Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Countries

Benin

Benin is a country in West Africa, officially the Republic of Benin.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Benin is a West African country officially known as the Republic of Benin. Its capital is Porto-Novo, but the largest city and seat of government is Cotonou.

What it is

Benin was formerly known as Dahomey and gained independence from France in 1960. It is a presidential republic with French as its official language, and its population is approximately 15 million (2026 estimate).

Key details

Benin borders Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea. Its economy relies heavily on agriculture, especially cotton and palm oil exports. The country is considered one of Africa’s more stable democracies.

Why it matters

For Canadian readers, Benin is relevant through international trade, development aid, and diplomatic ties. Canada engages with Benin as part of its broader relationship with West African and francophone nations.

In short

  • Benin is a West African country formerly called Dahomey.
  • Porto-Novo is the capital; Cotonou is the largest city.
  • Economy based on agriculture, especially cotton and palm oil.
  • Benin is a stable presidential republic.
Canadian angle

Benin matters to Canadian readers through international trade, development, and diplomatic ties, including Canada’s broader engagement with West African states and francophone countries.

Quick questions

What is Benin?
Benin is a country in West Africa officially known as the Republic of Benin.
What was Benin formerly called?
Benin was formerly known as Dahomey.
What is the capital of Benin?
Porto-Novo is the official capital, while Cotonou is the largest city and seat of government.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin
    Supports: Country name, borders, capital, area, population estimate, government system, economy.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13037572
    Supports: Country profile, capital, area, population, languages, and general national description.
  3. CIA World Factbook — https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/2023/countries/benin/summaries
    Supports: Historical name Dahomey, independence in 1960, renaming in 1975, population estimate, presidential republic.
  4. ECOWAS — https://ecowap.ecowas.int/media/ecowap/naip/files/B%C3%A9nin_English.pdf
    Supports: Borders, capital, population context, independence, and current president reference.
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Benin
    Supports: Geography, capital and largest city, colonial history, population estimate, and government form.
  6. globalEDGE — https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/benin
    Supports: Government, geography, and ECOWAS membership.
  7. EBSCO — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/geography-and-cartography/benin
    Supports: History of Dahomey Kingdom, language, ethnic groups, and agricultural economy.