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Trading Basics

Benin

Capital
Porto-Novo
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Income group
Lower middle income
Population
14.8 million (2025)

At a glance

  • Prices in Benin rose 1.1% in 2025, slower than in most countries.
  • Benin's economy grew 8.1% in 2025, faster than most economies.
  • Output per person in Benin was US$1,658 in 2025, lower than in most countries.
  • 1.6% of Benin's labour force had no job in 2025, a lower share than in most countries.
  • Benin had 14.8 million people in 2025: about 0.2% of everyone on Earth, the 75th largest population of 217 countries and territories.
  • Benin had a current account deficit of 8.2% of GDP in 2023, lower than in most countries.

Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)

1.1%
World median 3.0%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Inflation in Benin and the world median, last ten years
YearBeninWorld median
20251.1%3.0%
20241.2%3.0%
20232.7%5.7%
20221.4%8.0%
20211.7%3.5%
20203.0%1.9%
20190.7%2.2%
20180.9%2.5%
20170.0%2.3%
2016−0.8%1.6%

Real GDP, change over the year

8.1%
World median 3.4%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Economic growth in Benin and the world median, last ten years
YearBeninWorld median
20258.1%3.4%
20247.5%3.4%
20236.4%3.2%
20226.3%4.3%
20217.2%5.1%
20203.9%−3.8%
20196.9%2.8%
20186.7%3.2%
20175.7%3.3%
20163.3%3.1%

GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices

US$1,658
World median US$7,882

Since 2000

Show the numbers
GDP per person in Benin and the world median, last ten years
YearBeninWorld median
2025US$1,658US$7,882
2024US$1,485US$7,853
2023US$1,394US$7,862
2022US$1,266US$7,656
2021US$1,319US$7,269
2020US$1,200US$6,433
2019US$1,131US$7,037
2018US$1,152US$6,978
2017US$1,055US$6,548
2016US$1,011US$5,982

Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)

1.6%
World median 5.1%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Unemployment in Benin and the world median, last ten years
YearBeninWorld median
20251.6%5.1%
20241.6%5.1%
20231.6%5.2%
20221.7%5.3%
20211.8%6.0%
20201.5%6.4%
20191.2%5.4%
20181.4%5.4%
20171.7%5.6%
20161.8%5.9%

Everyone living in the country, mid-year

14.8 million

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Population in Benin and the world median, last ten years
YearBenin
202514.8 million
202414.5 million
202314.1 million
202213.8 million
202113.4 million
202013.1 million
201912.7 million
201812.4 million
201712.0 million
201611.7 million

Current account balance, % of GDP

−8.2%
World median −1.2%

Since 2000

Show the numbers
Current account balance in Benin and the world median, last ten years
YearBeninWorld median
2023−8.2%−1.2%
2022−5.7%−3.0%
2021−4.2%−2.4%
2020−1.8%−1.7%
2019−4.0%−2.1%
2018−4.6%−2.9%
2017−4.2%−2.1%
2016−3.0%−2.8%
2015−6.0%−2.8%
2014−6.7%−3.1%

No recent World Bank figure for Benin: government debt.

About these figures

All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Benin since 2000 or since its first figure.

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.