GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Aerial shot of the Ganvié pier with numerous boats moored in Benin.Colorful outdoor market scene in Benin City, Nigeria, showcasing vibrant fabrics and local merchandise.

Benin

Africa · Western Africa

Medium safetyLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

121st most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.293lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#121 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,600national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 105% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 55% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.5K$5.0K$4,817 PPP$1,658Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $809 a person, $2,021 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2007, $912 a person, $2,136 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2008, $1,061 a person, $2,215 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2009, $1,024 a person, $2,213 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2010, $973 a person, $2,220 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2011, $1,059 a person, $2,265 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2012, $1,072 a person, $2,346 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2013, $1,169 a person, $2,512 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2014, $1,204 a person, $2,670 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2015, $1,002 a person, $2,725 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2016, $1,011 a person, $2,842 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $1,055 a person, $2,886 at PPP2018, $1,152 a person, $2,965 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $1,131 a person, $3,149 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2020, $1,200 a person, $3,245 at PPP, inflation 3%2021, $1,319 a person, $3,464 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $1,266 a person, $3,844 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2023, $1,394 a person, $4,133 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2024, $1,485 a person, $4,441 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2025, $1,658 a person, $4,817 at PPP, inflation 1.1%$0$2.5K$5.0KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $809 a person, $2,021 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2007, $912 a person, $2,136 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2008, $1,061 a person, $2,215 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2009, $1,024 a person, $2,213 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2010, $973 a person, $2,220 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2011, $1,059 a person, $2,265 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2012, $1,072 a person, $2,346 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2013, $1,169 a person, $2,512 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2014, $1,204 a person, $2,670 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2015, $1,002 a person, $2,725 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2016, $1,011 a person, $2,842 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $1,055 a person, $2,886 at PPP2018, $1,152 a person, $2,965 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $1,131 a person, $3,149 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2020, $1,200 a person, $3,245 at PPP, inflation 3%2021, $1,319 a person, $3,464 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $1,266 a person, $3,844 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2023, $1,394 a person, $4,133 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2024, $1,485 a person, $4,441 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2025, $1,658 a person, $4,817 at PPP, inflation 1.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
61.0years, at birthVery low
#187 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
38WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
28.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
1.6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
31 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
406EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet31 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Colorful outdoor market scene in Benin City, Nigeria, showcasing vibrant fabrics and local merchandise.
How it changed

Benin's Human Development Index

0.515Low human development

173rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 36th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #171DR Congo0.522
  2. #172Malawi0.517
  3. #173Benin0.515
  4. #174Guinea-Bissau0.514
  5. #175Djibouti0.513
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.351 in 1990 to 0.515 in 2023.

0.300.430.550.51519902000201020231990: 0.3511991: 0.3581992: 0.3631993: 0.3711994: 0.3751995: 0.3831996: 0.3891997: 0.3961998: 0.4011999: 0.4072000: 0.4152001: 0.4262002: 0.4352003: 0.4422004: 0.4492005: 0.4562006: 0.4622007: 0.4692008: 0.4752009: 0.4802010: 0.4852011: 0.4902012: 0.4972013: 0.5062014: 0.5092015: 0.5112016: 0.5102017: 0.5072018: 0.5072019: 0.5072020: 0.5042021: 0.5062022: 0.5122023: 0.5150.300.430.5519902000201020231990: 0.3511991: 0.3581992: 0.3631993: 0.3711994: 0.3751995: 0.3831996: 0.3891997: 0.3961998: 0.4011999: 0.4072000: 0.4152001: 0.4262002: 0.4352003: 0.4422004: 0.4492005: 0.4562006: 0.4622007: 0.4692008: 0.4752009: 0.4802010: 0.4852011: 0.4902012: 0.4972013: 0.5062014: 0.5092015: 0.5112016: 0.5102017: 0.5072018: 0.5072019: 0.5072020: 0.5042021: 0.5062022: 0.5122023: 0.515

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
61 years2024at birthUp 3.2 years from 57.7 years in 2005
Internet users
34%2024of people onlineUp 32 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
53%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 13 points from 41% in 2006
Births per woman
4.482024births per womanDown 1.21 from 5.69 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
55%2021of energy usedDown 6 points from 61% in 2004
Access to electricity
59%2024of people with electricityUp 33 points from 26% in 2005
Infant mortality
452024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 26 from 71 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.3 t in 2005
Forest area
26%2023of land under forestDown 8 points from 35% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Birthplace of Vodoun; relatively stable, developing tourism, low income. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Benin

Benin is a small West African country with a rich cultural heritage as the cradle of the Vodoun religion, which originated here and spread to the Americas. The landscape transitions from palm-fringed Atlantic beaches in the south to the dry savanna of the north, with the remarkable lake village of Ganvié built entirely on water. Curious travellers who engage respectfully with local traditions will find it a genuinely fascinating and deeply hospitable place.

Practical facts

  • CapitalPorto-Novo
  • LanguagesFrench
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Area112,760 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Benin's Human Development Index?

Benin's Human Development Index is 0.515 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #173 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Benin safe?

Benin scores 2.29 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #121 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Benin?

Life expectancy at birth in Benin is 61.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #187 of 195 countries.