44 Facts About Benin

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. The country has a long history with slave trade.

Benin is named after the body of water on which it lies – the ‘Bight of Benin’.

The people of Benin are called as Beninese.

Benin became independent from France on August 1, 1960.

The capital region of the country and the area nearby was referred as 'Slave Coast' from as early as the 17th century. A large number of slaves were shipped to the New World during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

By around 1750, the Kingdom of Dahomey (part of Benin) was earning an estimated £250,000 per year from the sale of Africans to European slave traders.

In 1885, the last slave ship left Dahomey for Brazil.

Between 1900 and 1958, the region was a French colony.

In the 1990s, Benin was the first country to transition from a dictatorship to a multiparty democracy.

Benin's capital, Porto Novo, was built as a slave trade port.

On November 30, 1975, the country was renamed Benin. It was previously known as Dahomey.

In Benin, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are widely spoken.

At its widest point, the country spans 325 kilometres (202 miles).

The W-Arly-Pendjari region of Benin is home to West Africa's largest remaining lion population.

While cotton is the country's main export item, agriculture and regional trade are also important to the country's economy.

Cotonou, the country's largest city, also serves as the country's only seaport and international airport.

Benin's national sport is soccer.

The high cost of legal gasoline forces locals to buy it illegally. Petrol is imported illegally from Nigeria and sold in the country. In the country, gas stations are scarce.

Benin is slightly smaller in size than Pennsylvania. Or it is larger than two-thirds the size of Portugal.

The coastline of the country is 121 kilometres long.

Agriculture covers 31.3% of the country's land area, while forest covers 40%.

Benin's population has a median age of 17.9 years.

With approximately 5 children per woman, Benin has a high fertility rate.

The literacy rate in Benin is 38.4%.

The internet is used by nearly 4.5% of the country's population.

The country has a low crime rate. However, theft is a problem and many wealthier homeowners generally hire a night watchman.

The red colour on its flag symbolises courage, yellow stands for wealth and green symbolises hope and revival.

The southern part of the country receives more rainfall and produces more vegetation than the rest of the country.

Hubert Maga was elected as Benin's first president.

Benin is also home to Fulani herders who travel long distances with their livestock in search of grass. The Peul are the local name for these herders.

Every town in the country has at least one open-air market.

People typically consume rice, vegetables, and meat. At least twice a day, food is prepared. The south eats a variety of fish, whereas the north prefers beef.

It is considered impolite in the country's culture to eat or offer something with one's left hand.

It is customary to shake the hand of each person present when entering or leaving an appointment.

Young Beninese prefer to consume packaged foods that are mostly imported. They dislike their traditional diet and prefer to eat imported foods instead.

AIDS is a major issue in the country, putting a strain on the health-care system.

The University of Benin in Cotonou is the country's only postsecondary institution, with over a thousand students enrolled.

Because of the extreme heat in the country during the summers, people wear jackets even when the temperature is near 20 degrees or higher.

Yovo refers to white visitors to the country. If you visit the country, don't be surprised if you hear people and children shouting this word behind you. The people, on the other hand, are extremely friendly and lively.

Porto-Novo, Benin's capital, is also known as Adjatche and Hogbonou.

People in the country dislike being photographed. They believe that a photograph can be used to influence a sale or a course of action.

The country is well-known throughout the world for its carved wood masks.

Despite Benin's long history of slavery, slaves in the region were well treated.

Despite its poverty, Benin is one of West Africa's most politically stable countries.