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Benin

BJ · currency XOF (West African CFA franc)

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Overview

  • Population

    14.8M

    people · 2025

    World Bank

  • GDP

    $24.6B

    current US$ · 2025

    World Bank

  • Inflation stale

    0.00%

    headline, % y/y · Jul 2026

    National statistics office

  • Policy rate

    3.00%

    % · effective 16 Mar 2026

    BCEAO

  • Official exchange rate

    590.88

    XOF per US$1 · 9 Nov 2026, 00:00 UTC

    BCEAO

  • USDT peer-to-peer rate parallel market

    615.00

    XOF per US$1 · 12 Nov 2026, 04:25 UTC

    Bybit P2P

Coverage: 39 of 40 annual indicators reported, latest years 2019–2026. Gaps read “not available” (source has no figure) or “not yet covered” (not yet collected), never zero.

Currencies & Rates

Official and market exchange rates, policy rates, government yields, bank rates, reserves and stock indices.

Exchange rates

XOF per US$1. Official and market rates are separate series and are never blended.
SeriesRateAs ofSource
Official rate 590.88 9 Nov 2026, 00:00 UTC BCEAO
Parallel-market rate (USDT peer-to-peer median) parallel 615.00 12 Nov 2026, 04:25 UTC Bybit P2P
Market premium% by which the market rate exceeds the official rate +4.08% -1.88% pts over 7 days How we measure

Market premium history · since Aug 2026 · collected by The African Exponent

0.6%2.5%4.5%Aug 2026Sep 2026Oct 2026Nov 2026

Official rate, 10-year annual average (XOF per US$1, World Bank)

49055562020142017202020232025

Policy rate

InstrumentRateEffectiveSource
Taux directeur (principal)% per year · BCEAO 3.00% 16 Mar 2026 BCEAO

Checked 12 Sep 2026, 01:10 UTC

Government securities yields

% yield at the latest auction for each tenor. Tenors up to 364 days are Treasury bills; longer tenors are bonds. weighted avg Source: UMOA-Titres

91-day 3.06%13 Aug 2026

as of 13 Aug 2026

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Benin · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Lending rate % per year, average bank lending rate 6.2% 2021 ↑ 0.9 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Deposit rate % per year, average bank deposit rate 5.3% 2021 ↓ 2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare

Not available for Benin: FX reserves.

Show trend charts (2)

Lending rate

6.2% · 2021

5.1%6%6.9%201420182021

↑ 0.9 pts since 2014

Deposit rate

5.3% · 2021

5%6.2%7.3%201420182021

↓ 2 pts since 2014

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Economy & Prices

Output, growth, inflation, jobs, investment, the structure of the economy and minimum wages.

Inflation % change from a year earlier

SeriesYear on yearPeriodSource
Headline consumer prices stale 0.00% Jul 2026 National statistics office

Checked 12 Sep 2026, 19:49 UTC

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Benin · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
GDP Current US$ $24.6B 2025 ↑ $11.3B since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
GDP growth % change, real (inflation-adjusted) 8.1% 2025 ↑ 1.7 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
GDP per capita (PPP) Current international $ per person, PPP $4,817 2025 ↑ $2,146 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
GDP per capita growth % change per person, real 5.5% 2025 ↑ 2.2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Unemployment % of labour force ILO modeled estimate — national definitions differ 1.6% 2025 ↓ 0.4 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Investment rate Gross fixed capital formation, % of GDP 35.4% 2025 ↑ 13.8 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Agriculture share of GDP Agriculture value added, % of GDP 22.9% 2025 ↓ 2.7 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Manufacturing share of GDP Manufacturing value added, % of GDP 10.2% 2025 ↓ 0.2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Services share of GDP Services value added, % of GDP 50.1% 2025 ↑ 0.5 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (9)

GDP

$24.6B · 2025

$11B$18B$25B201520172019202120232025

↑ $11.3B since 2014

GDP growth

8.1% · 2025

1.7%4.9%8.1%201520172019202120232025

↑ 1.7 pts since 2014

GDP per capita (PPP)

$4,817 · 2025

$2,700$3,750$4,800201520172019202120232025

↑ $2,146 since 2014

GDP per capita growth

5.5% · 2025

-2%0%6%201520172019202120232025

↑ 2.2 pts since 2014

Unemployment

1.6% · 2025

1.2%1.6%1.9%201520172019202120232025

↓ 0.4 pts since 2014

Investment rate

35.4% · 2025

19%27%35%201520172019202120232025

↑ 13.8 pts since 2014

Agriculture share of GDP

22.9% · 2025

22%25.5%29%201520172019202120232025

↓ 2.7 pts since 2014

Manufacturing share of GDP

10.2% · 2025

9.1%9.6%10%201520172019202120232025

↓ 0.2 pts since 2014

Services share of GDP

50.1% · 2025

45%47.5%50%201520172019202120232025

↑ 0.5 pts since 2014

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Public Finance & Debt

Government revenue, budget balance, public and external debt, debt service and sovereign credit ratings.

Sovereign credit ratings

No published sovereign rating recorded

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Benin · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Government revenue / GDP General government revenue, % of GDP 2026 is an IMF projection (forecast) for the year in progress when fetched, not a reported outturn. 15.9% 2026 ↑ 3.3 pts since 2014 IMF DataMapper CSV Rank Compare
Budget balance / GDP General government net lending/borrowing, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates -2.9% 2026 ↓ 1.2 pts since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV Rank Compare
Debt to GDP General government gross debt, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates 57.2% 2026 ↑ 34.9 pts since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV Rank Compare
Gross debt (national currency) General government gross debt, local currency Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates CFA8.8T 2026 ↑ CFA7.4T since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV
External debt Total external debt stocks, current US$ $14.2B 2024 ↑ $10.5B since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Debt service / exports Total debt service, % of exports and primary income 26.8% 2024 ↑ 23.7 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (6)

Government revenue / GDP

15.9% · 2026

11%14%17%201620182020202220242026

↑ 3.3 pts since 2014

Budget balance / GDP

-2.9% · 2026

-5.6%-3.1%-0.5%20142017202020232026

↓ 1.2 pts since 2014

Debt to GDP

57.2% · 2026

22%41.5%61%20142017202020232026

↑ 34.9 pts since 2014

Gross debt (national currency)

CFA8.8T · 2026

CFA1.4TCFA5.1TCFA8.8T20142017202020232026

↑ CFA7.4T since 2014

External debt

$14.2B · 2024

$3.6B$8.8B$14B201420162018202020222024

↑ $10.5B since 2014

Debt service / exports

26.8% · 2024

3.1%15.1%27%201420162018202020222024

↑ 23.7 pts since 2014

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Trade & Resources

Exports, imports, trade partners and products, investment and remittance flows, oil and commodities.

Trade profile

Goods and services, current US$
FlowLatestChange
Exports $4.5B · 2023 ↑ $1.5B since 2014
Imports $6.2B · 2023 ↑ $2B since 2014
Balance derived −$1.7B · 2023 ↓ $559.4M since 2014
Show trade trend charts (3)

Exports

$4.5B · 2023

$2.7B$3.6B$4.5B2014201820202023

↑ $1.5B since 2014

Imports

$6.2B · 2023

$3.4B$4.8B$6.2B2014201820202023

↑ $2B since 2014

Balance

−$1.7B · 2023

$-1.7B$-1.1B$-440M2014201820202023

↓ $559.4M since 2014

Top exports · 2024

Products

  1. Cotton$525.7M · 47.2%
  2. Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits$173M · 15.5%
  3. Food industry residues and fodder$96.3M · 8.7%
  4. Edible fruit and nuts$50.7M · 4.6%
  5. Animal or vegetable fats and oils$44.5M · 4.0%
Show all 10 products
  1. Iron and steel$39.1M · 3.5%
  2. Mineral fuels$38.9M · 3.5%
  3. Preparations of vegetables and fruit$24.4M · 2.2%
  4. Aircraft and spacecraft$20.1M · 1.8%
  5. Wood and wood articles$15.1M · 1.4%

Partners

  1. Bangladesh$480.8M · 43.2%
  2. India$86.8M · 7.8%
  3. Pakistan$76.2M · 6.8%
  4. Denmark$68.6M · 6.2%
  5. United States$59.9M · 5.4%
Show all 10 partners
  1. China$46.4M · 4.2%
  2. Chad$35.4M · 3.2%
  3. Nigeria$30.9M · 2.8%
  4. United Arab Emirates$29.9M · 2.7%
  5. Togo$25.8M · 2.3%

Top imports · 2024

Products

  1. Cereals$756.6M · 22.5%
  2. Mineral fuels$461.2M · 13.7%
  3. Machinery and mechanical appliances$277.3M · 8.2%
  4. Electrical machinery and equipment$198.6M · 5.9%
  5. Pharmaceutical products$155.4M · 4.6%
Show all 10 products
  1. Vehicles other than railway$137.5M · 4.1%
  2. Iron and steel$118.4M · 3.5%
  3. Fertilisers$113.7M · 3.4%
  4. Plastics$108.6M · 3.2%
  5. Fish and crustaceans$95.2M · 2.8%

Partners

  1. India$604.4M · 18.0%
  2. China$429.3M · 12.8%
  3. France$335.1M · 10.0%
  4. Togo$178.5M · 5.3%
  5. United States$177.2M · 5.3%
Show all 10 partners
  1. Russia$158.3M · 4.7%
  2. Côte d'Ivoire$130.1M · 3.9%
  3. Belgium$114.3M · 3.4%
  4. Nigeria$98.4M · 2.9%
  5. United Arab Emirates$89.7M · 2.7%

2025 filings are still arriving — this page updates as each country reports

Commodity exposure for Benin →

Annual indicators

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Benin · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Exports of goods and services Goods and services, current US$ $4.5B 2023 ↑ $1.5B since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Exports per capita derived Current US$ per person (derived) $319.7 2023 ↑ $43.55 since 2014 Derived from World Bank series on this page CSV Rank Compare
Current account / GDP Current-account balance, % of GDP Latest 1–2 years are IMF estimates -5% 2026 ↑ 1.7 pts since 2014 IMF World Economic Outlook Oct 2025 CSV Rank Compare
FDI inflows Foreign direct investment, net inflows, current US$ $543M 2024 ↑ $137.3M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Remittances Personal remittances received, current US$ $338.5M 2023 ↑ $33.9M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Terms of trade Net barter terms of trade, index (2015 = 100) 103.00 2024 ↓ 9.30 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Tourist arrivals International tourist arrivals per year 337,000 2019 ↑ 72,000 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (7)

Exports of goods and services

$4.5B · 2023

$2.7B$3.6B$4.5B2014201820202023

↑ $1.5B since 2014

Exports per capita

$319.7 · 2023

$240$280$3202014201820202023

↑ $43.55 since 2014

Current account / GDP

-5% · 2026

-8.2%-5%-1.7%20142017202020232026

↑ 1.7 pts since 2014

FDI inflows

$543M · 2024

$130M$335M$540M201420162018202020222024

↑ $137.3M since 2014

Remittances

$338.5M · 2023

$190M$265M$340M2014201820202023

↑ $33.9M since 2014

Terms of trade

103.00 · 2024

100.00105.00110.00201420162018202020222024

↓ 9.30 since 2014

Tourist arrivals

337,000 · 2019

260,000300,000340,000201420152016201720182019

↑ 72,000 since 2014

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People & Society

Population, health, education, poverty and inequality, access to services and democracy.

Annual indicators · latest year reported for Benin · change over the period shown
Indicator Latest Year Change Source Data
Population People, total 14.8M 2025 ↑ 3.8M since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Median age Years 17.8 years 2023 ↑ 0.8 years since 2014 UN WPP 2024, via Our World in Data CSV
Life expectancy Years at birth 61 years 2024 ↑ 2 years since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Child mortality Under-5 deaths per 1,000 live births 74.7 per 1,000 2024 ↓ 23.7 since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Health expenditure Current health spending, % of GDP 3.3% 2023 ↑ 0.6 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Physicians Per 1,000 people 0.2 per 1,000 2023 ↑ 0.2 since 2016 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Adult literacy % of people aged 15 and over 51.4% 2022 ↑ 12.5 pts since 2017 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Tertiary enrollment Gross enrolment ratio, % 10.2% 2022 ↓ 4.5 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Poverty ($3/day) % of people below $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) 27.2% 2021 ↓ 38.6 pts since 2015 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
National poverty line % of people below the national poverty line 36.2% 2021 ↓ 2.3 pts since 2018 World Bank CSV
Gini index Income inequality, 0 (equal) to 100 34.40 2021 ↓ 13.20 since 2015 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Electricity access % of population 59% 2024 ↑ 24.9 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Internet users % of population using the internet 34% 2024 ↑ 28 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Account ownership % of people aged 15+ with an account Findex · every 3–4 years 51.8% 2024 ↑ 35.2 pts since 2014 World Bank CSV Rank Compare
Electoral democracy V-Dem electoral democracy index, 0 to 1 0.49 2025 ↓ 0.11 since 2014 V-Dem Institute CSV Rank Compare
Show trend charts (15)

Population

14.8M · 2025

11M13M15M201520172019202120232025

↑ 3.8M since 2014

Median age

17.8 years · 2023

1617182014201820202023

↑ 0.8 years since 2014

Life expectancy

61 years · 2024

596061201420162018202020222024

↑ 2 years since 2014

Child mortality

74.7 per 1,000 · 2024

748698201420162018202020222024

↓ 23.7 since 2014

Health expenditure

3.3% · 2023

2.6%3.1%3.7%2014201820202023

↑ 0.6 pts since 2014

Physicians

0.2 per 1,000 · 2023

00.10.2201620202023

↑ 0.2 since 2016

Adult literacy

51.4% · 2022

38%44.5%51%201720182019202020212022

↑ 12.5 pts since 2017

Tertiary enrollment

10.2% · 2022

9.8%12.4%15%20142016201820202022

↓ 4.5 pts since 2014

Poverty ($3/day)

27.2% · 2021

27%46.5%66%2015201720192021

↓ 38.6 pts since 2015

National poverty line

36.2% · 2021

36%37%38%2018201920202021

↓ 2.3 pts since 2018

Gini index

34.40 · 2021

34.0041.0048.002015201720192021

↓ 13.20 since 2015

Electricity access

59% · 2024

29%44%59%201420162018202020222024

↑ 24.9 pts since 2014

Internet users

34% · 2024

6%20%34%201420162018202020222024

↑ 28 pts since 2014

Account ownership

51.8% · 2024

16%34%52%201420162018202020222024

↑ 35.2 pts since 2014

Electoral democracy

0.49 · 2025

0.390.550.71201520172019202120232025

↓ 0.11 since 2014

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Listed companies

2 companies incorporated in Benin in our listed-company directory, 2 with audited annual figures (independent review pending). Not complete coverage. How companies are chosen

  • BIICBICB · Sector not classified
  • BOA BéninBOAB · Sector not classified

Companies incorporated in Benin · All listed companies · Company CSV downloads

Downloads

Each indicator row above has its own CSV link. Every file starts with its source, source URL and page link. All downloads

All 43 CSV files for Benin

Currencies & Rates

Economy & Prices

Public Finance & Debt

Trade & Resources

People & Society

From the magazine