Moving to Benin: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

12,864,634

Population - note

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population Growth Rate

2.84%

Urban Population

44.900000

Population in Major Urban Areas

COTONOU (seat of government) 924,000; PORTO-NOVO (capital) 314,000

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Age Structure

43.040000

Median Age

17.600000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

37

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

8.59

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

5.13

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

12.9%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

12.9%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

20

Mother's mean age at first birth

20

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Ethnic Groups

African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Nationality Noun

Beninese (singular and plural)

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Literacy - total population

34.7%

Literacy - male

46.4%

Literacy - female

22.6%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.3%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

11.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

60.670000

Infant Mortality Rate

58.540000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

58.540000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

350

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.06

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.5

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.6%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

Very high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

84.500000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

25.300000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

20.2%

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Economic Overview

The free market economy of Benin has grown consecutively for four years, though growth slowed in 2017, as its close trade links to Nigeria expose Benin to risks from volatile commodity prices.

Cotton is a key export commodity, with export earnings significantly impacted by the price of cotton in the broader market.

The economy began deflating in 2017, with the consumer price index falling 0.8%.

During the first two years of President TALON’s administration, which began in April 2016, the government has followed an ambitious action plan to kickstart development through investments in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and governance.

Electricity generation, which has constrained Benin’s economic growth, has increased and blackouts have been considerably reduced.

Private foreign direct investment is small, and foreign aid accounts for a large proportion of investment in infrastructure projects.

Benin has appealed for international assistance to mitigate piracy against commercial shipping in its territory and has used equipment from donors effectively against such piracy.

Pilferage has significantly dropped at the Port of Cotonou, though the port is still struggling with the effective implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Projects included in Benin's $307 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) first compact (2006-11) were designed to increase investment and private sector activity by improving key institutional and physical infrastructure.

The four projects focused on access to land, access to financial services, access to justice, and access to markets (including modernization of the port).

The Port of Cotonou is a major contributor to Benin’s economy, with revenues projected to account for more than 40% of Benin’s national budget.

Benin will need further efforts to upgrade infrastructure, stem corruption, and expand access to foreign markets to achieve its potential.

In September 2015, Benin signed a second MCC Compact for $375 million that entered into force in June 2017 and is designed to strengthen the national utility service provider, attract private sector investment, fund infrastructure investments in electricity generation and distribution, and develop off-grid electrification for poor and unserved households.

As part of the Government of Benin’s action plan to spur growth, Benin passed public-private partnership legislation in 2017 to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, encourage new information and communication technology, and establish Independent Power Producers.

In April 2017, the IMF approved a three-year $150.4 million Extended Credit Facility agreement to maintain debt sustainability and boost donor confidence.

Industries

Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$40,290,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$2,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6%

GDP - official exchange rate

$8,930,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 68% Government
• Consumption: 14.2% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 26.3% Investment in
• Inventories: 0.5% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 24.3% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -33.3%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

22.9%

GDP by Sector- Industry

24.9%

GDP by Sector- services

52.2%

Industrial Growth Rate

4.2%

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Inflation Rate

1%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

605.7

Currency Name and Code

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF)

Fiscal Year

Calendar Year

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Labor Force

3,662,000

Major Industries

Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Agriculture Products

Cotton, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock

Population Below Poverty Line

37.4%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

1,020,981

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

46%

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Annual Budget

$1,500,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

40.2%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-4.9%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

16.8%

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Full Country Name

Republic of Benin

Country Name

Benin

Local - Long

Republique du Benin

Local - Short

Benin

Former Name

Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin

Etymology- history of name

named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies

Independence

1 August 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

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Government Type

presidential republic

Constitution

• history: previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990
• amendments: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended; amended 2019

Legal System:

civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); note - the president is both head of state and head of government
• head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
• elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 April 2021 (next to be held on 12 April 2026)
• election results: 2021: Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3% 2016: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats, including 24 seats reserved for women; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms except for the current members whose terms will end in 2026 to facilitate general elections)
• Elections: last held on 8 January 2023 (next to be held on 11 January 2027)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - Progressive Union for Renewal 37.6%, Bloc Republicain 29.2%, The Democrats 24%; seats by party - Progressive Union for Renewal 53, Bloc Republicain 28, The Democrats 28; composition as of May 2023 - men 80, women 29, percent of women 26.6%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
• subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de Repression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts

Regions or States:

12 departments Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Political Parties and Leaders:

• African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]
• Benin Renaissance or RB [Lehady SOGLO]
• Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE [Thomas Boni YAYI]
• Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]
• Progressive Union for Renewal [Joseph DJOGBENOU]
• Republican Bloc [Abdoulaye BIO TCHANE]
• Sun Alliance or AS [Sacca LAFIA]
• The Democrats [Boni YAY]
• Union Makes the Nation or UN [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI] (includes PRD, MADEP)
• Note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years

Capital Name

Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)

Capital - geographic coordinate

6 29 N, 2 37 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AfDB
• AU
• CD
• ECOWAS
• Entente
• FAO
• FZ
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IDB
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• MNJTF
• MONUSCO
• NAM
• OAS (observer)
• OIC
• OIF
• OPCW
• PCA
• UN
• UNAMID
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNHRC
• UNIDO
• UNISFA
• UNMIL
• UNMISS
• UNOCI
• UNOOSA
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WADB (regional)
• WAEMU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)
• Embassy: 01 BP 2012, Cotonou
• Mailing Address: 2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120
• Telephone: [229] 21-30-06-50
• FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84
• Email: ACSCotonou@state.gov
• Website: https://bj.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Jean-Claude Felix DO REGO (since 17 July 2020)
• Chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656; [1] (202) 232-2611
• FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
• Email: ambassade.washington@gouv.bj
• Website: https://beninembassy.us/

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Geographic Location

Africa

Geographic Coordinates

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Total Area

43,483 Square Miles 112,622 Square Kilometers

Land Area

42,711 Square Miles 110,622 Square Kilometers

Water Area

772 Square Miles 2,000 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

1,236 Miles 1,989 Kilometers

Border Countries

Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Coastline

75 Miles 121 Kilometers

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Terrain

Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Highest Point

658 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Lowest Point Location

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Irrigated Land

89 Square Miles 230 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Benin's climate is hot and humid.

Annual rainfall in the coastal area averages 36 centimeters (14 inches), not particularly high for coastal West Africa.

Benin has two rainy and two dry seasons.

The principal rainy season is from April to late July, with a shorter less intense rainy period from late September to November.

The main dry season is from December to April with a short cooler dry season from late July to early September.

Temperatures and humidity are high along the tropical coast.

In Cotonou, the average maximum temperature is 31°C (89°F); the minimum is 24°C (75°F).

Variations in temperature increase when moving north through a savanna and plateau toward the Sahel.

A dry wind from the Sahara called the harmattan blows from December to March.

Grass dries up, the vegetation turns reddish-brown, and a veil of fine dust hangs over the country, causing the skies to be overcast.

Terrain

Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Total Area

43,483 Square Miles 112,622 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Environment - Current Issues

• Inadequate supplies of potable water
• poaching threatens wildlife populations
• deforestation
• desertification

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$1,713,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$2,591,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood

Major Imports

Foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Top Export Partners

India 24.2%, Gabon 14.6%, China 7.2%, Niger 6%, Bangladesh 5%, Nigeria 4.9%, Vietnam 4.2%

Top Import Partners

China 42.1%, United States 8.9%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.8%, Thailand 4.3%, France 4%

Export Partners

India 24.2%, Gabon 14.6%, China 7.2%, Niger 6%, Bangladesh 5%, Nigeria 4.9%, Vietnam 4.2%

Import Partners

China 42.1%, United States 8.9%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.8%, Thailand 4.3%, France 4%

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Country Description

Benin is a developing country in West Africa.

Its political capital is Porto Novo; however, its administrative capital, Cotonou, is Benin's largest city and the site of most government, commercial, and tourist activity.

Safety & Security

U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times.

U.S. citizens should not walk on the beach, at any time of day, alone.

The U.S.

Mission recommends that U.S. citizens not carry a passport or valuables when walking in any part of the city.

Instead, carry a notarized photocopy of the photo page of your passport (see Crime section).

You should not walk around the city after dark and should take particular care to avoid the beach and isolated areas near the beach after dark.

The ocean currents along the coast are extremely strong and treacherous, with rough surf and a strong undertow, and several people drown each year.

Swimming conditions along Benin’s coastline are notoriously dangerous due to strong and changeable tides, waves, and rip currents.

There is no safe way to determine whether conditions on any given day are suitable for entering the water, in part because waves and rip currents can develop and intensify abruptly.

The U.S.

Mission strongly discourages beachgoers from entering the ocean, regardless of a person’s age, size, fitness level, or swimming ability.

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Crime

Street crime is a significant problem in Cotonou.

Robbery and muggings occur along the Boulevard de France (the beach road by the Marina and Novotel Hotels), on the beaches near hotels frequented by international visitors, and within the Haie Vive and Les Cocotiers neighborhoods (where many bars and restaurants frequented by expatriates are located), in addition to other parts of the city.

Most of the reported incidents involve the use of force, often by armed persons, with an occasional minor injury to the victim.

Travelers should avoid isolated and poorly lit areas and should not walk around the city or the beaches between dusk and dawn.

U.S. diplomatic personnel are prohibited from visiting the Dantokpa market between the hours of dusk and dawn.

Even during daylight hours, foreigners on the beach near Cotonou are frequently victims of robberies.

When visiting the beach, travelers should not carry valuables and should carry only a photocopy of their passport.

If you are a victim of a crime, you should contact the U.S.

Embassy immediately.

There has been a continued increase in the number of robberies after dark, both within metropolitan Cotonou and on highways and rural roads outside of major metropolitan areas.

Motorists are urged to be wary of the risk of carjacking in both urban and rural areas.

Keep the windows of your vehicle rolled up and the doors locked, and stay alert for signs of suspicious behavior by other motorists or pedestrians that may lead to carjacking, such as attempts to stop a moving vehicle for no obvious reason.

Motorists should be aware of obstacles or obstructions, such as branches, tires, or ropes, that would-be robbers place in the roadway in an effort to ambush victims.

Travelers should avoid driving outside the city of Cotonou after dark and should exercise extreme caution when driving inside of Cotonou after dark (see Traffic Safety and Road Conditions below).

Overland travel to Nigeria is dangerous near the Benin/Nigeria border due to unofficial checkpoints and highway banditry.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution when using credit cards and automated teller machines (ATMs) in Benin due to a high rate of fraud.

Perpetrators of business and other kinds of fraud often target foreigners, including U.S. citizens.

While such fraud schemes in the past have been largely associated with Nigeria, they are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Benin, and are more frequently perpetrated by Beninese criminals.

Business scams are not always easy to recognize, and any unsolicited business proposal should be carefully scrutinized.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Over the previous three years, there have been numerous pirate attacks off the coast of Benin.

The attacks have been focused on oil tanker ships, not container ships or other types of vessels.

It is unlikely that any tourist would become a victim of piracy, but be cautious if approached by an unknown vessel while at sea.

If you spot any suspected pirates, do not approach them; immediately contact port officials, local police, and the U.S.

Embassy.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Benin, you are subject to its laws and regulations even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.

Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

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Medical Facilities

Medical facilities in Benin are limited and not all medicines are available.

Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines.

Not all medicines and prescription drugs available in Benin are USFDA-approved.

U.S. citizens should be prepared to pay for medical services, including consultations and tests before medical advice or treatment is received.

Credit cards are not accepted.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website.

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website.

The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Malaria is a serious risk to travelers to Benin.

Traffic Safety

below).

Overland travel to Nigeria is dangerous near the Benin/Nigeria border due to unofficial checkpoints and highway banditry.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution when using credit cards and automated teller machines (ATMs) in Benin due to a high rate of fraud.

Perpetrators of business and other kinds of fraud often target foreigners, including U.S. citizens.

While such fraud schemes in the past have been largely associated with Nigeria, they are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Benin, and are more frequently perpetrated by Beninese criminals.

Business scams are not always easy to recognize, and any unsolicited business proposal should be carefully scrutinized.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Over the previous three years, there have been numerous pirate attacks off the coast of Benin.

The attacks have been focused on oil tanker ships, not container ships or other types of vessels.

It is unlikely that any tourist would become a victim of piracy, but be cautious if approached by an unknown vessel while at sea.

If you spot any suspected pirates, do not approach them; immediately contact port officials, local police, and the U.S.

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Airports - total

6

Airports with Paved Runways

1

Railways

272 Miles 438 Kilometers

Roadways- total

9,942 Miles 16,000 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

870 Miles 1,400 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Cotonou, Porto-Novo

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Telephones

127,100

Cell Phones

1,895,000

Internet Users

150,000

Internet Country Code

.bj

Internet Hosts

1,286

Broadcast Media

• State-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Television du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with multiple channels giving it a wide broadcast reach
• several privately-owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou
• satellite TV subscription service is available
• state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations
• a substantial number of privately owned radio broadcast stations
• transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou

Telephone System

• Assessment: an inadequate system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment
• Domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 2 per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular providers, cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
• International: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; long-distance fiber-optic links with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean)

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

597,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

588,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

124,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

1,133,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

29,170

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

400

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

8,000,000

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Anthem Lyrics

L’AUBE NOUVELLE Refrain Enfants du Bénin debout !

La liberté d’un cri sonore Chante aux premiers feux de l’aurore Enfants du BENIN, debout ! 1er couplet : Jadis à son appel, nos aïeux, sans faiblesse Ont su avec courage, ardeur, pleins d’allégresse Livrer au prix du sang des combats éclatants Accourez vous aussi, bâtisseurs du présent, Plus forts dans l’unité, chaque jour à la tâche, Pour la prospérité, construisez sans relâche. 2ème couplet : Quand partout souffle un vent de colère Et de chaîne Béninois, sois fier, et d’une âme sereine, Confiant dans l’avenir, regarde ton drapeau Dans le vert tu liras l’espoir du renouveau ; De tes aïeux le rouge évoque le courage ; Des plus riches trésors le jaune est le présage. 3ème couplet : Tes monts ensoleillés, tes palmiers, ta verdure, Cher BENIN, partout font ta vive parure.

Ton sol offre à chacun la richesse des fruits.

BENIN, désormais que tes fils tous unis, D’un fraternel élan partagent l’espérance.

De te voir à jamais heureux dans l’abondance.

Anthem Lyrics English

• CHORUS: Children of Bénin, arise! The resounding cry of freedom Is heard at the first light of dawn; Children of Bénin, arise! 1st
• verse: Formerly, at her call, our ancestors Knew how to engage in mighty battles With strength, courage, ardor, and full of joy, but at the price of blood. Builders of the present, you too, join forces Each day for the task stronger in unity. Build without ceasing for posterity. CHORUS 2nd
• Verse: When all around there blows a wind of anger and
• hate: Citizen of Bénin, be proud, and in a calm spirit Trusting in the future, behold your flag! In the green you read hope of spring; The red signifies the courage of your ancestors; The yellow foretells the richest treasures. CHORUS 3rd
• Verse: Beloved Bènin, your sunny mountains, palm trees, and green pastures Show everywhere your brightness; Your soil offers everyone the richest fruits. Bénin, from henceforth your sons are united With one brotherly spirit sharing the hope of seeing you Enjoy abundance and happiness forever. CHORUS