Benin: Flag and Facts
Benin's flag has a green vertical band on the left, with a yellow band over a red band filling the right side.
- Official name
- Republic of Benin
- Capital
- Porto-Novo
- Region
- Western Africa
- Population
- 15 million (2025)
- Languages
- French
- Currency
- West African CFA franc
- Area
- 112,622 km² (43,484 sq mi)
- People
- Beninese
- Calling code
- +229
- Highest point
- unnamed elevation 675 m
- Independence
- 1 August 1960 (from France)
- National symbols
- leopard
- Borders
- Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Togo
About Benin
Green means hope and revival, yellow means wealth, and red means courage. The three shades are Pan-African colors used on flags across the continent. A leopard is the country's national symbol.
Roughly 42 ethnic groups make up Benin. The Yoruba moved in from present-day Nigeria in the 12th century, and the Dendi arrived from Mali during the 16th century. In the 17th century the Kingdom of Dahomey rose up around Abomey and stayed a regional power for about 200 years, growing alongside the Atlantic slave trade. France took over the coast during the later 19th century, and the country won independence on 1 August 1960. About 15 million people live there today.
Did you know?
- Benin's highest point is an unnamed hill of 675 meters near the town of Kotopounga.
- The south of Benin is hot and humid, while the north is semiarid.
- Benin is slightly smaller than Pennsylvania.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Benin
What is the capital of Benin?
Porto-Novo is the capital of Benin.
What language is spoken in Benin?
French is the official language of Benin.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.