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AfricaBenin Country Guide

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Senior African man near Ouidah, Benin.
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Flag of Benin
  • Name
    Benin
  • Full Name
    Benin
  • The country of Benin is located in West Africa.
    It has a population of around 8.5 Million people and is regarded as one of the most stable countries in Africa.

    With a history of slavery under the Dahomey Kingdom, Benin has an intriguing history with ancient ruins.  There are still many tribes and the Voodoo religion, which originated in Benin, is practiced by around half of the population.

    Benin has some of the best wildlife national parks in West Africa.
  • Capital
    Porto-Novo
  • Largest City
    Cotonou
  • Population
    8,439,0002 (89th)
  • Area
    112,622 km2 (101st)
  • Languages Spoken
    French
  • Religion
    50% Indiginous (inc Voodoo ) - 33% Christian - 17% Muslim
  • Time Zone
    (UTC+1)
  • Currency
    West African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Dialing Code
    +229
  • Internet Domain
    .bj