Benin

Republic of Benin

BJ / BEN Africa Africa

14.1M

Population

$21.5B

GDP

Payment BINs

Issuers

General Information

Capital Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)

Continent Africa

Region Africa

Subregion Africa

Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF)

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

Timezones UTC+1

Area 112,622 km²

Map Reference Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Borders Burkina Faso Niger Nigeria Togo

Demographics

Population (2023) 14,111,034

Density 125.3 per km²

Urban Population 50.1%

Median Age 17.2 years

Life Expectancy 63.0 years

Major Cities PORTO-NOVO ; Abomey-Calavi COTONOU

Economy

GDP (2024) $21.5B

GDP Per Capita (2023) $1,394

Inflation (2024) 1.2%

Unemployment (2024) 1.8%

Public Debt 49.7% of GDP

Exchange Rate (2024) 606.345 to USD

Card Brands (Top 2)

Card Types

Card Categories (Top 5)

Leading Issuers

#	Issuer	BINs
1	BANK OF AFRICA	8
2	BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN	5
3	ECOBANK - BENIN SA	5
4	NSIA BANQUE BENIN	5
5	SOCIETE GENERALE DE BANQUES AU BENIN SGBBE	5
6	UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA - BENIN	5
7	BGFIBANK BENIN	4
8	ORABANK BENIN	4
9	UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC	4
10	BANQUE CENTRALE POPULAIRE	3

View All Issuers

Main Exports

1. gold

2. cotton

3. coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews

4. soybeans

5. wood (2023)

Main Imports

1. rice

2. refined petroleum

3. palm oil

4. poultry

5. cars (2023)