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Benin

Republic of Benin

French West African CFA (XOF) French civil law
AU, ECOWAS, WAEMU, AfCFTA, WTO

Benin is one of West Africa's fastest-growing economies, driven by port services (Cotonou is a major transit hub for Nigeria and landlocked neighbors), cotton production (Africa's largest producer), agriculture, and trade. President Patrice Talon's reform agenda has improved the business climate significantly. The Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou targets textile and agro-processing. Tourism is growing with the restoration of the Royal Palaces of Abomey (UNESCO site) and development of the Route des Esclaves. Benin benefits from CFA franc stability and ECOWAS market access.

Snapshot

Population~14.8 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP (current USD)$24.6 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP per Capita$1,658World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth8.07%World Bank, 2025
Inflation (y/y)~1.10%World Bank, 2025
BCEAO rate3.50%Central Bank
Unemployment1.59%World Bank, ILO modelled estimate, 2025
Internet Use~33.98%World Bank, 2024
Electrification~42.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)42.0/100 (#75)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.504 (#166)UNDP HDR

World Bank Indicators Compare with another country

GDP (current USD)$24.6 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP growth (annual)8.07%World Bank, 2025
GDP per capita (USD)$1,658World Bank, 2025
Population, total14.8 MWorld Bank, 2025
FDI net inflows (USD)$543.0 MWorld Bank, 2024
Inflation (consumer prices)1.10%World Bank, 2025
Unemployment (% labour force)1.59%World Bank, 2025
Internet use (% of people)33.98%World Bank, 2024
Trade (% of GDP)37.12%World Bank, 2025

Climate Readiness Full ranking

43out of 100
Emerging
Climate adaptation readiness for Benin, from 5 of 5 measured indicators.
Energy access4242.0% · 30% weight
Governance readiness4242 / 100 CPI · 20% weight
Human readiness500.504 HDI · 20% weight
Economic readiness44$1,658, 2025 · 15% weight
Digital readiness3535.0% · 15% weight
This scores climate adaptation readiness (adaptive capacity), following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. It is built only from measured values already held on this profile and normalised 0-100. It does not measure emissions or physical climate vulnerability: the platform does not yet hold emissions, hazard-exposure or natural-capital series. Energy access is the single most climate-specific indicator held; the other four are governance, economic, human-development and digital readiness proxies. The economic sub-score is relative to the African countries the platform covers.
How this is computed

Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.

  • Energy access (30%) World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
  • Governance readiness (20%) Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
  • Human readiness (20%) UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
  • Economic readiness (15%) World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
  • Digital readiness (15%) World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.

A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.

Country Facts

CapitalPorto-Novo
RegionWest Africa
CurrencyWest African CFA (XOF)
FX RegimeFixed peg to EUR via CFA franc
Investment Promotion AgencyAPIEx Benin
Legal SystemFrench civil law
Time ZoneAfrica/Porto-Novo

Focus Sectors

Cotton
Agriculture (cashew
shea)
Port Services (Cotonou)
Trade & Transit
Tourism
Telecoms
Construction
Digital Economy
Energy

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax30% standard
VAT / Sales Tax18% standard