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.

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
Online Profiles
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
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
United Nations Data
Government Sources
UN Mission
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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