Country
Countries A-Z
Benin
Republic of Benin
République du Bénin
Political Status: Independent Republic of Dahomey established August 1, 1960; military regime established October 26, 1972, becoming Marxist one-party system 1972–1975; name changed to People’s Republic of Benin on November 30, 1975; name changed to Republic of Benin on February 28, 1990, by National Conference of Active Forces of the Nation, which also revoked constitution of August 1977; multiparty constitution approved by popular referendum on December 2, 1990.
Area: 43,483 sq. mi. (112,622 sq. km).
Population: 11,486,000 (2018E—World Bank); 11,340,504 (2018E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2014E—UN): PORTO-NOVO (268,000), Cotonou (680,000).
Official Language: French.
Monetary Unit: CFA franc (official rate October 19, 2018: 570.93 CFA francs = $1US). The CFA franc is permanently pegged to the euro at 655.93 CFA francs = 1 euro.
President: Patrice TALON ...