Benin

Benin is a West African nation officially known as the Republic of Benin. In the United Nations statistical framework, it is classified under UN M49 code 204, with ISO alpha-2 code BJ and ISO alpha-3 code BEN. The UN assigns Benin to the region of Africa and the subregion of Sub-Saharan Africa, and it is a UN member state. The World Bank lists Porto-Novo as the capital.

The stable identifiers are below. For everything that changes, population, exchange rates, who holds office, security conditions, this guide tells you which source to consult and how to read it, so you can verify the latest figure yourself.

Classification facts

These identifiers come from the UN M49 standard and the ISO 3166 standard. They are classification codes, not political statements.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	204
ISO alpha-2	BJ
ISO alpha-3	BEN
UN region	Africa
UN subregion	Sub-Saharan Africa
UN member state	Yes
World Bank capital field	Porto-Novo

The UN M49 standard is maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division and is the reference for country and area codes used in UN statistical work. The code 204 identifies Benin in that system. The World Bank capital field (Porto-Novo) is an administrative designation, not a statement about where government institutions actually sit; the constitutional seat of government is Porto-Novo, while Cotonou is the largest city and economic centre. Political and territorial claims are separate from statistical classification, and classification codes do not imply recognition of any disputed territory.

Note that the UN subregion label “Sub-Saharan Africa” is a statistical grouping, not a political or racial claim; the UN uses it for data aggregation and it does not imply any judgement about culture, geography or identity.

Population

For the latest population figures, refer to the United Nations World Population Prospects (population.un.org/wpp), which publishes annual estimates and projections. The UN’s 2024 revision gives Benin’s mid-year estimate for 2024; always cite the exact reference year when quoting a number. Do not mix UN figures with World Bank figures, they use different estimation methods and release calendars.

The World Bank’s country API also returns a population series, but the latest value may be a projection, not a census count. Decide which source suits your purpose and note the reference year.

Languages

French is the official language of Benin. National languages include Fon, Yoruba, and others. The exact list and legal status are defined by Beninese law and reported by UNESCO and national sources; verify the current legal framework through the administration’s official texts. For up-to-date linguistic data, refer to Ethnologue and national census reports.

Currency

The West African CFA franc (XOF) is issued by the BCEAO and is shared with other members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The XOF is pegged to the euro. Exchange rates change daily; check xe.com or your bank for a current rate. For the reference year and monetary framework, use the IMF or the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).

Government and economy

Benin is a presidential republic; the president is head of state and government. As of 2024, the president is Patrice Talon. Verify the incumbent through official government sources or the U.S. State Department’s country page.

The constitutional capital is Porto-Novo, though Cotonou is the largest city and economic hub. Do not confuse the constitutional capital with the de facto seat of many institutions. For the current structure of government, use the CIA World Factbook entry (a secondary compilation) and the World Bank country profile for economic indicators.

Economic classification and data

GDP figures, growth rates, and income classifications change annually; cite the World Bank country page or data portal for the latest year. Benin is a lower-middle-income country (World Bank, FY2024 classification). For current exchange rates and economic indicators, refer to the World Bank country page and the IMF Article IV reports. Reference year: 2024 data where available.

Culture

Benin has UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Royal Palaces of Abomey. Verify the current list on UNESCO’s website.

Travel

Travel requirements change without notice. Do not rely on any static information. For visa and entry rules, check your own government’s travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre before any trip.

Health

For vaccination requirements and health notices, consult the WHO and your national health authority. Health risks change; official sources must be current.

Safety and security

Security conditions change rapidly. For current security advice, consult your own government’s travel advisory (e.g., US State Department, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT) or the IATA Travel Centre. This guide does not provide safety information.

How to verify changing facts

No single source stays current for every field. Use the table below to match the question to the right primary source, then check the date on whatever you find.

Question	Primary source	Fallback or secondary source
Population estimate	UN World Population Prospects	World Bank data portal (note the reference year)
Exchange rate (XOF)	xe.com or your bank	BCEAO or IMF
Head of state	Official government website	U.S. State Department country page
Government structure	CIA World Factbook	World Bank country profile
GDP and income classification	World Bank country page	IMF Article IV reports
Languages	Ethnologue, national census	UNESCO
Visa and entry rules	IATA Travel Centre	Your government’s travel advisory
Health requirements	WHO, national health authority	IATA Travel Centre
Security conditions	Your foreign ministry travel advisory	IATA Travel Centre
UNESCO sites	UNESCO website	,

For every field, record the source, the figure, and the reference year or access date. When two sources conflict, prefer the primary source and note the discrepancy.

Related guides

The pillar guides on /compare/, /sources/ and /methodology/ explain how to evaluate sources, compare countries and apply the method used here.

Neighbouring states

Benin shares borders with Togo, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Ghana. When cross-checking regional data, the same source-selection rules apply to each.