benin map and information page

Description

The country we refer to as Benin today was once the powerful Kingdom of Dahomey. It was eventually nicknamed the Slave Coast because of the significant trafficking through Dahomey of Africans (against their will) to the Americas, specifically to the slave markets of Brazil and the Caribbean.

It was transformed into a French Colony in the late 1800s, finally gaining its full independence from France in 1960. The country's current name (Benin) was adopted in 1975.

Subsequently, it witnessed a series of military coups, a mistaken association with Marxism, and the somewhat typical health and infrastructure problems indigenous to its neighbors, and most West African countries.

As a new democracy, the bright side is Benin's economy is growing and tourism is on the increase, especially along the coastal areas, and in the wildlife national parks of the north.

Much of the interior population is still dependent on subsistence farming; growing beans, corn and yams. Important cash crops include cotton, cocoa and coffee.

Read more about Benin, and especially its famous stilt villages here! A great picture here!

Facts and Figures

Official Name Republic of Benin

Population 7,862,944

Capital City Porto-Novo (317,000)

Largest Cities Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou

Currency CFA Franc

Currency Converter here

Latitude/Longitude 6º48 N, 2º63 E

Languages French (official), tribal languages

Flag here

National Day 1 August; National Day

Religions Muslim, Christian, traditional beliefs

Land

Land Area 110,620 sq km (42,710 sq miles)

Landforms From a narrow and somewhat sandy coastal area, the marshy land and lagoons of the south rise into the La Terre de Barre Plateau, consisting of a wooded savannah that continues on into the foot hills of the Atakora Mountains of the northwest, a branch of the Togo Mountains. From there, the land slopes down into a broad plain, and on to the Niger River valley of the far northeast. The Niger and Oueme are the country's major rivers.

Highest Point Mt. Sokbaro (658 m) (2,158 ft)

Lowest Point Atlantic Ocean, sea level

Land Divisions 12 departments; including Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau and Zou

Population and Size of all land divisions and major cities here!

All maps, graphics and original descriptions created by Graphic Maps, a d/b/a of the Woolwine-Moen Group, unless otherwise noted and/or directly linked to the source, and use of same for any application whatsoever (with the exception of outline maps) requires written permission.

We make no copyright claim on any statistical data on this page, nor on any non-original graphics, and/or pictures not produced by us. Certain statistical data is gathered from the CIA World Factbook, as well as numerous public domain reference materials.

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Maps

Large (color) map here

Benin Outline Map here

Benin CIA version here

Benin Maps at UT here

African Continent (printable) here

African Continent here

Africa Landforms Map here

African Outline Map here

Suggested Links

Benin (Complete) information on the (GDP) overall economy, imports and exports, resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here

Benin Art and Culture here

Benin Embassy (U.S.) here

Benin Photos here

Benin Travel Info and Warnings here

Pendjari National Park here

Climate Benin is tropical; hot and humid in south; semiarid (quite dry) in north. Overall, the dry season runs from November to April, and a rainy season from the end of April through September. The mean temperature is near 80 degrees.