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Benin

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Overview

Benin · Travel guide

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 112,622 km2 (43,484 sq mi), and its population in 2026 was estimated to be approximately 15 million. It is a tropical country with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture and the exports of palm oil and cotton. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, political entities in the area included the Kingdom of Dahomey, the city-state of Porto…

Safety

Benin

FCDO travel advice for Benin. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

avoid_all_travel_to_parts · avoid_all_but_essential_travel_to_parts

Official source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Facts & statistics

Benin

Capital: Porto-Novo
Language: French
Currency: West African CFA franc
Time zone: UTC+01:00
Calling code: +229
Internet domain: .bj
Driving side: right
Plug type: Europlug
Voltage: 220

Source: Wikidata.

Events

Benin

New Year's DayNew Year's Day2026-01-01

Traditional DayTraditional Day2026-01-10

Easter SundayEaster Sunday2026-04-05

Easter MondayEaster Monday2026-04-06

Labour DayLabour Day2026-05-01

Ascension DayAscension Day2026-05-14

Whit MondayWhit Monday2026-05-25

Independence DayIndependence Day2026-08-01

Assumption DayAssumption Day2026-08-15

Armed Forces DayArmed Forces Day2026-10-26

Source: Nager.Date.

CapitalPorto-Novo

Population11,485,048

CurrencyXOF

Languagesfr-BJ

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Cities

◎Cotonou679,012 residents ◎Abomey-Calavi385,755 residents ◎Porto-Novo264,320 residents ◎Parakou255,478 residents ◎Godomè253,262 residents ◎Abomey117,824 residents ◎Djougou94,773 residents ◎Bohicon93,744 residents ◎Ekpé75,313 residents ◎Nikki66,109 residents ◎Malanville64,639 residents ◎Kandi56,043 residents ◎Kérou54,276 residents ◎Natitingou53,284 residents ◎Pobé49,232 residents ◎Ouidah47,616 residents ◎Lokossa47,246 residents ◎Bassila46,569 residents ◎Tchaourou43,862 residents ◎Cové43,554 residents ◎Sakété43,541 residents ◎Comé42,586 residents ◎Missérété41,657 residents ◎Dogbo41,341 residents ◎Kétou39,626 residents ◎Savalou38,162 residents ◎Banikoara37,571 residents ◎Péhonko37,217 residents ◎Kalalé35,513 residents ◎Sinendé35,267 residents ◎Banigbé31,984 residents ◎Savé31,444 residents ◎Bembèrèkè31,176 residents ◎Dassa-Zoumè29,461 residents ◎Kopargo28,605 residents ◎Kouandé27,197 residents ◎Tanguiéta27,094 residents ◎Kpozoun26,688 residents ◎Sé26,627 residents ◎Ségbana26,440 residents ◎Aplahoué26,340 residents ◎Cobly24,878 residents ◎Matéri24,490 residents ◎Adjarra24,132 residents ◎Djidja23,781 residents ◎Klouékanmè23,763 residents ◎Semi23,636 residents ◎Allada23,287 residents ◎Ndali23,264 residents ◎Boukoumbé22,386 residents ◎Adjaouèrè21,968 residents ◎Toviklin21,617 residents ◎Avrankou20,326 residents ◎Glazoué20,036 residents ◎Ganvié20,000 residents ◎Djakotomé19,498 residents ◎Zinvié18,157 residents ◎Banté17,682 residents ◎Ouaké17,259 residents ◎Ouinhi17,043 residents ◎Tobré16,912 residents ◎Zé16,903 residents ◎Toukountouna16,330 residents ◎Pèrèrè15,927 residents ◎Ouessé15,658 residents ◎Athiémé15,195 residents ◎Tori-Bossito14,844 residents ◎Gogounou14,248 residents ◎Lalo13,451 residents ◎Hévié13,450 residents ◎Bétérou13,108 residents ◎Sam12,006 residents ◎Grand-Popo9,847 residents ◎Zounké8,326 residents ◎Guilmaro6,516 residents ◎Agoué5,148 residents ◎Hinvi3,604 residents ◎ZagnanadoTravel guide ◎So-AvaTravel guide ◎SéTravel guide ◎PahouTravel guide ◎GoumoriTravel guide ◎AvakpaTravel guide ◎Angara-DébouTravel guide ◎AdjohonTravel guide ◎HouinvigueTravel guide ◎KpomassèTravel guide

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Airports

Cotonou Cadjehoun International AirportCotonouCOO Djougou AirportDjougouDJA Kandi AirportKandiKDC Natitingou AirportNatitingouNAE Parakou AirportParakouPKO Savé AirportSavéSVF