# Benin — key facts

Source: GeoReality (https://geo-reality.com) — verified country data, regenerated 2026-09-01.
When citing a figure, attribute both GeoReality and the primary source in the third column.

- Capital: Porto-Novo
- Region: Africa · Western Africa
- Full profile: https://geo-reality.com/country/bj
- Methodology and source URLs: https://geo-reality.com/data-sources

| Fact | Value | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,814,460 | World Bank SP.POP.TOTL |
| Area | 112,760 km² | World Bank AG.LND.TOTL.K2 |
| GDP per capita (nominal) | 1,658 USD | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.CD |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | 4,817 intl $ | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD |
| GDP (total) | 24.6 bn USD | World Bank NY.GDP.MKTP.CD |
| Human Development Index | 0.5 | UNDP Human Development Report (2022) |
| Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful) | 2.29 | IEP Global Peace Index (2024) |
| Life satisfaction (Cantril ladder, 0-10) | 4.39 | World Happiness Report — Data for Figure 2.1, life evaluation (Cantril ladder) (2026) |
| Life expectancy at birth | 61 years | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Fertility rate | 4.48 births/woman | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Unemployment | 1.6% | World Bank SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Inflation (CPI, annual) | 1.1% | World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG |
| Gini income inequality | 34.4 | World Bank SI.POV.GINI |
| Median fixed broadband | 30.74 Mbps | Ookla Speedtest Global Index (2025) |
| Internet users | 34% of population | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 53.4% | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Renewable share of energy | 54.5% | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Forest area | 26.5% of land | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |
| CO2 emissions per capita | 0.49 t/yr | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Corporate tax rate | 35% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (corporate column, headline statutory rate) (2024) |
| VAT / GST standard rate | 18% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (VAT/GST/Sales column, standard-rate preferred) (2024) |
| Top personal income tax | 35% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (Individual income / Highest column) (2024) |

## Two decades of change

| Indicator | First → last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 57.74 (2005) → 60.96 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Internet users | 1.54 (2006) → 33.98 (2024) | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 40.79 (2006) → 53.36 (2025) | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Births per woman | 5.69 (2005) → 4.48 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Renewable share of energy | 60.7 (2004) → 54.5 (2021) | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Access to electricity | 26.1 (2005) → 59 (2024) | World Bank EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Infant mortality | 71 (2005) → 45.2 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |
| CO2 emissions per person | 0.33 (2005) → 0.49 (2024) | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Forest area | 34.9 (2004) → 26.47 (2023) | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |

Context across all countries: https://geo-reality.com/changed

## Human Development Index, 1990–2022

Source: UNDP Human Development Report, composite indices complete time series (2023-24). Annual values as published, none interpolated.

| Year | HDI |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.350 |
| 1991 | 0.355 |
| 1992 | 0.360 |
| 1993 | 0.367 |
| 1994 | 0.372 |
| 1995 | 0.379 |
| 1996 | 0.385 |
| 1997 | 0.393 |
| 1998 | 0.398 |
| 1999 | 0.405 |
| 2000 | 0.412 |
| 2001 | 0.423 |
| 2002 | 0.431 |
| 2003 | 0.438 |
| 2004 | 0.444 |
| 2005 | 0.450 |
| 2006 | 0.456 |
| 2007 | 0.464 |
| 2008 | 0.470 |
| 2009 | 0.475 |
| 2010 | 0.481 |
| 2011 | 0.486 |
| 2012 | 0.494 |
| 2013 | 0.503 |
| 2014 | 0.506 |
| 2015 | 0.509 |
| 2016 | 0.508 |
| 2017 | 0.505 |
| 2018 | 0.506 |
| 2019 | 0.506 |
| 2020 | 0.501 |
| 2021 | 0.502 |
| 2022 | 0.504 |

Chart: https://geo-reality.com/country/bj#hdi-history

Vintages marked "varies" are the most recent value the source publishes per country; the profile page states the exact year per figure.