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Benin Geography Profile

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LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map referencesAfrica
Areatotal: 112,622 sq km

land: 110,622 sq km

water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundariestotal: 2,123 km

border countries (4): Burkina Faso 386 km, Niger 277 km, Nigeria 809 km, Togo 651 km
Coastline121 km
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

continental shelf: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climatetropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrainmostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremeshighest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 273 m
Natural resourcessmall offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land useagricultural land: 31.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 3.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 40% (2018 est.)

other: 28.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land230 sq km (2012)
Total renewable water resources26.39 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Natural hazardshot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Geography - notesandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021

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