Benin Capital

The capital city of Benin is Porto-Novo which is located in the southern part of the country near the Gulf of Guinea. The name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port" and the city became the capital in 1900 during the French colonial period. Porto-Novo is also known as Hogbonu and Ajashe. Oil was discovered off the coast of Porto-Novo in 1990 and has become an important source of income for the country.

The population of Porto-Novo was last measured in 2009 at 267,191 citizens. The city of Porto-Novo is served by a railway system as well as the Contonou Airport which is 40 kilometres away. Notable citizens include footballer Anciet Adjamossi, politician Kamarou Fassassi, and artist Romuald Hazoume, to name a few.

Historical attractions in the city include the renowned Porto-Novo Museum of Ethnography, King Toffa's Palace (now a museum), and the Jardin Place Jean Bayol Plaza. One of the most interesting pieces of architecture is the Brazillian-style Grande Mosquee which was inspired by Catholic churches in Brazil. The Stade Municipale and the Stade Charles de Gaulle are two large football stadiums in the city that host several games per year. Other attractions to check out are the da Silva Museum and the Palais de Gouverneur.

The climate of Porto-Novo is consistently warm throughout the year and is considered a tropical environment. The average temperature at any time of the year in Porto-Novo is 27.4 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) and the warmest months are February, March, and April, each with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). The wettest months are May, June, and July with 370 millimetres (14.57 inches) of rain falling in June. Each year sees approximately 1,326 millimetres (52.2 inches) of rainfall in Porto-Novo in total.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Porto-Novo
Languages	French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Ethnic Groups	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 est.)
Religion	Muslim 27.7%, Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	1 August 1960 (from France)
Area	112,622.00 km²
Water Area	2,000.00 km²
Land Area	110,622.00 km²
Population	10,741,458.00
Location	Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km
GDP(PPP)	$24,310,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$2,200.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are India, Gabon, and China.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are cotton, cashews, and shea butter.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, the United States, and India.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include foodstuffs, capital goods, and petroleum products.
Climate	Tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain	Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Learn More	Benin

Benin Capital

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