Benin Map
Google Maps, detailed facts of Benin (ISO: BN) and the capital city, Porto-Novo. This page enables you to explore Benin and its land boundaries in total: 2,123 km. You may also view the border countries of Benin (total: 4, Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km with its area of total: 112,622 sq km; land: 110,622 sq km, water: 2,000 sq km through detailed Satellite imagery – fast and easy as never before – with Google Maps.
Find comprehensive geographical, economic, environmental, governmental, cultural, scientific, historical, and demographical related information below on the wiki page of Benin.
In case if you are traveling by car, there is also Street View and free Driving Directions by Google at your service.
Your virtual Sightseeing in Benin, Africa starts here on this map & Wiki page.
Benin Google Maps & Facts
This virtual map shows Benin, located in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo, with its cities, towns, highways, main roads, streets, Street Views, and terrain maps regularly updated by Google.
You are viewing Benin and its location (Africa) at the geographic coordinates of 9 30 N, 2 15 E, inland counties boundaries and international borders.
Hint: Have a look at the Street view in Benin, BN. All you have to do is drag and pull the little yellow man (Pegman) on the Google map above the desired location in Benin. After that, whenever it is available (currently more than 50 countries provided by Google around the world), blue stripes will appear to show the photos and details from Google’s regularly updated database.
The map of Benin, Africa is free, but for informational use only. No representation or warranty has been made as to any map or its content by Search Driving Directions.com. User assumes all risk of use of this Benin Google map and fast facts/wiki page.
Geographical facts about Benin including Porto-Novo, the capital city of Benin |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of the country: | Benin | Capital city: | Porto-Novo |
| Geographical coordinates of Benin: | 9 30 N, 2 15 E | Geographical coordinates of Porto-Novo: | 6 29 N 2 37 E |
| Location of Benin: | Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo | Continent / area: | Africa |
| The area of Benin: | total: 112,622 sq km; land: 110,622 sq km, water: 2,000 sq km | Area comparative of Benin: | slightly smaller than Pennsylvania |
| The elevation data of Benin: | mean elevation: 273 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mMont Sokbaro 658 m | The climate of Benin: | tropical: hot, humid in south: semiarid in north |
| Land use of Benin: | agricultural land: 31.3%; arable land 22.9%; permanent crops 3.5%; permanent pasture 4.9%; forest: 40%; other: 28.7% (2011 estimate) | Irrigated land: | 230 sq km (2012) |
| Geographical notes of Benin: | sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands | The terrain of Benin: | mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains |
| Land boundaries of Benin: | total: 2,123 km | Borders countries of Benin: | Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km |
| Maritime claims of Benin: | territorial sea: 200 nautical miles | ||
Fast Facts about Benin
Are you traveling to Benin? When you are on the way to explore foreign countries in Africa, it is always good to be aware of the nature of that specific nation and the surroundings, in this case: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo.
Did you know that the legal system of Benin is civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law?
When you are traveling around or looking for accommodation in Benin, you would better know that (the lengths of roadways total: 16,000 km, paved: 1,400 km, unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)), and the most crowded areas in this country are: PORTO-NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015). The urbanization rate in this country looks like the following: urban population: 44% of the total population (2015).
The total population in Benin: 10,741,458 (July 2016 estimate) with a population growth rate of 2.75% (2016 estimate) and the most widely spoken language(s) are French (official language), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north). These days, Benin has to face a net migration rate of 0 migrant(s) / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).
You may find the following ethnic groups in Benin nowadays; Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 estimate).
The right to vote in Benin can be exercised by the population from the age of 18 years of age, universal and he following ways can earn the citizenship; citizenship by birth: no. Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin. Dual citizenship recognized: yes, residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years.
In case if you plan to visit Benin for shopping, or for business porpuses, it is good to know that the national holiday(s) in Benin are: National Day, 1 August (1960).
Whether you are traveling for business or not, never forget that sometimes there are several risks/hazards on your way; In the case of Benin, these are the most likely dangers you might face: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March. What do you think? Are you prepared enough to visit Porto-Novo and/or Benin?
Living with the given conditions, affected by all the civilization and natural harms in Benin, the population has to face a death rate of 8 deaths / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).
Travel references about Benin
To make your travel experience better, you may do it better to understand at least one of the most widely spoken languages in Benin. Here they are: French (official language), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north).
For your local internet searches, use the following TLD: .bj
Do not be surprised, when visiting this country, its climate typically is like this; tropical: hot, humid in south: semiarid in north.
Its capital city is Porto-Novo, where the local time zone is UTC+1, which is 6 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. Note to the timezone in Porto-Novo: N/A.
For nature lovers, we do note the following elevation data regarding Benin; mean elevation: 273 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mMont Sokbaro 658 m. The length of its total coastline are: 121 km and the length of the land boundaries is total: 2,123 km.
Current environmental issues in Benin; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification.
And again – in case if you missed it-, those natural hazards, that are threatening your journey: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March.
For your traveling options, there are 6 (2013) airports and N/A heliports in Benin all together with 150 km (seasonal navigation on River Niger along northern border) (2011) waterways, and roadways in total: total: 16,000 km, paved: 1,400 km, unpaved: 14,600 km (2006).
Background of Benin
Like every nation, Benin also has its historical background, and it has shaped its social, cultural, political and geographical characteristics; Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a West African kingdom that rose to prominence in about 1600 and over the next two and a half centuries became a regional power, largely based on its slave trade. Coastal areas of Dahomey began to be controlled by the French in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960; it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second five-year term in March 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016 after campaigning to restore public confidence in the government. Source: CIA, The World Factbook.
