culture
Benin is considered the birthplace of Vodun (Voodoo), which remains an officially recognized religion practiced by a large share of the population.
Benin
Republic of Benin
Population, GDP, and key facts about Benin — updated for 2026.
Capital · PORTO-NOVOContinent · AFRICAISO · BEN
Benin quick facts
- Population
- 14,462,724
- Area
- 114,760 km²
- Population density
- 125 people/km²
- GDP
- US$ 21.5 Billion
- GDP per capita
- US$ 1.5K
- Capital
- Porto-Novo
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (Fr, XOF)
- Language
- French
Benin at human scale
Where does Benin rank in the world?
Compare Benin with other countries
Compare Benin with any country →Everything we know about Benin
Countries near Benin
How many countries do you think Benin could fit?
Pour other countries into Benin's own outline, by real area, and see how many it takes to fill it up.
Fill the Country →Frequently asked questions about Benin
What is the capital of Benin?
The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo.
What is Benin's population?
Benin has a population of 14,462,724.
What is Benin's GDP per capita?
Benin's GDP per capita is US$ 1.5K.
What is the currency of Benin?
The currency of Benin is the West African CFA franc (XOF).
Is Benin bigger than Rwanda?
Benin is about 4.4× the size of Rwanda by land area.
Data from the World Bank, updated September 2026.