Benin, formerly known as French Dahomey, is a West African nation bordering Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is fairly small in terms of geography, only covering about 43,000 square miles (114,763 kilometers squared.) Benin fell under French rule during the 17th century until gaining its independence in 1960. After a series of political turnovers, both democratic and violent, the state established its multi-party republic system in 1991 and has operated under the system ever since.


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General Information
Official Name: 
Republic of Benin, République du Bénin
Capitol: 
Porto-Novo
Population: 
10,592,000
Languages: 
French, Fon, Yoruba
Geographic Region: 
Africa
Western Africa
Geographic Size (km sq): 
114,763
Year of UN Membership: 
1960
Year of Present State Formation: 
1960
Current UN Representative: 
Jean-Francis Régis Zinsou
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Benin
BBC Country Profile: Benin
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Benin
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Benin
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Benin
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Benin
National Geographic Country Profile: Benin
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Benin
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$9.237 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$1,693 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
5.00 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.48
Gini Index (Income Inequality): 
36.50
Unemployment: 
1.00%
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Least Developed Country
History
BBC Timeline of Benin, 1946-Present
Benin History Timeline
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
African Group
Islamic Group
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB: African Development Bank
AU: African Union
CD: Community of Democracies
ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States
Entente
FZ: Franc Zone
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation
OAS: Organization of American States
OIC: Organization of Islamic Cooperation
OIF: Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
WAEMU: West African Economic and Monetary Union
WCO: World Customs Organization
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Current UN Peacekeeping Missions: 
MINUSMA: Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali
MONUSCO: UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
UNISFA: UN Interim Security Force for Abyei
UNMIL: United Nations Mission in Liberia
UNMISS: UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan
UNOCI: United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Benin Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Benin Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Benin Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Benin Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Benin Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Benin Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Benin Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Benin Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Benin Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Benin Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Benin Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Benin Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Benin Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Benin Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Benin Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Benin Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Benin Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Benin Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Benin Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Benin Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Benin Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Benin Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Benin Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Benin Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
WHO: Benin Health Profile
UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2005: Benin
UNDP Assessment of Development Results: Benin
World Bank: Benin Research
UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DESA) least developed country profiles: Benin
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) least developed country profiles: Benin
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) least developed country profiles: Benin
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Benin
The Guardian World News Stories: Benin
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Benin
The Economist Topics Index: Benin
World News Report: Benin
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Benin
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Benin
Government Sources
The Republic of Benin Embassy to the United States
Official Government Site of The Republic of Benin
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Benin to the United Nations
125 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 684-1339
(212) 684-2058
beninewyork@gmail.com
Nearest Transit Stop: 
Grand Central 42nd Street

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