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Benin

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Republic of Benin
République du Bénin(French)
Orilẹ-ede Benin(Yoruba)
Motto:
  • "Fraternité, Justice, Travail"(French)
  • "Fraternity, Justice, Labour"
Anthem:
Location of  Benin  (dark green)
Location ofBenin(dark green)
CapitalPorto-Novoa
Largest cityCotonou
Official languagesFrench
National languages
List:
Ethnic groups
(2013 Census[1])
Religion
(2015)[2]
Demonym(s)
  • Beninese
GovernmentUnitarypresidentialrepublic
Patrice Talon
Louis Vlavonou[3]
LegislatureNational Assembly
Independence
•Republic of Dahomeyestablished
11 December 1958
• from France
1 August 1960
Area
• Total
114,763 km2(44,310 sq mi)[4](100th)
• Water (%)
0.4%
Population
• 2019 estimate
11,733,059 (78th)
• 2013 census
10,008,749[5]
• Density
94.8/km2(245.5/sq mi) (120th)
GDP(PPP)2019 estimate
• Total
$29.918 billion[6](137th)
• Per capita
$2,552[6](163rd)
GDP(nominal)2019 estimate
• Total
$11.386 billion[6](141st)
• Per capita
$971[6](163rd)
Gini(2015)Negative increase47.8[7]
high
HDI(2019)Increase0.545[8]
low·158th
CurrencyWest African CFA franc(XOF)
Time zoneUTC+1(WAT)
Driving sideright
Calling code+229
ISO 3166 codeBJ
Internet TLD.bj
  1. Cotonouis the seat of government.

Benin(officially called theRepublic of Benin) is acountryinAfrica.The capital of Benin isPorto-Novo.Thegovernmentis based inCotonou,the country's largest city. Most people live on the small southern coastline on theBight of Benin.[9]

Because Benin wascolonizedby France and is still close to it, the official language of Benin isFrench.Languages such asFonandYorubaare commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin isRoman Catholicism.This is followed closely byIslam,Vodun,andProtestantism.

Benin is a member of theUnited Nations,theAfrican Union,theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation,South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone,La Francophonie,theCommunity of Sahel-Saharan States,theAfrican Petroleum Producers Associationand theNiger Basin Authority.[10]

From the 17th to the 19th century, Benin was ruled by theKingdom of Dahomey.It was called theSlave Coastbywhite peoplefrom as early as the 17th century, because of the large number of slaves shipped from Porto-Novo, Cotonou, and otherportsto Europeancoloniesinthe Americas.

After slavery was made illegal, France fought a war against Dahomey and took over the kingdom. They renamed itFrench Dahomey.In 1960, Dahomey gained official independence from France.[11]From 1972 to 1990 aMarxist–Leniniststatecalled thePeople's Republic of Beninexisted. The current Republic of Benin was formed in 1991.[11]

Geography

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Benin is a narrow country in west Africa. The country measures about 325 km (202 mi) at its widest point. It is between theEquatorand theTropic of Cancer.Benin is bordered byTogoto the west,Burkina FasoandNigerto the north,Nigeriato the east, and theBight of Beninto the south.

The highest point isMont Sokbaroat 658 m (2,159 ft).

Reserve du W du NigerandPendjari National Parkattract tourists who want to see elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos, and monkeys.[12]Historically Benin has been a home for theendangeredPainted Hunting Dog,Lycaon pictus;[13]

Benin's climate is hot and humid. Yearly rainfall in the coastal area averages 1300 mm or about 51 inches. Benin has two rainy and two dry seasons per year. The main rainy season is from April to late July, with a shorter less strong rainy period from late September to November. The main dry season is from December to April, with a short cooler dry season from late July to early September. InCotonou,the average maximum temperature is 31 °C (87.8 °F); the minimum is 24 °C (75.2 °F).

Departments

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See also:List of cities in Benin

Benin is divided into 12 Departments. Then it is divided into 77 communes.

  1. Alibori
  2. Atakora
  3. Atlantique
  4. Borgou
  5. Collines
  6. Donga
  7. Kouffo
  8. Littoral
  9. Mono
  10. Ouémé
  11. Plateau
  12. Zou

Culture

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Arts

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Beninese literature had a strong oral tradition long before French became the main language.[14]Felix Couchorowrote the first Beninese novel,L'Esclavein 1929.

SingerAngélique Kidjoand actorDjimon Hounsouwere both born in Cotonou, Benin. ComposerWally Badarouand singerGnonnas Pedroare also from Benin.

Religion

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In the 2010 census, 27.2% of the population of Benin wereChristian,24.4% wereMuslim,17.3% practicedVodun,6% other traditional local religious groups, 1.9% other religious groups, and 6.5% have no religious affiliation.[15]

Education

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Theliteracyrate in Benin is one of the lowest in the world. In 2002 it was said to be 34.7%.[16]At one time the education system was not free.[17]

References

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  1. ↑"PRINCIPAUX INDICATEURS SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIQUES ET ECONOMIQUES"(PDF).insae-bj.org(in French). INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA STATISTIQUE ET DE L’ANALYSE ECONOMIQUE.
  2. ↑http:// globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/benin/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_yearArchived2021-10-17 at theWayback Machine= 2010
  3. ↑"Benin - National Assembly".New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta).5 July 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2022.Retrieved13 January2021.
  4. ↑Annuaire statistique 2010(PDF)(Report) (in French).INSAE.2012. p. 49.Archived(PDF)from the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved17 December2015.
  5. ↑"BENIN en Chiffres"[BENIN in Figures].INSAE(in French).Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2015.Retrieved17 December2015.
  6. ↑6.06.16.26.3"World Economic Outlook Database, October 2018".IMF.org.International Monetary Fund.Retrieved1 February2019.
  7. ↑"GINI index (World Bank estimate)".databank.worldbank.org.World Bank.Retrieved1 February2019.
  8. ↑Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene(PDF).United Nations Development Programme. 15 December 2020. pp. 343–346.ISBN978-92-1-126442-5.Retrieved16 December2020.
  9. ↑R. H. Hughes, J. S. Hughes. A directory of African wetlands, p. 301. IUCN, 1992.ISBN2-88032-949-3
  10. ↑"Benin – International Cooperation".Nation Encyclopedia (2010-06-29).
  11. ↑11.011.1Ibp Usa. Global Logistics Assessments Reports Handbook: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries, p. 85. Int'l Business Publications, 2008.ISBN0-7397-6603-1
  12. ↑"Background Note: Benin".U.S. Department of State (June 2008).
  13. ↑C. Michael Hogan. 2009.Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus,GlobalTwitcher, ed. N. StrombergArchived2010-12-09 at theWayback Machine
  14. ↑"Benin".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-08-13.Retrieved2007-09-30.
  15. ↑International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Benin.United StatesBureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor(September 14, 2007).This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  16. ↑LiteracyArchived2016-11-24 at theWayback Machine.Cia.gov. Retrieved on 2012-08-15.
  17. ↑"Benin".Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.United States Department of State. February 23, 2001. section 5.Retrieved2010-09-17.

Other websites

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  • Media related toBeninat Wikimedia Commons
  • Benintravel guide from Wikivoyage
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