Benin
BENSub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeCapital: Porto-NovoEconomy
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
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
▶Fiscal & Monetary13 indicators · 2021–2027 · IMF / WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | WB |
| Deposit Interest Rate (%) | 5.3% | 2021 | ▲ 4.0% | WB |
| Official Exchange Rate (per USD) | 606.35 | 2024 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| PPP Conversion Factor | 203.1 | 2024 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Broad Money (% of GDP) | 28.1% | 2024 | ▼ 7.1% | WB |
▶Trade15 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | $4.05B | 2024 | ▲ 2.8% | WB |
| Imports of Goods & Services (USD) | $4.68B | 2024 | ▼ 3.5% | WB |
| Merchandise Exports (USD) | $3.77B | 2024 | ▼ 6.9% | WB |
| Merchandise Imports (USD) | $5.23B | 2024 | ▼ 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) | $543.0M | 2024 | ▲ 22.6% | WB |
| Personal Remittances Received (USD) | $235.6M | 2024 | ▼ 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) | $-1.61B | 2023 | ▼ 62.3% | WB |
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External Debt (% of GNI) | 66.6% | 2024 | ▲ 3.3% | WB |
| External Debt Stocks (USD) | $14.16B | 2024 | ▲ 12.9% | WB |
| Total Debt Service (% of GNI) | 5.4% | 2024 | ▲ 19.2% | WB |
| Present Value of External Debt (USD) | $7.63B | 2024 | — | WB |
| Use of IMF Credit (USD) | $1.18B | 2024 | ▲ 3.5% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (% of GNI) | 5.3% | 2023 | ▲ 8.4% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (USD) | $1.03B | 2023 | ▲ 22.0% | WB |
▶Finance5 indicators · 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Get Electricity (days) | 48 | 2024 | — | WB |
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 years | 2024 | — | WB |
| Firms Using Computers (%) | 58.2% | 2024 | — | WB |
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14.5M | 2024 | ▲ 2.5% | WB |
| Population Growth (%) | 2.5% | 2024 | ▼ 2.4% | WB |
| Population Density (per km²) | 125 | 2023 | ▲ 2.6% | WB |
| Surface Area (sq km) | 114,760 | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Land Area (sq km) | 112,760 | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Urban Population (%) | 52.5% | 2024 | ▲ 1.5% | WB |
| Urban Population (total) | 7.6M | 2024 | ▲ 4.1% | WB |
| Rural Population (%) | 47.5% | 2024 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 60.8 years | 2023 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Male | 59.3 years | 2023 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Female | 62.2 years | 2023 | ▲ 0.7% | WB |
| Fertility Rate (births per woman) | 4.6 | 2023 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 33.9 | 2023 | ▼ 1.4% | WB |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 8.8 | 2023 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| Net Migration | -7,847 | 2025 | ▼ 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) | 289.5 | 2023 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000) | 244.6 | 2023 | ▼ 2.0% | WB |
▶Labor19 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 6.6M | 2025 | ▲ 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Primary | 213,285 | 2022 | ▼ 18.6% | WB |
| Out-of-School Girls, Primary | 136,278 | 2022 | ▼ 15.2% | WB |
| Primary School Teachers | 59,742 | 2022 | ▲ 2.1% | WB |
| Secondary School Teachers | 57,296 | 2022 | ▲ 13.0% | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary | 39 | 2018 | — | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary | 11 | 2016 | — | WB |
| Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap) | 49.8% | 2015 | — | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary) | 54.1 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt) | 23.7% | 2015 | — | WB |
| Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt) | 22.1% | 2015 | — | WB |
▶Health42 indicators · 2019–2024 · WHO
▶Energy & Environment16 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita) | 0.5 | 2024 | ▼ 0.2% | WB |
| CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes) | 7 | 2024 | ▲ 2.3% | WB |
| Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita) | 376 | 2022 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita) | 105 | 2022 | ▼ 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) | 51 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Forest Area (%) | 26.5% | 2023 | ▼ 1.6% | WB |
| Forest Area (sq km) | 29,852 | 2023 | ▼ 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Land (%) | 41.8% | 2023 | ▼ 2.9% | WB |
| Cereal Yield (kg per hectare) | 1,127 | 2023 | ▼ 17.2% | WB |
| Food Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 126.3 | 2022 | ▲ 3.7% | WB |
| Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 128.1 | 2022 | ▼ 1.1% | WB |
| Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 140.9 | 2022 | ▲ 7.8% | WB |
| Land Under Cereal Production (hectares) | 2.4M | 2023 | ▲ 44.0% | WB |
| Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes) | 52,100 | 2023 | ▼ 17.9% | WB |
| Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare) | 33.2 | 2023 | ▼ 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) | 2.7M | 2023 | ▲ 19.2% | WB |
▶Technology8 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users (%) | 32.2% | 2023 | ▲ 7.3% | WB |
| Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people) | 116 | 2023 | ▲ 9.7% | WB |
| Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100) | 0.2 | 2023 | ▲ 11.6% | WB |
| Secure Internet Servers (per million) | 20.4 | 2024 | ▲ 64.5% | WB |
| Scientific Journal Articles | 414 | 2022 | ▲ 8.4% | WB |
| High-Technology Exports (USD) | $22.5M | 2024 | ▲ 1220.6% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (% of service exports) | 3.0% | 2023 | ▲ 7.4% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (USD) | $14.0M | 2023 | ▼ 10.3% | WB |
▶Infrastructure8 indicators · 2006–2022 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transport, Passengers Carried | 899 | 2016 | — | WB |
| Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km) | 0 | 2016 | — | WB |
| Container Port Traffic (TEU) | 510,896 | 2019 | — | WB |
| Rail Lines (total km) | 758 | 2006 | — | WB |
| Railways, Goods (million ton-km) | 36 | 2006 | — | WB |
| Logistics Performance Index (1–5) | 2.90 | 2022 | — | WB |
| Electricity from Oil (%) | 23.6% | 2022 | ▲ 21.2% | WB |
| Electricity from Nuclear (%) | 0.0% | 2021 | — | WB |
▶Gender8 indicators · 2018–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 77.8 | 2023 | ▼ 1.3% | WB |
| Gender Parity Index, Primary | 146.92 | 2018 | — | WB |
| Gender Parity Index, Secondary | 0.83 | 2021 | ▲ 2.7% | WB |
| Gender Parity in Primary Education | 0.93 | 2021 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of Corruption | -0.05 | 2023 | ▲ 44.8% | WB |
| Government Effectiveness | -0.22 | 2023 | ▼ 28.4% | WB |
| Political Stability | -0.35 | 2023 | ▼ 1.0% | WB |
| Regulatory Quality | -0.3 | 2023 | ▲ 15.1% | WB |
| Rule of Law | -0.51 | 2023 | ▲ 15.2% | WB |
| Voice & Accountability | -0.22 | 2023 | ▲ 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Spending (% of GDP) | 0.7% | 2024 | ▼ 4.9% | WB |
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $154.1M | 2024 | ▲ 3.4% | WB |
| Armed Forces Personnel | 12,000 | 2020 | — | 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Index | 34.4 | 2021 | — | 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) | 5.27 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Poverty Gap at $2.15/day (%) | 7.1% | 2021 | — | WB |
▶Social Protection8 indicators · 2020–2021 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 0.40 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Human Capital Index, Female | 0.40 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Human Capital Index, Male | 0.40 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Learning-Adjusted Years of School | 5.7 years | 2020 | — | WB |
▶Tourism5 indicators · 2019 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Tourism, Arrivals | 337,000 | 2019 | — | WB |
| Tourism Receipts (USD) | $240.9M | 2019 | — | WB |
| Tourism Expenditures (USD) | $130.0M | 2019 | — | WB |
| Tourism Receipts (% of total exports) | 6.7% | 2019 | — | WB |
| International Tourism, Transport Services (USD) | $860,000 | 2019 | — | WB |
▶Urban Development7 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Growth (%) | 4.0% | 2024 | ▼ 1.3% | WB |
| Population in Largest City | 1.4M | 2025 | ▲ 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 |
