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Republic of Benin

(Republique du Benin)

Map of Republic of Benin
Public domain image from The World Factbook

Republic of Benin

  • Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
  • Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
  • Area: total - 112,620 sq km, land - 110,620 sq km, water - 2,000 sq km
  • Land boundaries: total - 1,989 km (border countries - Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km)
  • Coastline: 121 km
  • Capital: Porto-Novo
  • Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
  • Population: 7,862,944 (July 2006 est.)
  • Nationality: noun - Beninese (singular and plural), adjective - Beninese
  • Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
  • Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
  • Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Public domain data from The World Factbook.

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