Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Geographic coordinates 9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Coastline 121 km

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Tanekas 641 m

Natural resources small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 100 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter

Environment - current issues recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note no natural harbors

NOTE: The information regarding Benin on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Benin Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Benin Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.