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Geography of Benin

Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates:9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Coastline:121 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources:small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use:arable land: 23.53%
permanent crops: 2.37%
other: 74.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Benin Quickstats

  • Population: 8,078,314
  • Area: 112,620 sq km
  • Density: 75 /km² (118th3)
  • GDP (total): $8.75 billion (140th)
  • GDP (per capita): $1,176 (166th)
  • Literacy: 34.7%

Languages of Benin

Useful to know

  • Currency: CFA franc (XOF)
  • Dial code: +229

International Trade

External sites

More Resources

Benin Internet

  • Usage: 425,000
  • Penetration: 5.5 %
  • Top Domain: .bn

WT eBusiness info:

  • Success Ranking: 100
  • Market testing: Untested
  • Overall risk: High
  • Overall reward: Low

e-maturity:

  • Tourism: 10%
  • eCommerce: 10%
  • Gaming: 10%
  • eLearning: 10%

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