General Country Information 🌍
| Capital | Porto-Novo |
| Country | Benin |
| Currency | CFA franc |
| Main religion | Christianity |
In numbers… 📐
| Female | 49.6% |
| Gdp | $12.58 billion |
| Size | 112,622 km² |
| Population | 12.12 million |
| Population density | 107.7 people/km² |
| Kids per female | 4.8 |
| City population | 47.3% |
Weather ⛅
| Winter | 27∘C |
| Summer | 32∘C |
Language and Education 🔬
| Main Language | French |
| Population able to read | 42.4% |
| Population with a college degree | 2.5% |
| Population able to speak english | 1.3% |
Well-being 💉
| Air quality | 42.5 (AQI) |
| Is tab water drinkable? | no |
Safety 👮
| LGBT friendly? | Yes |
| Crime | 4.5/10 |
Transportation ✈️
| Driving side | Right |
| Main airline | Benin Golf Air |
| Main airport | Cadjehoun Airport |
Costs and Prices 🤑
| Cash required for everyday purchases | yes |
Prices for Everyday Goods 💰
| Item | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Bottle water | $0.3 |
| Cigarettes | $2 |
| Burger | $2 |
| Coffee | $1 |
| Beer | $1.5 |
Accomedation Costs 🛌
| Type | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Flat | $150/month |
| Hotel 3 star | $50/night |
| Hotel 5 star | $150/night |
Transportation Costs 🚐
| Type | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Cab | $2/10km |
| Petrol | $0.80/l |
| Rental car | $25/day |
| Public transportation | $1/daypass |
| Bike rental | $2/day |
Taxes 💸
| Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Tax rate | 20% |
| Vat | 18% |
Average Income 💼
| Income | $1200 |
Tipping 💁️
| Is tipping required? | Yes |
| Location | Tipping Amount |
|---|---|
| Cab | 10% |
| Restaurant | 10-15% |
| Bar | 10% |
| Coffeeshop | 10% |
| Services | 10% |
Digital 🤖
| Internet speed | NA/MBits |
| Tld | .bj |
| Free wifi | NA/10 |
| Population with access to internet | NA% |
| Phone mobile data | $6.5 for 10GB |
Electricity 🔌
| Power grid | NA% (Uptime) |
| Sockets | Type E, Type F |
Shopping 🛒
Opening Times 🕰
| Closing days | Sunday |
| Closing times | 6:00 PM |
| Opening times | 8:00 AM |
Most popular Stores 🏪
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| Online shopping | Cdiscount |
| Supermarket | Casino |
| Pharmacy | Pharmacie Centrale |
| Drugstore | Pharmacie de la Paix |
Fun and Relaxation 😃
Bars and Nightlife 🕺
| Closing hour of bars and clubs | No |
| Topic | Rating (0-10) |
|---|---|
| Nightlife | 5/10 |
| Bars | 6/10 |
Parks and leisure 🎢
| Topic | Rating (0-10) |
|---|---|
| Holiday Parks | 2/10 |
| Public Parks | 4/10 |
| Swimming | 3/10 |
Sports ⚽
| Most popular Sport | Football |
Food 🍕️
| Food Name | Description | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Akpan | A spicy tomato and onion stew served with rice or plantains | $2-3 |
| Djenkoumé | A peanut-based sauce served with rice or yams | $2-3 |
| Foufou | A pounded yam dish served with a variety of sauces | $2-3 |
| Gbofoto | A grilled fish dish served with a spicy tomato sauce | $3-4 |
| Igname pilé | A pounded yam dish served with a variety of sauces | $2-3 |
| Wassa-wassa | A fried dough dish served with a variety of sauces | $1-2 |
Drinks 🍻️
| Drink Name | Description | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tchakpalo | A traditional Beninese beer made from fermented corn | 1-2 |
| Sodabi | A distilled spirit made from palm wine | 3-5 |
| Bissap | A refreshing juice made from hibiscus flowers | 1-2 |
| Baobab juice | A thick and creamy juice made from the fruit of the baobab tree | 2-3 |
| Ginger beer | A non-alcoholic drink made from fermented ginger | 1-2 |
Souvenirs 👜
| Souvenir | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Beninese Woodcarvings | Handcrafted wooden sculptures depicting animals, people, and scenes from Beninese life | $10-$50 |
| Beninese Textiles | Vibrant and colorful fabrics woven by local artisans | $20-$100 |
| Beninese Pottery | Hand-painted ceramic pots and vases | $15-$50 |
| Beninese Jewelry | Silver, gold, and beaded necklaces, bracelets, and earrings | $20-$100 |
| Beninese Masks | Traditional masks used in ceremonies and festivals | $50-$200 |
| Beninese Musical Instruments | Drums, xylophones, and other instruments used in traditional Beninese music | $20-$100 |
| Beninese Spices | Exotic spices such as ginger, turmeric, and chili peppers | $5-$20 |
| Beninese Coffee | Rich and flavorful coffee grown in the hills of Benin | $10-$20 |
| Beninese Chocolate | Smooth and creamy chocolate made from locally grown cocoa beans | $10-$20 |
| Beninese Beer | Local beers such as La Béninoise and Flag | $2-$5 |
Holidays 🍹
| Holiday Name | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Celebrates the start of the new year |
| Liberation Day | January 16 | Commemorates the end of French colonial rule in 1960 |
| Labour Day | May 1 | Celebrates the contributions of workers |
| Ascension Day | 40 days after Easter | Commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven |
| Pentecost | 50 days after Easter | Commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles |
| Independence Day | August 1 | Commemorates the independence of Benin from France in 1960 |
| Assumption of Mary | August 15 | Commemorates the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven |
| All Saints’ Day | November 1 | Commemorates all Christian saints |
| National Day | December 30 | Commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Benin in 1958 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ |
News 📰
| Medium | Name |
|---|---|
| Newspaper | La Nation |
| Online news | Benin Web TV |
| Tv | ORTB |
| Radio | Radio Benin |