About Benin

Benin is a small country in West Africa that sits on the Gulf of Guinea near the equator. It is bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Well-known sites in Benin include:

• Ganvié -- a city built on stilts in the water where inhabitants travel by canoe
• Abomey -- site of the Royal Palace of the kingdom of Dahomey, formerly guarded by the female Amazon warriors
• Ouidah -- home of traditional voodoo
• Tanogou Falls and Penjari National Park
  

Republic of Benin

Former Name: Dahomey

Independence: August 1, 1960 (from France)

Government: Republic, multi-party democracy

Capital City: Porto Novo

Major Cities: Cotonou, Abomey, Parakou, Natitingou

Official Language: French

Other Languages: Over 50. Most common is Fon.

Currency: CFA

Population: 6,305,567

Literacy (age 15 & over):
total population: 40.9%
male: 56.2%, female: 26.5%