Refugees
28,921refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
4,687from it, abroad, 2025
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026
Benin
Benin has 15 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $25 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).
Written automatically from the figures on this page.
- Population
- 15 m (2025)
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.
- GDPUS$24.6billion122nd of 186World Bank · 2025
- Population15million75th of 216World Bank · 2025
- GDP per personUS$1,658157th of 186World Bank · 2025
- Military, % GDP0.9% of GDP116th of 150World Bank · 2025
- CO2 per person0.4t183rd of 213Global Carbon Budget · 2024
Dependencies at a glance
Benin imports all of the oil it uses.
Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
| Resource | Dependence | Position | Main partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | Imports most | Imports all of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | No partner data from the source |
| Natural gas | Imports most | Imports all of the gas it uses PreliminaryEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | No partner data from the source |
| Wheat | Not reported by this source | – | |
| Maize | Low net trade | Imports 0.2% of the maize it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Burkina Faso, South Africa, Argentina |
| Rice | Imports most | Imports 84% of the rice it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | India, United Arab Emirates, Singapore |
| Soybeans | Low net trade | Exports 1.7% of what it producesFAOSTAT, use 2014 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | No partner data from the source |
| Potash | Imports most | Imports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | No partner data from the source |
| Phosphate | Imports most | Imports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | No partner data from the source |
| Arms | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: Jordan, 38% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025 | Jordan, France, South Africa |
| Chips | Supplier concentration only | Not reported by this sourceUN Comtrade, 2025 | – |
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
- OilImports most
Imports all of the oil it uses
Main partners: No partner data from the source
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- Natural gasImports most
Imports all of the gas it uses Preliminary
Main partners: No partner data from the source
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- Wheat
Not reported by this source
- MaizeLow net trade
Imports 0.2% of the maize it uses
Main partners: Burkina Faso, South Africa, Argentina
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- RiceImports most
Imports 84% of the rice it uses
Main partners: India, United Arab Emirates, Singapore
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- SoybeansLow net trade
Exports 1.7% of what it produces
Main partners: No partner data from the source
FAOSTAT, use 2014 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- PotashImports most
Imports all of its potash supply Estimate
Main partners: No partner data from the source
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- PhosphateImports most
Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate
Main partners: No partner data from the source
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- ArmsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: Jordan, 38% of imports
Main partners: Jordan, France, South Africa
SIPRI, 2021–2025
- ChipsSupplier concentration only
Not reported by this source
UN Comtrade, 2025
Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRIyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Dependencies toolMoney and reserves
Benin’s economy produced $25 bn in 2025.
GDP, 2000–2025
Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026
Economic growth8.1%2025 · 9th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation1.1%2025 · 132nd of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment1.6%2025 · 169th of 181 · World Bank
Trade41% of GDP2024 · 150th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$482million2025 · 121st of 200 · World Bank
People
Benin had 15 m people in 2025.
Population, 1950–2100
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios
Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection
Benin’s population by age
1950200020502100
Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection
Births per woman4.562023 · 15th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age17.82023 · 218th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over3.2%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
Climate and hazards
Benin emitted 6.1 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.
Benin’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026
CO2 emissions6Mt2024 · 131st of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.4t2024 · 183rd of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 1750128Mt2024 · 140th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.02023 · 151st of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
More figures
Shown only where a source covers Benin.
Sanctions
8entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 8
Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.
Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Chinese loans and grants
US$2.58billioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021
Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021
Cyber incidents
No publicly known incidents affecting Benin in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.
Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.
Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024
All figures
51 measures on this site have a recent figure for Benin.
| GDP | $25 bn | 2025 | 122nd of 186 | World Bank |
| GDP per person | $1,658 | 2025 | 157th of 186 | World Bank |
| Economic growth | 8.1% | 2025 | 9th of 186 | World Bank |
| Inflation | 1.1% | 2025 | 132nd of 169 | World Bank |
| Government debt | 59% | 2025 | 78th of 191 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Government budget balance | −2.7% | 2025 | 101st of 195 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Current account balance | Estimate | 2025 | 148th of 194 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Unemployment | 1.6% | 2025 | 169th of 181 | World Bank |
| Trade | 41% | 2024 | 150th of 172 | World Bank |
| Foreign investment in | $482 m | 2025 | 121st of 200 | World Bank |
| Remittances received | 1.7% | 2023 | 99th of 173 | World Bank |
| Population | 15 m | 2025 | 75th of 216 | World Bank |
| Population with UN projections | 14 m | 2023 | 76th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Births per woman | 4.56 | 2023 | 15th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Median age | 17.8 | 2023 | 218th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Life expectancy | 60.8 | 2023 | 229th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Refugees from the country | 4,687 | 2025 | 96th of 206 | UNHCR |
| Refugees and others needing protection, by host | 28,921 | 2025 | 92nd of 176 | UNHCR |
| Refugees hosted per 1,000 people | 2.0 | 2025 | 102nd of 176 | UNHCR |
| People displaced inside the country | 27,294 | 2025 | 35th of 38 | UNHCR |
| Crude oil production | 0 kb/d | 2025 | 100th of 214 | EIA |
| Oil consumption | 47 kb/d | 2024 | 108th of 212 | EIA |
| Natural gas production | Preliminary | 2024 | 97th of 213 | EIA |
| Natural gas consumption | 0.2 bcm | 2024 | 110th of 213 | EIA |
| Electricity generated | 1 TWh | 2024 | 154th of 193 | Ember |
| Low-carbon electricity | 4% | 2024 | 170th of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from coal | 0% | 2024 | 82nd of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from wind and solar | 4% | 2024 | 116th of 193 | Ember |
| Wheat imports | 0.2 Mt | 2024 | 96th of 180 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize production | 2.1 Mt | 2024 | 44th of 169 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize imports | 0.0 Mt | 2024 | 150th of 196 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice production | 0.3 Mt | 2024 | 50th of 135 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice imports | 1.8 Mt | 2024 | 5th of 197 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean production | 0.7 Mt | 2024 | 15th of 108 | FAOSTAT |
| Potash fertiliser use | 0.03 Mt | 2024 | 73rd of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| Phosphate fertiliser use | 0.02 Mt | 2024 | 85th of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| CO2 emissions | 6 Mt | 2024 | 131st of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 per person | 0.4 t | 2024 | 183rd of 213 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 emitted since 1750 | 128 Mt | 2024 | 140th of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Net CO2 imports through trade | 42% | 2023 | 34th of 120 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Water stress | 0.0 | 2023 | 151st of 164 | WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0) |
| Water from abroad | 61% | 2023 | 31st of 193 | FAO AQUASTAT |
| Military spending, share of GDP | 0.9% | 2025 | 116th of 150 | World Bank |
| Military spending | $217 m | 2025 | 119th of 150 | World Bank |
| Deaths in organised violence | 160 | 2025 | 33rd of 61 | UCDP |
| Arms imports | 3 TIV m | 2025 | 98th of 108 | SIPRI |
| People using the internet | 34% | 2024 | 159th of 182 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports | $14 m | 2023 | 141st of 174 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports, share of service exports | 3% | 2023 | 119th of 174 | World Bank |
| Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK) | 8 | 2026 | 119th of 181 | US CSL |
| Chinese loans and grants committed | $842 m | 2021 | 14th of 122 | AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0 |
Sources for this page
- World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Trade, …
- IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
- UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
- UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000, Internally displaced
- U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
- Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
- FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, Soybean production, …
- Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750, Net CO2 imports through trade
- WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
- FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
- UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
- SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Dependencies at a glance
- US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
- AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
- EU financial sanctions listSanctions
- UK Sanctions ListSanctions
- EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents
Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure