Benin, formally the Republic of Benin and formerly known as Dahomey, is a nation in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, as well as Niger to the north-east. The majority of its populace survives on the tiny southerly shoreline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost exotic portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country’s largest city as well as economic capital. Benin covers an area of 114,763 square kilometres (44,310 sq mi) and also its populace in 2018 was approximated to be about 11.49 million. Benin is a tropical country, highly depending on agriculture, and is a big exporter of hand oil and cotton. Considerable work and earnings arise from subsistence farming.

The official language of Benin is French, with a number of aboriginal languages such as Fon, Bariba, Yoruba and also Dendi likewise being commonly talked. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun (commonly described as Voodoo outside the country) and also Protestantism. Benin belongs to the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Area of West African States, the Organisation of Islamic Teamwork, the South Atlantic Tranquility as well as Cooperation Area, La Francophonie, the Area of Sahel– Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Organization and the Niger Basin Authority.

From the 17th to the 19th century, the major political entities in the location were the Kingdom of Dahomey, in addition to the city-state of Porto-Novo, as well as a huge location with many different nations to the north. This region was referred to as the Servant Shore from as early as the 17th century due to the large number of individuals who were offered as well as trafficked to the New Globe during the Trans-Atlantic slave labor. After slavery was abolished, France took over the country as well as relabelled it French Dahomey.

In 1960, Dahomey acquired full independence from France. The sovereign state has actually had a troubled background since then, with several democratic governments, armed forces successful strokes, and military governments. A self-described Marxist– Leninist state called the People’s Republic of Benin existed in between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the current multi-party Republic of Benin.