People and Society of Benin

Nationality

Beninese (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Population

13,712,828

Population in Major Urban Areas

COTONOU (seat of government) 924,000; PORTO-NOVO (capital) 314,000

Medical facilities in Benin are limited and not all medicines are available. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. Not all medicines and prescription drugs available in Benin are USFDA-approved. U.S. citizens should be prepared to pay for medical services, including consultations and tests before medical advice or treatment is received. Credit cards are not accepted. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information. Malaria is a serious risk to travelers to Benin.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Benin stands at approximately 61 to 63 years overall, with women typically outliving men by a modest margin. Female life expectancy hovers around 63 to 64 years, while male life expectancy falls closer to 60 to 62 years. These figures reflect significant improvements over the past several decades but still place Benin below the global average, which exceeds 73 years. Several interconnected factors shape these numbers. Access to clean drinking water remains inconsistent in rural areas, contributing to preventable waterborne illnesses. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death, particularly among children under the age of five, and it continues to place a heavy burden on the country's health system. Maternal mortality is also a concern, though rates have declined as more women gain access to skilled birth attendants and prenatal care services. Benin has made measurable progress in extending life expectancy over recent decades. In the early 1980s, life expectancy at birth was closer to 47 to 48 years, meaning the country has added more than fifteen years of average lifespan within a generation. This improvement is linked to expanded vaccination programs, investments in primary health care infrastructure, and international health initiatives targeting infectious diseases. The country faces ongoing challenges, including a relatively young and rapidly growing population that strains healthcare resources, limited numbers of trained medical professionals per capita, and geographic disparities between urban centers like Cotonou and more isolated northern regions. Poverty also plays a direct role, as lower-income households have reduced access to preventive care, medications, and nutritious food. Despite these challenges, Benin's trajectory shows a pattern of gradual improvement. Continued investment in public health infrastructure, maternal and child health programs, and disease prevention efforts will be essential in sustaining and accelerating gains in life expectancy in the years ahead.

Infant Mortality Rate

Benin faces significant challenges in infant health, with an infant mortality rate of approximately 53 to 56 deaths per 1,000 live births in recent years. This figure places Benin among the higher-risk countries in West Africa, though it represents meaningful progress compared to earlier decades when the rate exceeded 100 deaths per 1,000 live births. The primary causes of infant death in Benin include malaria, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and neonatal complications such as birth asphyxia and infections acquired during or shortly after delivery. Malnutrition compounds these risks considerably, weakening infants' immune systems and reducing their ability to survive common illnesses. Access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation remains limited in many rural areas, contributing to the prevalence of waterborne diseases among the youngest and most vulnerable members of the population. Geographic disparities play a notable role in infant outcomes. Infants born in rural and northern regions of Benin face substantially higher mortality risks than those born in urban centers such as Cotonou or Porto-Novo, where healthcare facilities, trained medical staff, and emergency services are more readily available. Skilled birth attendance, while improving, remains inconsistent across the country, particularly in remote communities. Efforts by the Beninese government, in partnership with international organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization, have focused on expanding immunization coverage, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria, and training community health workers to provide basic neonatal care. Vaccination rates for diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and pertussis have increased in recent years, contributing to the gradual decline in infant deaths. While the downward trend in infant mortality is encouraging, Benin still has considerable work ahead to meet broader global health targets. Sustainable improvements will require continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, maternal health services, nutrition programs, and clean water access across all regions of the country.

Major Infectious Diseases

Very high

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

• indigenous beliefs50.0%
• Christian30.0%
• Muslim20.0%

French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in the south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in the north)

• French
• Yoruba

Crime Information

Street crime is a significant problem in Cotonou. Robbery and muggings occur along the Boulevard de France (the beach road by the Marina and Novotel Hotels), on the beaches near hotels frequented by international visitors, and within the Haie Vive and Les Cocotiers neighborhoods (where many bars and restaurants frequented by expatriates are located), in addition to other parts of the city. Most of the reported incidents involve the use of force, often by armed persons, with an occasional minor injury to the victim. Travelers should avoid isolated and poorly lit areas and should not walk around the city or the beaches between dusk and dawn. U.S. diplomatic personnel are prohibited from visiting the Dantokpa market between the hours of dusk and dawn. Even during daylight hours, foreigners on the beach near Cotonou are frequently victims of robberies. When visiting the beach, travelers should not carry valuables and should carry only a photocopy of their passport. If you are a victim of a crime, you should contact the U.S. Embassy immediately. There has been a continued increase in the number of robberies after dark, both within metropolitan Cotonou and on highways and rural roads outside of major metropolitan areas. Motorists are urged to be wary of the risk of carjacking in both urban and rural areas. Keep the windows of your vehicle rolled up and the doors locked, and stay alert for signs of suspicious behavior by other motorists or pedestrians that may lead to carjacking, such as attempts to stop a moving vehicle for no obvious reason. Motorists should be aware of obstacles or obstructions, such as branches, tires, or ropes, that would-be robbers place in the roadway in an effort to ambush victims. Travelers should avoid driving outside the city of Cotonou after dark and should exercise extreme caution when driving inside of Cotonou after dark (see Traffic Safety and Road Conditions below). Overland travel to Nigeria is dangerous near the Benin/Nigeria border due to unofficial checkpoints and highway banditry. Travelers should exercise extreme caution when using credit cards and automated teller machines (ATMs) in Benin due to a high rate of fraud. Perpetrators of business and other kinds of fraud often target foreigners, including U.S. citizens. While such fraud schemes in the past have been largely associated with Nigeria, they are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Benin, and are more frequently perpetrated by Beninese criminals. Business scams are not always easy to recognize, and any unsolicited business proposal should be carefully scrutinized. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law. Over the previous three years, there have been numerous pirate attacks off the coast of Benin. The attacks have been focused on oil tanker ships, not container ships or other types of vessels. It is unlikely that any tourist would become a victim of piracy, but be cautious if approached by an unknown vessel while at sea. If you spot any suspected pirates, do not approach them; immediately contact port officials, local police, and the U.S. Embassy.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Benin, you are subject to its laws and regulations even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.