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Benin

BENSub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeCapital: Porto-Novo
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
77/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$30
2027▲ 8.5%
Population
14.5M
2024▲ 2.5%
GDP per Capita
$1,884
2027▲ 5.4%
Life Expectancy
60.8 years
2023▲ 0.5%
Benin in world space2000–2023
1k10k100k505560657075808590GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002023
192 countries · log scale on X world Benin· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Benin

Benin's GDP is $27.45B (2026), with a population of 14.5M, and GDP per capita of $1,788. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 6.7%, inflation at 2.0%, government debt at 49.6% of GDP, life expectancy of 60.8 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

Situated in Sub-Saharan Africa, this country is classified as lower middle income. With a GDP of $27.45 billion in 2026, it ranks 122nd globally. The economy is projected to grow by 6.7% in 2026, with a GDP per capita of $2,000. Inflation is stable at 2.0%, and the economy is notably open to trade, with trade accounting for 40.6% of GDP in 2024. Foreign direct investment inflows constitute 2.5% of GDP, indicating a moderate level of international investment. The capital is Porto-Novo. The population is estimated to be 14.5 million in 2024, with a life expectancy at birth of 60.8 years in 2023. The fertility rate stands at 4.6 births per woman. Adult literacy is at 51.4%, reflecting ongoing educational challenges. Health spending is relatively low, at 3.3% of GDP in 2023. Unemployment is low at 1.6% in 2025, and the Gini Index of 34.4 in 2021 suggests moderate income inequality. The gross national income per capita is $1,000 in 2024.

▶Economy29 indicators · 2020–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD, Billions)$302027▲ 8.5%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)6.6%2027▼ 1.5%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$1,8842027▲ 5.4%IMF
GDP, PPP (Billions Intl $)$832027▲ 8.4%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$5,2452027▲ 5.3%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.04%2027▲ 2.9%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$21.26B2024▲ 9.2%WB
GNI per Capita (USD)$1,4302024▲ 2.9%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (USD)$4,3902024▲ 7.3%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)17.4%2024▲ 0.5%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)48.9%2024▲ 2.4%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)24.2%2024▼ 4.6%WB
Government Consumption (% of GDP)9.0%2024▼ 5.2%WB
Household Consumption (% of GDP)58.9%2024▼ 2.9%WB
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)35.1%2024▲ 1.5%WB
Gross Savings (% of GNI)30.2%2023▲ 5.5%WB
GDP Deflator (%)1.6%2024▼ 53.6%WB
GDP per Person Employed (USD)$8,8972024▲ 4.3%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)10.2%2024▲ 1.1%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$1,1732021▲ 10.9%WB
Adjusted Net Savings (% of GNI)9.4%2020—WB
External Balance on Goods & Services (% of GDP)-3.0%2024▲ 36.4%WB
Coal Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021▼ 100.0%WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)2.3%2021▼ 5.1%WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)2.30%2021▼ 3.3%WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$3.73B2024▲ 9.7%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary13 indicators · 2021–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)2.0%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)48.7%2027▼ 1.8%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)-2.9%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-4.7%2027▲ 6.0%IMF
Total Investment (% of GDP)34.5%2026▲ 2.1%IMF
Gross National Savings (% of GDP)29.6%2026▲ 4.5%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)1.2%2024▼ 57.6%WB
Real Interest Rate (%)4.6%2021▲ 28.1%WB
Lending Interest Rate (%)6.3%2021▼ 4.4%WB
Deposit Interest Rate (%)5.3%2021▲ 4.0%WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)606.352024▼ 0.1%WB
PPP Conversion Factor203.12024▼ 0.8%WB
Broad Money (% of GDP)28.1%2024▼ 7.1%WB
▶Trade15 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Trade (% of GDP)40.6%2024▼ 9.0%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)18.8%2024▼ 5.8%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)21.8%2024▼ 11.6%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (USD)$4.05B2024▲ 2.8%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (USD)$4.68B2024▼ 3.5%WB
Merchandise Exports (USD)$3.77B2024▼ 6.9%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$5.23B2024▼ 0.4%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.5%2024▲ 12.3%WB
FDI Outflows (% of GDP)0.3%2024▲ 324.3%WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$543.0M2024▲ 22.6%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$235.6M2024▼ 30.4%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)1.1%2024▼ 36.3%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)30.5%2024▲ 591.2%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-8.2%2023▼ 43.8%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$-1.61B2023▼ 62.3%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)66.6%2024▲ 3.3%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$14.16B2024▲ 12.9%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)5.4%2024▲ 19.2%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$7.63B2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$1.18B2024▲ 3.5%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)5.3%2023▲ 8.4%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$1.03B2023▲ 22.0%WB
▶Finance5 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)19.0%2024▲ 2.0%WB
Account Ownership at Financial Institution (%)51.8%2024▲ 6.7%WB
Account Ownership, Female (%)49.1%2024▲ 23.3%WB
Account Ownership, Male (%)55.0%2024▼ 5.4%WB
Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%)26.6%2024—WB
▶Business Environment1 indicator · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Time to Get Electricity (days)482024—WB
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%)4.7%2024—WB
Firms with Female Top Manager (%)30.1%2024—WB
Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%)24.4%2024—WB
Firms Offering Training (%)19.4%2024—WB
Average Firm Age (years)78 years2024—WB
Firms Using Computers (%)58.2%2024—WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population14.5M2024▲ 2.5%WB
Population Growth (%)2.5%2024▼ 2.4%WB
Population Density (per km²)1252023▲ 2.6%WB
Surface Area (sq km)114,7602023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)112,7602023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)52.5%2024▲ 1.5%WB
Urban Population (total)7.6M2024▲ 4.1%WB
Rural Population (%)47.5%2024▼ 1.7%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth60.8 years2023▲ 0.5%WB
Life Expectancy, Male59.3 years2023▲ 0.3%WB
Life Expectancy, Female62.2 years2023▲ 0.7%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)4.62023▼ 1.7%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)33.92023▼ 1.4%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)8.82023▼ 1.7%WB
Net Migration-7,8472025▼ 1.6%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)41.6%2024▼ 0.7%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)55.3%2024▲ 0.5%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)3.1%2024▲ 1.0%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)80.7%2024▼ 1.0%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)5.6%2024▲ 0.5%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)75.1%2024▼ 1.1%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)289.52023▲ 0.1%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)244.62023▼ 2.0%WB
▶Labor19 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force6.6M2025▲ 3.1%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)76.4%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)75.2%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)77.6%2025▼ 0.0%WB
Unemployment (%)1.6%2025▼ 2.9%WB
Female Unemployment (%)1.4%2025▼ 4.4%WB
Male Unemployment (%)1.8%2025▼ 1.9%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)2.9%2025▼ 6.5%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)40.2%2025▼ 2.0%WB
Employment in Industry (%)18.3%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employment in Services (%)41.4%2025▲ 1.9%WB
Self-Employed (%)76.3%2022—WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)78.5%2025▼ 0.5%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)20.2%2025▲ 2.0%WB
Employers (% of total employment)1.3%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)49.4%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)75.1%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)79.8%2025▼ 0.5%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)14.2%2022—WB
▶Education21 indicators · 2015–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)3.2%2023▲ 4.3%WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)18.0%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Adult Literacy Rate (%)51.4%2022▲ 17.2%WB
Female Literacy Rate (%)41.5%2022▲ 25.3%WB
Male Literacy Rate (%)62.6%2022▲ 10.9%WB
Youth Literacy Rate (%)71.3%2022▲ 9.1%WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)108.0%2022▲ 2.3%WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)43.6%2022▼ 1.6%WB
Tertiary School Enrollment (%)10.2%2022▲ 4.1%WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)61.6%2022▼ 9.0%WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)27.9%2022▼ 18.2%WB
Out-of-School Children, Primary213,2852022▼ 18.6%WB
Out-of-School Girls, Primary136,2782022▼ 15.2%WB
Primary School Teachers59,7422022▲ 2.1%WB
Secondary School Teachers57,2962022▲ 13.0%WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary392018—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary112016—WB
Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap)49.8%2015—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary)54.12021▲ 0.0%WB
Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt)23.7%2015—WB
Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt)22.1%2015—WB
▶Health42 indicators · 2019–2024 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)3.3%2023▲ 11.9%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$472023▲ 23.2%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)0.5%2023▼ 3.5%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)42.4%2023▼ 13.7%WHO
Physicians (per 1,000 people)0.22023▲ 13.7%WHO
Nurses & Midwives (per 1,000)0.62023▲ 5.7%WHO
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)0.42021▼ 4.4%WHO
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births)77.92023▼ 3.1%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)282023▼ 1.8%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)5182023▼ 5.3%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)72.42023▼ 3.2%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)83.22023▼ 3.0%WHO
Cause of Death, Communicable (%)51.8%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)39.0%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)9.2%2019—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)44.0%2024▼ 15.4%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)63.0%2024▼ 8.7%WHO
HIV Incidence (per 1,000)0.12024▲ 0.0%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)402024▼ 4.8%WHO
Stunting, Children Under 5 (%)34.1%2021—WHO
Overweight, Children Under 5 (%)2.9%2021—WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Males (%)10.7%2022▼ 4.5%WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Females (%)1.9%2022▼ 5.0%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)7.12021▲ 3.3%WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)8.82020—WHO
Maternal Deaths2,4772023▼ 4.2%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100K)402024▼ 4.8%WHO
People Living with HIV70,0002024▲ 0.0%WHO
Malaria Deaths (estimated)9,9462024▲ 0.2%WHO
Malaria Incidence (per 1K at risk)354.32024▼ 1.9%WHO
DTP3 Immunization Coverage (%)63%2024▼ 8.7%WHO
Measles Immunization Coverage (%)44%2024▼ 15.4%WHO
Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage (%)63%2024▼ 8.7%WHO
Physicians (total)22024▼ 0.9%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel62024▲ 0.2%WHO
Dentists (total)6,3212024▲ 2.1%WHO
Pharmacists (total)2,5272024▲ 4.2%WHO
Child Wasting (<5 years, %)8.3%2021—WHO
Child Underweight (<5 years, %)19.6%2021—WHO
Universal Health Coverage Index382023▲ 8.6%WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)3,2252021—WHO
Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, USD)$472023▲ 23.2%WHO
▶Energy & Environment16 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita)0.52024▼ 0.2%WB
CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes)72024▲ 2.3%WB
Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita)3762022▼ 0.1%WB
Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita)1052022▼ 7.0%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)0.3%2021▼ 52.9%WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)54.5%2021▲ 18.0%WB
Access to Electricity (%)57.0%2023▲ 0.9%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)6.0%2023▲ 1.7%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)512020—WB
Forest Area (%)26.5%2023▼ 1.6%WB
Forest Area (sq km)29,8522023▼ 1.6%WB
Arable Land (%)31.4%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Terrestrial Protected Areas (%)23.5%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Marine Protected Areas (%)0.0%2024—WB
Access to Basic Drinking Water (%)69.6%2024▲ 0.4%WHO
Access to Basic Sanitation (%)22.2%2024▲ 3.3%WHO
▶Agriculture12 indicators · 2019–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)41.8%2023▼ 2.9%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)1,1272023▼ 17.2%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)126.32022▲ 3.7%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)128.12022▼ 1.1%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)140.92022▲ 7.8%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)2.4M2023▲ 44.0%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)52,1002023▼ 17.9%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)33.22023▼ 10.0%WB
Prevalence of Undernourishment (%)14.3%2023▲ 7.5%WB
Agricultural Irrigated Land (%)1.1%2019—WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)1.3%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)2.7M2023▲ 19.2%WB
▶Technology8 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)32.2%2023▲ 7.3%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)1162023▲ 9.7%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)0.22023▲ 11.6%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)20.42024▲ 64.5%WB
Scientific Journal Articles4142022▲ 8.4%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$22.5M2024▲ 1220.6%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)3.0%2023▲ 7.4%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$14.0M2023▼ 10.3%WB
▶Infrastructure8 indicators · 2006–2022 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Air Transport, Passengers Carried8992016—WB
Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km)02016—WB
Container Port Traffic (TEU)510,8962019—WB
Rail Lines (total km)7582006—WB
Railways, Goods (million ton-km)362006—WB
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.902022—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)23.6%2022▲ 21.2%WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender8 indicators · 2018–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)26.6%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%)74.7%2022—WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)15.8%2025▲ 2.9%WB
Girls Out-of-School Rate (%)143.5%2018—WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)77.82023▼ 1.3%WB
Gender Parity Index, Primary146.922018—WB
Gender Parity Index, Secondary0.832021—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education0.932021▲ 0.0%WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption-0.052023▲ 44.8%WB
Government Effectiveness-0.222023▼ 28.4%WB
Political Stability-0.352023▼ 1.0%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.32023▲ 15.1%WB
Rule of Law-0.512023▲ 15.2%WB
Voice & Accountability-0.222023▲ 34.8%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)52.8%2023▲ 1.8%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)42.5%2023▼ 5.3%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)33.0%2023▲ 11.1%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)31.8%2023▼ 10.2%WB
▶Military5 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Military Spending (% of GDP)0.7%2024▼ 4.9%WB
Military Expenditure (USD)$154.1M2024▲ 3.4%WB
Armed Forces Personnel12,0002020—WB
Armed Forces (% of labor force)0.2%2020—WB
Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)3.8%2024▼ 3.8%WB
▶Poverty & Inequality12 indicators · 2021 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Poverty at $2.15/day (%)27.2%2021—WB
Poverty at $3.65/day (%)50.0%2021—WB
Poverty at $6.85/day (%)86.5%2021—WB
Poverty Headcount, National (%)36.2%2021—WB
Gini Index34.42021—WB
Income Share, Top 10%27.2%2021—WB
Income Share, Bottom 10%3.1%2021—WB
Income Share, Top 20%42.3%2021—WB
Income Share, Bottom 20%7.6%2021—WB
Shared Prosperity Premium (%)2.3%2021—WB
Survey Mean Consumption (2017 PPP $ per day)5.272021—WB
Poverty Gap at $2.15/day (%)7.1%2021—WB
▶Social Protection8 indicators · 2020–2021 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Social Insurance Coverage (%)2.1%2021——
Social Assistance Coverage (%)5.0%2021——
Labor Market Programs Coverage (%)2.0%2021——
Social Protection Coverage (%)8.7%2021——
Human Capital Index (0–1)0.402020—WB
Human Capital Index, Female0.402020—WB
Human Capital Index, Male0.402020—WB
Learning-Adjusted Years of School5.7 years2020—WB
▶Tourism5 indicators · 2019 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals337,0002019—WB
Tourism Receipts (USD)$240.9M2019—WB
Tourism Expenditures (USD)$130.0M2019—WB
Tourism Receipts (% of total exports)6.7%2019—WB
International Tourism, Transport Services (USD)$860,0002019—WB
▶Urban Development7 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)4.0%2024▼ 1.3%WB
Population in Largest City1.4M2025▲ 4.6%WB
Population in Largest City (% of urban)17.4%2025▲ 0.5%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)64.0%2022▼ 5.8%WB
Rural Population Growth (%)0.8%2024▼ 13.4%WB
Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%)17.7%2024▲ 0.9%WHO
Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%)16.4%2024▲ 3.1%WHO

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