Benin

Present-day Benin is comprised of about 42 ethnic groups, including the Yoruba in the southeast, who migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century; the Dendi in the north-central area, who came from Mali in the 16th century; the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Ottamari in the Atakora mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the south-central area; and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja, who came from Togo, on the coast. The Kingdom of Dahomey emerged on the Abomey plateau in the 17th century and was a regional power for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The growth of Dahomey coincided with the growth of the Atlantic slave trade, and it became known as a major source of enslaved people. France began to control the coastal areas of Dahomey in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960, and it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.<br><br>A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and a Marxist-Leninist government. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU returned to power after elections in 1996 and 2001. He stepped down in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second term in 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016; the space for pluralism, dissent, and free expression has narrowed under his administration. TALON won a second term in 2021.

Land

110,622 sq km

Total

112,622 sq km

Water

2,000 sq km

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

121 km

Africa

Highest point

unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

273 m

9 30 N, 2 15 E

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

530 sq km (2019)

Border countries

Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km

number of neighbors

4

Total

2,123 km

Agricultural land

41.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)

arable land

31.45%

Forest

28.5% (2023 est.)

Other

29.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

5.51%

No

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/uMw1BsHEXQYgVFFu6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192784

Africa

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown in this population distribution map

Western Africa

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)

15-64 years

52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)

65 years and over

2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)

Beer

0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

39.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

4.6% (2022)

Women married by age 15

5.9% (2022)

Women married by age 18

27.5% (2022)

34.1%

19.6% (2021 est.)

65.7% (2022 est.)

7.45 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

245 per 1,000

adult male

289 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

4.8 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

21 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

91.1 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

86.3 (2025 est.)

improved total

17.7%

Improved: rural

rural: 60.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 67.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

18% national budget (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.)

2.59 (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

2.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.12%

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

47.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

57.8 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

28 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

51.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language), Yom (a Gur language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south; half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba and Fulfulde

languages

French

number of languages

1

Female

65 years

Male

61.1 years

Total population

63 years (2024 est.)

Female

41.5% (2022 est.)

Male

62.6% (2022 est.)

Total population

51.4% (2022 est.)

285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022)

518 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

17.7 years

Male

16.6 years

Total

17.2 years (2025 est.)

20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Beninese

Noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

9.6% (2016)

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

7,685,319

Male

7,500,771

Total

15,186,090 (2025 est.)

3.26% (2025 est.)

Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)

improved total

16.36%

Improved: rural

rural: 20.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 39.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)

Female

9 years (2022 est.)

Male

11 years (2022 est.)

Total

10 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.5% (2025 est.)

Male

8.3% (2025 est.)

Total

4.8% (2025 est.)

5.3 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

50.1% of total population (2023)

measles

44%

12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Etymology

the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "mouth of the river of death" in the native Fon language

Geographic coordinates

6 29 N, 2 37 E

Name

Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)

Time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/bj.svg

Amendment process

proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended

History

previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990

alternative spellings

BJ, Republic of Benin, République du Bénin

Conventional long form

Republic of Benin

Conventional short form

Benin

Etymology

the current name comes from a local ethnic group, the Bini, whose name may be related to the Arabic word <em>bani</em>, meaning "sons;" the former name, Dahomey, comes from a previous kingdom in the area called Dan Homé

FIFA code

BEN

Former

Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin

Local long form

R&eacute;publique du Benin

local long form (fra)

République du Bénin

Local short form

Benin

Chief of mission

Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)

Email address and website

<br>ACSCotonou@state.gov<br><br>https://bj.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

01BP 2012, Cotonou

FAX

[229] 21-30-03-84

Mailing address

<p>2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC  20521-2120</p>

Telephone

[229] 21-36-75-00

Chancery

2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Agniola AHOUANMENOU (since 24 July 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ambassade.washington@gouv.bj<br><br>https://beninembassy.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1996

Telephone

[1] (202) 232-6656

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

Election results

<br><em>2021:</em> Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3%<br><br><em>2016:</em> Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

Expected date of next election

12 April 2026

Head of government

President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)

Most recent election date

11 April 2021

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both head of state and head of government

<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) to the right, with a vertical green band on the left side <br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> green stands for hope and revival, yellow for wealth, and red for courage<br><br><strong>history:</strong> uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

The flag of Benin features a green vertical band on its hoist side that takes up about two-fifth the width of the field and two equal horizontal bands of yellow and red adjoining the vertical band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/bj.svg

presidential republic

1 August 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president)&nbsp;

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic on the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA

Note

<strong>note:</strong> jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office

Subordinate courts

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de R&eacute;pression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

January 2026

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

Most recent election date

1/8/2023

Note

<strong>note:</strong> seat total includes 24 seats reserved for women

Number of seats

109 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28)

Percentage of women in chamber

26.6%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

green, yellow, red

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

leopard

African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP <br>Benin Renaissance or RB <br>Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE <br>Democratic Renewal Party or PRD <br>Progressive Union for Renewal <br>Republican Bloc <br>Sun Alliance or AS <br>The Democrats <br>Union Makes the Nation or UN (includes PRD, MADEP)

note

<strong>note:</strong> approximately 20 additional minor parties

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$2.101 billion (2019 est.)

Revenues

$2.024 billion (2019 est.)

code

XOF

name

West African CFA franc (XOF) [Fr]

$-1,608,543,371

Current account balance 2021

-$734.659 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$991.005 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.609 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$14.16 billion

Debt - external 2023

$6.309 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

robust economic growth; slightly declining but still widespread poverty; strong trade relations with Nigeria; cotton exporter; COVID-19 has led to capital outflows and border closures; WAEMU member with currency pegged to the euro; recent fiscal deficit and debt reductions

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

574.295 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

554.608 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

622.912 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

606.655 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

$4.05 billion

Exports 2021

$4.154 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$4.271 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$4.511 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$543.01 million

Exports of goods and services

18.8% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

9% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

58.9% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-21.8% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

34.7% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

24.2% (2024 est.)

Industry

17.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

48.9% (2024 est.)

$21.483 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$1,485

47.8 (2015)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

34.4 (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$21.26 billion

$1,430

35 % of GDP

Highest 10%

27.2% (2021 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.1% (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$4.68 billion

Imports 2021

$4.925 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$5.296 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$6.189 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

9.7% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

1.16%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

1.4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

6.397 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

6.64 million persons

agriculture

40.24%

industry

18.32%

services

41.44%

38.5% (2018 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$64.14 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$49.374 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$52.51 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$56.424 billion (2024 est.)

7.45%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

6.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

7.5% (2024 est.)

$4,435

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$3,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,900 (2024 est.)

$235.64 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

1.59%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

1.7% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

1.8% (2024 est.)

Female

2.9% (2024 est.)

Male

3.6% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

3.3% (2024 est.)

Consumption

164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

105 kWh

Exports

2 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

505,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

385 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

45.5%

Electrification - total population

56.5% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

71.1%

Fossil fuels

96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0.01%

nuclear

0%

renewable

0.26%

Solar

3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

376 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

8 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

54.5%

per 100 inhabitants

0 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Total

24,000 (2023 est.)

state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de T&eacute;l&eacute;vision du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019)

.bj

Percent of population

32% (2023 est.)

+229

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2024 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

1,350 (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100

116 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

18.2 million (2024 est.)

10 (2025)

TY

Right

By type

other 6

Total

6 (2023)

Key ports

Cotonou

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

0

Narrow gauge

438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Total

438 km (2014)

DY

the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects<br><br>a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025)

Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB; aka Benin Defense Forces): Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Guard (aka Republican Guard)<br><br>Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025)

active duty personnel

12,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> FAB is under the Ministry of Defense and is responsible for external security and supporting the DGPR in maintaining internal security, which has primary responsibility for enforcing law and maintaining order; the DGPR was formed in 2018 through a merger of police and gendarmes

percent of total labor force

0.21 %

estimated 10-12,000 active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025)

the military is equipped with a mix of older, secondhand, and limited amounts of newer equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Germany, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, Spain, and the US (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$154,107,720

Military Expenditures 2020

0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.80 %

percent of GDP

0.72 % of GDP

18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; compulsory service is 18 months (2025)

IDPs

12,501 (2024 est.)

Refugees

23,225 (2024 est.)

Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram

note

<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

From coal and metallurgical coke

379,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

306,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

5.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

5.948 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; droughts

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Agriculture

106.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

63.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

43.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

34.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

32.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

24 % of total land area

0 % of total

26.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

1 % of internal resources

Agricultural

59 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

145 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

685,900 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

56.9% (2022 est.)