Capital of Benin: Porto-Novo — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
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.
How to remember Benin
Porto-Novo means 'new port' in Portuguese and is the official capital, but Cotonou is the largest city and where most of the government works. Quizzes usually want Porto-Novo.
The flag of Benin: green, yellow and red
🇧🇯 The flag is a green vertical band at the hoist, with yellow over red horizontal bands. Green stands for hope, yellow for wealth and red for courage. These are the Pan-African colours.
Region and neighbours
Benin is a narrow country in West Africa that stretches from the Gulf of Guinea north to the Niger River. It shares land borders with 4 countries: Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria.
- Togo 🇹🇬 — capital Lomé
- Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 — capital Ouagadougou
- Niger 🇳🇪 — capital Niamey
- Nigeria 🇳🇬 — capital Abuja
Three facts about Benin
- Benin was called Dahomey until 1975, after the kingdom of Dahomey.
- The Royal Palaces of Abomey, built by the kings of Dahomey, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Ganvié, a village built on stilts in Lake Nokoué, is one of the largest lake villages in Africa.
Sources: Wikipedia: Benin, Wikipedia: Flag of Benin, Wikipedia: Porto-Novo, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Benin
- African capitals quiz — match Benin to Porto-Novo
- African flags quiz — spot the Benin flag among its neighbours
Benin capital quiz
What is the capital of Benin 🇧🇯?
- Porto-Novo
- Dodoma
- Praia
- Lomé
Show answer
Porto-Novo
What is the capital of Rwanda 🇷🇼?
- Kinshasa
- Gaborone
- Kigali
- Tunis
Show answer
Kigali
What is the capital of Burundi 🇧🇮?
- Gitega
- Monrovia
- Mbabane
- Victoria
Show answer
Gitega
What is the capital of Guinea 🇬🇳?
- N'Djamena
- Conakry
- Malabo
- Luanda
Show answer
Conakry
What is the capital of Tunisia 🇹🇳?
- Nouakchott
- Dakar
- Yaoundé
- Tunis
Show answer
Tunis
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.
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.
What are the colours of the Benin flag?
The flag of Benin is a green vertical band at the hoist, with yellow over red horizontal bands. Green stands for hope, yellow for wealth and red for courage. These are the Pan-African colours.
Which countries border Benin?
Benin shares land borders with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria.
How can I remember the capital of Benin?
Porto-Novo means 'new port' in Portuguese and is the official capital, but Cotonou is the largest city and where most of the government works. Quizzes usually want Porto-Novo.
More capitals to learn
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