 44% of the total population (2015).
Most of the population in Benin is concentrated in PORTO NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015).
Ethnicity in Benin
According to ethnicity details, the ethnic groups are 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 estimate).
Spoken languages in Benin
The spoken languages in Benin are the following: French (official language), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north).
What are the most important religions in Benin?
During the general census, researchers examine the churches, according to this: Muslim 27.7%, 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 estimate).
Further population data of Benin
The proportion of gender and age tells a lot about the society as follows 0-14 years: 43.04% (male 2,358,838 / female 2,264,204) 15-24 years: 20.32% (male 1,110,607 / female 1,072,196) 25-54 years: 30.24% (male 1,641,547 / female 1,606,185) 55-64 years: 3.56% (male 165,496 / female 217,192) 65 years and over: 2.84% (male 120,629 / female 184,564) (2016 estimate). It also a significant factor in a society the population growth rate, which in the case of Benin is 2.75% (2016 estimate).
The population growth rate is based on two elements, birth and the death rate. In Benin the birth rate is 35.5 births / 1,000 population (2016 estimate), the death rate 8 deaths / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).
In this day and age in developed societies, the first child borns later compared to the previous centuries and decades, so childbearing is extended. In Benin, the average age of mothers at the first childbirth is N/A.
Although the children’s birth is postponed in the best-case scenario, the parents can still see their kids grow as life expectancy also extended. In the case of Benin, these figures are. With the introduction of modern medicine, vaccinations, and proper hygienic conditions, the infant mortality rate is in a steep decline. The infant mortality statistics in Benin are the following: N/A. Relevant data is the budget of healthcare, which is in the case of this country, is 4.6% of GDP (2014).
Economic data of Benin
Suppose we would like to describe a country. We also have to mention its economy; Benin’s free-market economy remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Cotton is an essential export commodity; high prices supported export earnings. Growth in real output has averaged about 5%. An insufficient electrical supply continues to hamper Benin’s economic growth though the government recently has taken steps to increase domestic power production. Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for Benin’s 2001 privatization policy in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture. Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory.
GDP is a prominent figure, as all the relevant calculations and statistics are based on it. GDP in Benin is $8.93 billion (2015 estimate).
Another important indicator is the rate of GDP growth, which in Benin is 4.6% (2016 estimate), 5% (2015 estimate) 6.5% (2014 estimate).
These statistics affect the world economy; remember, in 2015, the Chinese real GDP growth rate was worse than expected; The world markets fall, and the Chinese stock exchange is temporally suspended.
A further major factor of a country’s economy, the GDP per capita. In Benin this is $2,200 (2016 estimate) $2,100 (2015 estimate) $2,100 (2014 estimate).
The Trinity is in common places in the economy, such as agriculture, industry, and services.
What are the agricultural products Benin produces?
Benin’s main agricultural products are cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews, livestock.
Regarding the economy, the important segments are textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement. The crucial and regularly mentioned GDP is based on textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement.
Drinking water source in Benin
It is essential to mention that – thanks to the development of the infrastructure -, the rate of potable water improved: urban: 85.2% of the population, rural: 72.1% of the people, total: 77.9% of the community. Unimproved: urban: 14.8% of the population, rural: 27.9% of the population, total: 22.1% (2015 estimate).
The average number of childbirth in Benin
In Benin, the average delivery number is 4.86 children born / woman (2016 estimate).
Population, median age, migration, and citizenship in Benin
The population’s average age is 18 years; male: 17.7 years, female: 18.4 years (2016 estimate). The age of adulthood varies in every country of the world. In Benin, it is 18 years of age, universal.
When we are experiencing an unprecedented scale of migration and globalization, it is an important factor in the number of new immigrants. In Benin is 0 migrant(s) / 1,000 population (2016 estimate). It is important to know how to apply for citizenship: citizenship by birth: no. Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin. Dual citizenship recognized: yes, the residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years.
Is Benin a safe destination? Healthcare services and infectious diseases in Benin
Many of the travelers are looking into the healthcare services and infectious diseases of their destinations. In Benin, the hospital beds’ density is 0.5 beds / 1,000 population (2010).
According to the WHO rating regarding contagious diseases in Benin, the degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2016).
However, HIV is not curable but maintainable. Let’s do not forget when the disease surfaced, it was a world-threatening condition. Unfortunately, in some countries, it is still very high the number of infected patients and fatalities due to the disease.
In Benin, the number of HIV/AIDS deaths: N/A.
Regarding tourism obesity, not an important issue, but we have to mention health statistics, as it is the plague of the 20th and the 21st century. The rate of obese adults in Benin is 8.1% (2014).
What are the natural hazards in Benin? Is there any?
Benin’s most known natural risk is hot; dry, dusty, harmattan wind may affect north from December to March.
More interesting facts about Benin
A few words about the past, as every country and society, is connected to its history; Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, primarily based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to a representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking Africa’s first successful transfer of power from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by-elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second five-year term in March 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016 after campaigning to restore public confidence in the government.
In every nation’s memory, some cornerstones placed the country on the timeline of history. The date of declaration of independence of Benin: 1 August 1960 (from France).
The flag and other symbols of Benin
The colors, symbols, and animals on the flag usually have a historical background or an important milestone or memory of the nation.
This case is not an exception: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage. Note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia.
Apart from the flag, the symbol of national unity is the national anthem. The anthem’s primary purpose is to share the nation’s core values, endeavors, and patriotic feelings.
National symbols of Benin: leopard; national colors: green, yellow, red.
Constitution of Benin
The existence of the nation is based on the constitution. Some constitutions knew worldwide, like the U.S. Constitution accepted on the 17th of September 1787, in Philadelphia, the United States of America’s Constitution.
It is not related to the declaration of independence that Nicolas Cage stole in the movie National Treasure 🙂
What is the legal system of Benin?
Most of the time, the legal system of a country is the focus of lawyers. It is a common fact that there are two main approaches in the world, “the law in books” and “the law in action.”
In the Anglo-Saxon world, the practice is the “law in action,” while in the rest of the world, the law is based on Roman law, the “law in books.”
Benin’s legal system is a civil law system modeled primarily on the French system and customary law.
It was Aristotle who founded the Theory of 3 separations of powers. In his view, these are the council of public affairs, the magistrates, and the justice system. The age of enlightenment was the time when terminologies have defined the way we still use them. In most democratic countries, the three authorities separated from each other. In dictatorships, the rules usually interweaved in one hand.
Benin’s legislative branch can highlight the following structures unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms).
About the unemployment rate, labor force, and poverty line in Benin
One of the major problems of the 21st-century economy is unemployment. Governments are struggling to maintain a low level of unemployment rate. Still, due to automation, the cheap 3rd world labor, and the outsourcing of workflow, these attempts fail. In Benin, the labor force is 3.662 million (2007 estimate). Please bear in mind that the population in Benin is total: 54.2 deaths / 1,000 live births; male: 57.3 deaths / 1,000 live births, female: 51 deaths / 1,000 live births (2016 estimate) – as we already mentioned above.
The rate of unemployment in Benin is N/A %.
Widely known that the gap between the rich and poor is widening on an enormous scale.
According to the 2017 shocking Oxfam report, the most affluent eight people’s fortune is equal to the wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population.
Benin households’ income and consumption compared to the entire population: the lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29% (2003).
Another widely used indicator is the so-called GINI index, which measures the inequalities of statistical dispersion, but is mainly used for measuring the sharing of income and fortune.
The GINI index was named after its founder Corrado Gini, an Italian economist. Gini index has grades between 0-1, but often it is used on a percentage basis. It is 0 if the examined criteria territorial distribution is equal. It is one of the criteria concentrated on the territory. In Benin, the GINI index is .36,5 (2003).
The states usually set up a poverty line, which is more or less, is a subjective measure. It varies by country; its base is often the minimum pension, the most deficient 20 percent, the X percent of income per capita, etc.
In Benin, the poverty line people are the lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29% (2003).
About the budget and central governments debt of Benin
The available budget mainly defines the state’s economy. Benin’s budget is; revenues: $1.5 billion, expenditures: $1.939 billion (2016 estimate). Taxes and other revenues are 16.8% of GDP (2016 estimate).
The budget deficit (Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)) is N/A.
The fiscal year in Benin is the calendar year.
In the country’s economy, we have to consider the public debt. Public debt is the consolidated sum of the state’s local, federal, and central government debt.
Inflation rate and prime lending rate in Benin
A few further interesting and relevant economic data are inflation rate: 1% (2016 estimate), 0.3% (2015 estimate), and the commercial bank prime lending rate: N/A%.
Export/import partners and data of Benin
Benin, with the export of products, industrial tools, and other services, generates revenue. Benin’s export value is $1.713 billion (2016 estimate), $1.841 billion (2015 estimate). The total revenue of these activities: cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood.
The most important export partners of Benin are the India 24.2%, Gabon 14.6%, China 7.2%, Niger 6%, Bangladesh 5%, Nigeria 4.9%, Vietnam 4.2% (2015).
The most important imported products are foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products, and the countries where the import is coming: China 42.1%, US 8.9%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.8%, Thailand 4.3%, France 4% (2015).
Renewable energies used in Benin
To suppress the pollution of the environment, renewable energies have to replace fossil energy. The more the proportion of renewable energies in a country means more effort against the pollution. Benin indicates how much of the country’s produced energy comes from the hydroelectric source, which is 0.6% of total installed capacity (2012 estimate).
To indicate how much another renewable energy produced is 0% of total installed capacity (2012 estimate).
Telecommunication data of Benin, calling code
To maintain the economy, the development of a reliable and modern telecommunications infrastructure is crucial. We can say the following about Benin; an inadequate open-wire system, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment. Domestic: fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly. International: country code – 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable connecting Europe and Asia; long-distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations – 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Oc (2015).
Transport infrastructure in Benin
In the 21st century, we often say that the world has become small and there are no distances anymore. With widespread air travel when (sometimes) there are no visa restrictions, it is easy to reach other countries, but if the distance is not too long, we can also use railway or water transportation.
The number of airports in Benin: 6 (2013), and the number of heliports: N/A.
The total length of the roadways in Benin: total: 16,000 km, paved: 1,400 km, unpaved: 14,600 km (2006).
The total length of the waterways in Benin: 150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along the northern border) (2011).
Facts & data about Benin
Name of the country: conventional long way: the Republic of Benin, traditional short form: Benin, local long form: Republique du Benin, local short state: Benin, former: Dahomey, etymology: named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies.
| Abbreviation: Benin | Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E | Country Location: Africa |
| Capital of Benin: Porto Novo | GPS of the Capital: 6 29 N 2 37 E | Position: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo |
| Land area: total: 112,622 sq km; land: 110,622 sq km, water: 2,000 sq km | Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains | Area comparative: somewhat smaller than Pennsylvania |
| Population: 10,741,458 (July 2016 estimate) | Population grow rate: 2.75% (2016 estimate) | Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s) / female, 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s) / female, 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s) / female, 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s) / female, 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s) / female, 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s) / female, total population: 1.01 male(s) / female (2016 estimate) |
| Exports: $1.713 billion (2016 estimate), $1.841 billion (2015 estimate) | Imports: $2.591 billion (2016 estimate), $2.727 billion (2015 estimate) | Import partners: China 42.1%, US 8.9%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.8%, Thailand 4.3%, France 4% (2015) |
| Urbanization: urban population: 44% of the total population (2015) | Major urban area(s): PORTO NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015) | Median age: total: 18 years; male: 17.7 years, female: 18.4 years (2016 estimate) |
| Internet users: total: 709,000. Percent of the population: 6.8% (July 2015 estimate) | Telephones (fixed-lines): total subscriptions: 194,666. Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2015 estimate) | Telephones (mobile, cellular): total: 9.318 million. Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (July 2015 estimate) |
| Unemployment rate: N/A % | Nationality: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese | National holidays: National Day, 1 August (1960) |
| Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.9 years. Male: 60.5 years, female: 63.3 years (2016 estimate) | Total fertility rate: 4.86 children born / woman (2016 estimate) | Birthrate: 35.5 births / 1,000 population (2016 estimate) |
| Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write. Total population: 38.4%; male: 49.9%, female: 27.3% (2015 estimate) | Legal system: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law | Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal |
| Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement | Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2016 estimate) | GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (2016 estimate) 5% (2015 estimate) 6.5% (2014 estimate) |
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