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Benin

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Benin

DATE OF FORMATION: 1960

POPULATION: 6.9 million

DENSITY: 162 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: Fon, Bariba, Yoruba, Adja, Houeda, Somba, French

RELIGIONS: Voodoo 50%, Muslim 30%, Christian 20%

ETHNIC MIX: Fon 47%, Other 31%, Adja 12%, Bariba 10%

GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections

CURRENCY: CFA franc

Click to see a larger map

Benin stretches north from the west African coast, with a 100-km (60-mile) shoreline on the Bight of Benin. Formerly the kingdom of Dahomey, Benin was under French colonial rule, becoming part of French West Africa, until independence in 1960. In 1990 Benin was a pioneer of multipartyism in Africa, ending 17 years of one-party Marxist-Leninist rule. Benin's economy is based on well-diversified agriculture.