Benin Languages

The official language of Benin is French but there are a total of 50 indigenous languages that are also considered national dialects. American Sign Language is also an official means of communication in Benin. Of the native Beninese languages, the most prevalent in the south are Fon and Yoruba. In the northern part of the country, there are half a dozen common languages including Bariba and Fulfulde. French is used in the commercial, educational, governmental, and media sectors in Benin.

Approximately 35% of the population of Benin speak French as a native language which equates to roughly 4 million people. The language is considered prestigious in the country and many who seek employment in the cities of Benin learn French in order to improve their chances of gaining a job. All print media in Benin is in French and the language connects the citizens of the country through one common dialect. A large proportion of the population will learn multiple languages and are known as polyglots.

Hello, written as "bonjour" and pronounced as "bon-jour" is a very common greeting in any society that speaks French. "Merci" is also an easy word to learn and it means thank-you. "Parlez-vous anglais?" is a helpful phrase to politely ask "do you speak English?".

Minority languages in the country are vast but the most spoken is Fon which belongs to the Volta-Niger branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Almost one-quarter of the population of Benin speak Fon with 17% speaking it as their first language. Fon is spoken mainly in the Atlantique, Collines, Littoral, and Zou regions of the country. Other minority languages include Bariba, Dendi, Mina, and Yoruba but there are many more indigenous languages that survive in Benin to this day.

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 Languages

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