Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections marked the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. Listing

Border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Climate : tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north, mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains, highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Population: 7,460,025

Language : French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

Administrative division :12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou