Capital of Benin: Porto-Novo
The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo. Benin sits in Africa, has a population of 13,352,864, and uses the XOF. Official languages include French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Porto-Novo
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~13,352,864
- Area: 112,622 km²
- Population density: 119 people per km²
- Official language: French
- Currency: XOF
- ISO code: BJ
How big is Benin?
By population, Benin ranks 77th in the world, holding roughly 0.17% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 100th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Benin has 119 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Benin is the 29th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Benin in population are Rwanda (13,776,698) and Burundi (12,889,576).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Honduras (112,492 km²) and Liberia (111,369 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
French is spoken officially in 30 countries in this dataset, including Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon and Canada, and 24 others.
The XOF is not unique to Benin — it is also used by Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast and Mali, and 3 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Benin in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Benin belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Benin and a page on the flag of Benin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Benin?
The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo.
What is the population of Benin?
About 13,352,864, making it the 77th most populous country in the world.
How big is Benin?
112,622 square kilometres, ranking 100th by land area, at a density of 119 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Benin use?
The XOF, shared with 7 other countries.