COUNTRY GUIDE

Discover the world as an LGBTQIA+ traveller
BENIN
(pronounced - beh-neen | bɛnˈɪn)
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Benin
DEMONYMS: Beninese, Beninois, African
Benin is part of the Western Africa region in the continent of Africa. The name Benin is believed to have derived from Arabic, meaning sons or tribe. It is in the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, near the equator and is 112.6 thousand square kilometres in size. The primary language spoken is French, the capital city is Porto-Novo, and the main currency used is the CFA Franc Bceao.
LGBTQIA+ Equality Index
Medium-Low
LGBTQIA+ Dollar
c.314 million
LGBTQIA+ Population
c.361.9 thousand
ALLOW SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
No
RECOGNISE GENDER CHANGE
No
BANNING GAY CONVERSION THERAPY
No

Geography

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Capital) - Light (200px)

CAPITAL

Porto-Novo

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Region) - Light (200px)

REGION

Western Africa

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Continent) - Light (200px)

CONTINENT

Africa

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Hemisphere) - Light (200px)

HEMISPHERE

Tropics

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Area) - Light (200px)

AREA

112620

(square kilometers)

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Oceans) - Light (200px)

SURROUNDING OCEAN(S)

Atlantic Ocean

Region Image

Name in other languages

learn the literal translations of the country’s name in twelve of the most popular languages
English Flag
English
Benin
Mandarin Flag
Mandarin
贝宁
Dutch Flag
Dutch
Benin
Spanish Flag
Spanish
Benín
Arabic Flag
Arabic
بنين
Portuguese Flag
Portuguese
Benin
French Flag
French
Bénin
Hebrew Flag
Hebrew
בנין
Russian Flag
Russian
Бенин
German Flag
German
Benin
Hindi Flag
Hindi
बेनिन
Japanese Flag
Japanese
ベナン

LGBTQIA+ COUNTRY & REGION GUIDES

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NOTIFICATIONS

LAST UPDATED:  April 25, 2023
×  LOW-MEDIUM RISK  | LGBTQIA+ travel discretion is advised. Though it is not illegal to identify as LGBTQIA+ or engage in same-sex relationships, it is recommended that you carry out independent research before travelling...read more

Latest

| STATUS

  • IMPORTANT | It is advised that you consult your country's foreign or overseas department before you travel due to political or social unrest, instability and terrorism in specific regions or across the country. Your government's ministry will provide guidance as to whether it is safe to travel to this country (or to parts of it)
  • LGBTQIA+ travel discretion is advised. Though it is not illegal to identify as LGBTQIA+ or engage in same-sex relationships, it is always recommended that you carry out independent research before travelling
  • GENDER IDENTITY/EXPRESSION | The country does not have any laws in place regarding gender identity and expression
  • LGBTQIA+ ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS | This country has no anti-discrimination laws) in place. The lack of regulations means that there is no legal protection for those community members living or visiting from facing discrimination
WHO Covid19 Update Service
DISCOVER THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION, FROM NEW TO CONFIRMED CASES



Government

| INFORMATION

Interactive Map Icons - Foreign Office (200px)
BENIN
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AFRICAN INTEGRATION
ministère des affaires étrangères et de la coopération
The foreign office or ministry is typically a department within a government that focuses on promoting that particular country and what it represents worldwide. The department will often highlight national security, travel restrictions, visa requirements and all relevant foreign policies
Interactive Map Icons - Medical Body (200px)
BENIN
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
ministère de la santé du bénin
The health office or ministry is typically a department or organisation within a government that focuses on all things relating to health. The department will often highlight travel restrictions, vaccination requirements, pandemics, outbreaks, and relevant health-related information
Interactive Map - Greetings

  USEFUL PHRASES | GREETINGS

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases – Greetings (500px)
GREETINGS
salutation | ikini
HI
salut | hi
HOW ARE YOU?
comment allez-vous? | bawo ni o se wa?
GOOD MORNING
bonjour | e kaaro
I'M GOOD, AND YOU?
je vais bien et toi? | mo wa ti o dara, ati awọn ti o?
GOOD AFTERNOON
bonne après-midi | e kaasan
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
quel est ton nom? | kini orukọ rẹ?
GOOD NIGHT
bonne nuit | kasun layọ o
MY NAME IS…
je m'appelle ... | orukọ mi ni ...
WELCOME
bienvenue | welcome
NICE TO MEET YOU
ravi de vous rencontrer | inu mi dun lati pade yin
GOODBYE
au revoir | o dabọ
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
parlez vous anglais? | se o nso ede gesi?

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EMERGENCY CONTACTS

French | Yoruba
Official Language(s) spoken in Benin
The emergency service numbers within Benin to call during an emergency
  • AMBULANCE - when someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life is at risk (emergency medical services and technical rescue)
  • POLICE - when you feel in danger, are in dangerous situations or have witnessed a crime (law enforcement, criminal investigation, and maintenance of public order)
  • FIRE RESCUE - when a fire occurs or where a person needs rescue (fire suppression, technical rescue, and hazardous materials mitigation)


Ambulance
AMBULANCE
ambulance (french)

dial
118

Call Ambulance Service Now

Police
POLICE
police (french)

dial
117

Call Police Now

Fire
FIRE
feu (french)

dial
112

Call Fire Service Now


Interactive Map - Emergency

  USEFUL PHRASES | EMERGENCY

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases - Emergency Services (500px)
EMERGENCY
urgence | pajawiri
HELP ME
aidez moi | ran mi lowo
WHERE IS THE NEAREST HOSPITAL?
où est l'hôpital le plus proche? | ibo ni ile iwosan?
STOP
arrêtez | duro
WHERE IS THE NEAREST PHARMACY?
où est la pharmacie la plus proche? | ibo ni ile elegbogi?
HOSPITAL
hôpital | iwosan
WHERE IS THE POLICE STATION?
ou est la station de police? | nibo ni ago olopa wa?
When travelling, a non-native speaker of a language or when you cannot speak, communicating how you are thinking and feeling to a medical practitioner can be challenging. The medical diagnosis interpreter, also known as the MDI, is a free click and point solution where you can use literal translations for up to 89 different languages

USEFUL INFORMATION

TELEPHONE DIALLING CODE

229

INTERNET SUFFIX

.bj

LANGUAGES

French, Yoruba

CURRENCY

NAME:
CFA Franc Bceao
SYM:
CFAF
DIVISION:
100 centimes

ELECTRICITY

VOLTS:
220
HERTZ:
50

ELECTRICAL PLUGS

NUMBER OF PLUG TYPES:
2
PLUGS USED:
Electricity Plug C Electricity Plug E

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN WHERE

It is estimated that there are over seven thousand languages and dialects spoken around the world. When travelling, it is important to find out what languages are spoken where, as well, as key phrases and terms in those languages. The Gayther Worldwide languages guide features all of the main languages spoken around the world, organised by country and region. Discover all things languages today

CLIMATE

Porto-Novo

Weather information

Benin Climate Image
MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
The average monthly temperatures are based on the recorded daily highs and lows for the given location
HIGH
The daily high temperatures are an average, based on the recorded high temperatures over many years
01| JAN
31.8°C | 89.2°F
02| FEB
32.3°C | 90.2°F
03| MAR
32.4°C | 90.4°F
04| APR
32.1°C | 89.8°F
05| MAY
31.5°C | 88.7°F
06| JUN
29.8°C | 85.6°F
07| JUL
28.6°C | 83.5°F
08| AUG
28.3°C | 83°F
09| SEP
29.2°C | 84.5°F
10| OCT
30.4°C | 86.7°F
11| NOV
31.8°C | 89.2°F
12| DEC
32.2°C | 89.9°F
LOW
The daily low temperatures are an average, based on the recorded lowest temperatures over many years
01| JAN
24.2°C | 75.6°F
02| FEB
26.2°C | 79.1°F
03| MAR
26.6°C | 79.8°F
04| APR
26.1°C | 79°F
05| MAY
25.3°C | 77.5°F
06| JUN
24.4°C | 75.9°F
07| JUL
24.3°C | 75.7°F
08| AUG
23.9°C | 75.1°F
09| SEP
24.3°C | 75.7°F
10| OCT
24.5°C | 76.1°F
11| NOV
25.3°C | 77.5°F
12| DEC
24.9°C | 76.9°F
SEASONS
Saisons (fr) | Jahreszeiten (de) | Estaciones (es) | Stagioni (it) | Seizoen (du) | Estação (pt)
Benin Season Image
Dry SeasonDRY
Saison humide / Saison des pluies (fr) | Regenzeit (de) | Estación lluviosa / Húmeda (es) | Stagione delle piogge (it) | Regentijd (du) | Estação Molhada / Estação Chuvosa (pt)
November-March, August
Wet SeasonWET
Saison sèche (fr) | Trockenzeit (de) | Estación seca (es) | Stagione Asciutta (it) | Droge tijd (du) | Estação Seca (pt)
April-July, September-October
Interactive Map - Instructions

  USEFUL PHRASES | INSTRUCTIONS

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases - Instructions (500px)
INSTRUCTIONS
YES
oui | bẹẹni
EXCUSE ME
excusez-moi | mo tọrọ gafara
NO
non | ko si
PLEASE
s'il vous plaît | jowo
NO, THANK YOU
non, merci | rara, o ṣeun
SORRY
pardon | binu
MAYBE
peut être | boya
THANK YOU
je vous remercie | e dupe

TIMEZONE

LAST UPDATED:  May 24,2024

TIMEZONE

UTC+1 (Africa/Porto-Novo)

DST APPLIES

No

Gayther Resources

  TRAVEL INSPIRED ARTICLES

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  FUN & GAMES

RESOURCES TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS, FOLLOWERS, CUSTOMERS…

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TRAVEL RELATED

AIRPORT STATISTICS

TOTAL NUMBER OF AIRPORTS

6
TOTAL NUMBER OF HELIPORTS

0
TOTAL NUMBER OF SEAPLANE BASES

0

DRIVING

Benin Driving Image
DRIVE ON WHICH SIDE
Right
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE REQUIRED
Required
Interactive Map - Travel Section Icon

LOCAL AIRPORTS

Discover the leading international and regional airports in Benin. The main airport's section highlights the largest or busiest airports in any country. Each airport featured provides information such as the airport's name, identifier, location and links to google maps, what3words and Gayther's transport tool. The Gayther Transport tool features thousands of airports, train and metro stations, cruise ports and much more. Click on the search button to find all of the airports available on the tool

Interactive Map - Directions

  USEFUL PHRASES | DIRECTIONS & GUIDANCE

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases - Directions (500px)
DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE
directions et conseils | awọn itọsọna ati itọsọna
HOW DO I GET THERE?
comment puis-je y arriver? | bawo ni mo se gba nibẹ?
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
combien cela coûte-t-il? | elo ni wipe?
HOW FAR IS IT?
a quelle distance est-ce? | bi o jina ni o?
DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?
acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit? | ṣe o gba awọn kaadi kirẹditi?
WHERE IS THE BATHROOM?
où se trouvent les toilettes? | nibo ni baluwẹ wa?
I'M NOT INTERESTED
ça ne m'intéresse pas | nko ni iferan si
WHERE IS THE CLOSEST RESTAURANT?
où est le restaurant le plus proche? | nibo ni awọn sunmọ ounjẹ?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
je ne comprends pas | emi ko ye
HOW MUCH DO I OWE YOU?
combien je te dois? | elo ni mo jẹ ọ?

LGBTQIA+ RELATED

LGBTQIA+ Terms

learn the literal translations of key LGBTQIA+ terms in the local languages/dialects
Lesbian Flag
Lesbian
lesbienne (french)
Gay Flag
Gay
gay (french)
Bisexual Flag
Bisexual
bisexuel (french)
Transgender Flag
Transgender
transgenres (french)
Intersex Flag
Intersex
intersexe (french)
Asexual Flag
Asexual
asexué (french)
Questioning Flag
Questioning
interrogatoire (french)
Community Flag
Community
communauté (french)
Gender Flag
Gender
lié au genre (french)
Sexuality Flag
Sexuality
relatif à la sexualité (french)
Non-Bingary Flag
Non-Binary
non binaire (french)
Queer Flag
Queer
queer (french)
Gayther Dropdown - Language Country Guide (300px)

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