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Where is Benin?
About Benin
The Land
The People
Life and Death
Health, Energy and the Environment
Education and Work
Travel, Communication and the Media

Benin is an above average size country in west Africa.

Benin borders the Atlantic Ocean.

The land is mostly flat with some hills and low mountains.

The geographical coordinates for the centre of Benin, also known as lines of latitude and longitude, are:-
Latitude - 9 30N
Longitude - 2 15E

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Check the weather in Cotonou now. Cotonou is about 30 kms south-west of Porto Novo.

This is the time in Porto Novo now

The Beninese flag is two equal horizontal stripes of yellow, at the top and red with a vertical green stripe on the flagpole side. Green represents hope and revival, yellow wealth and red courage.

The capital of Benin is Porto Novo.

Benin is a presidential republic with a president as head of state and head of the government.

In elections everyone over the age of 18 can vote.

The currency in Benin is the African franc.

French is the official language.

Hear the National Anthem


These are the anthem words

The words ×

These are the words to the Beninese National Anthem called The Dawn of a New Day. It was adopted in 1960. This is a translation of the words.
If anthem fails to play click here

Chorus: Children of Benin, arise!
The resounding cry of freedom
Is heard at the first light of dawn;
Children of Benin, arise!

Formerly, at her call, our ancestors knew how to engage in mighty battles
With strength, courage, ardour, and full of joy, but at the price of blood. Builders of the present, you too, join forces
Each day for the task stronger in unity. Build without ceasing for posterity.

Chorus

When all around there blows a wind of anger and hate: Citizen of Benin, be proud, and in a calm spirit
Trusting in the future, behold your flag! In the green you read hope of spring;
The red signifies the courage of your ancestors; The yellow foretells the richest treasures.

Chorus

Beloved Benin, your sunny mountains, palm trees, and green pastures show everywhere your brightness;
Your soil offers everyone the richest fruits. Benin, from henceforth your sons are united
With one brotherly spirit sharing the hope of seeing you enjoy abundance and happiness for ever.

Chorus

We have already written our own history of England but are asking schools in Benin to provide us with a detailed history of their own country. Check how here.


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The total land area of Benin is 110,622 sq kms which is the 37th largest in Africa.

Benin has lakes, rivers and canals which total 2,000 sq kms.

Benin has boundaries with 4 countries

• Nigeria 809 kms
• Togo 651 kms
• Burkina Faso 386 kms
• Niger 277 kms

Benin has a coastline of 121 kms which is the 36th longest in Africa.

The highest point in Benin is Mont Sokbaro at 658 metres.

The pie chart below shows how the land is split between agricultural land (crops and pastures), forests and other, which can be towns, villages, desert or frozen waste called tundra.

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The total population of Benin is 11.34 million people, making it the 31st largest country in Africa by population.

Of this number 5.64 million are females and 5.70 million are males.

A person from Benin is called Beninese.

To be a citizen of Benin, one of your parents must be a citizen of Benin. It is not sufficient to be born in Benin. You have to live in Benin for 10 years before you can begin to apply for citizenship.

The largest five cities in Benin, by population are:-

• Cotonou 780,000 people
• Abomey-Calavi 385,755
• Djougou 237,040
• Porto-Novo 234,168
• Parakou 163,753

For each country we will give you a diagram showing the population density. This is the average number of people for each square kilometre. Each little Owlbut is 1 person and the big yellow rectangle is 1 sq km. After a while you can compare countries and see which ones are the most crowded. Remember it is only an average as more people live closer together in towns and cities than in villages out in the country.



47.3% of the people live in cities or towns.

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The birth rate in Benin is 34.5 births per 1,000 of population

The death rate in Benin is 7.7 deaths per 1,000 people.

Check this against the birth rate. If the death rate is higher than the birth rate then the population will decrease unless immigrants arrive in the country.

There are 48.3 deaths of girls under 1 year per 1,000 of births and 54.5 deaths of boys.

The median age for females is 18.7 and for males is 18.1. The median age is that age which divides the population exactly in half so there are the same number of people above the median age as below it.

The average age of a woman when she has her first child is 20.4.

The elderly dependency ratio is 6.0. This is the number of elderly people (ages 65+) per 100 people of working age (ages 15-64).

The potential support ratio is 16.6. This is the number of working-age people (ages 15-64) per one elderly person (ages 65+). As a population ages, the potential support ratio tends to fall, meaning there are fewer potential workers to support the elderly.

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Benin spends 4.6% of its total income on health care.

There are 0.16 doctors per 1,000 people.

There are 0.50 hospital beds per 1,000 people.

9.6% of the population are estimated as obese.

85.2% of the urban population and 72.1% of the rural population have drinking water that is either piped into their home or they have access to a public tap, a protected borehole, well, spring or protected rainwater collection facility.

35.6% of the urban population and 7.3% of the rural population have access to a flushing toilet that is connected to a sewer, a pit latrine (that is a permanent hole in the ground that is looked after) or a composting toilet.

Benin releases 5.0 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels in the process of producing and consuming energy. This puts it as the 21st highest in Africa.

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Benin spends 4.0% of its total income on education.

Children usually start school at age 6 in Benin. Primary education, which is compulsory, is for six years until age 12 and secondary education can continue till 19. This may be followed by further education at a university or college.

We are awaiting information about school terms in Benin.

27.3% of females and 49.9% of males are able to read and write by the age of 15.

5.6% of all people aged between 16 and 24 are not in work. Among females 5.9% are unemployed while with males 5.2% can't find work.

The total number of people available for work in Benin is 2.18 million.

We have no figures for which sectors they work in. 8.0% of the workforce are unemployed.

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There is 1 paved airport in Benin, which is the 52nd highest number in Africa.


There are 758 kilometres of railways in Benin, the 26th longest in Africa.


There are 16,000 kilometres of roads in Benin, which means Benin is in 30th place for the most kilometres of roads in Africa.

There are 6 major national newspapers in Benin.

There are 8.77 million mobile phone users.

1% of the people have a fixed landline.



1.29 million people have access to the internet at home via any device (computer or mobile).

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