Economy
Nominal GDP
USD 21.9 billion
GDP per capita
USD 1,425
2021–2025 average
Currency
- Name
- West African CFA franc
Франк КФА BCEAO - ISO code
- XOF
- Rate against the US dollar
- USD 1 = 579.64 XOF
- Rate against the rouble
- 10 XOF = 1.4416 RUB
- Rate type
- Cross rate via the Bank of Russia USD/RUB rate
- Currency zone
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Note
- fixed peg to the euro: 1 EUR = 655.957 CFA francs
Exchange rate as of 1 October 2026
Economic structure
GDP structure: 2021–2025 average Source: Based on World Bank data. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Agriculture 25.6%
- Industry 17.1%
- Services 47.9%
Industries and programmes
- Key industries
- Production of cotton, oilseeds, cassava, cashews and fabrics; transit trade
- Government programmes
- Government Action Program (PAG) 2021–2026
- National Development Plan (NDP) 2018–2025
- Project for the Glo-Djigbé Special Economic Zone (GDIZ)
International trade
Exports of goods, 2021–2025
USD billion Source: World Bank / WTO, merchandise exports (TX.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT). Period: 2021–2025
Table
| Year | USD billion | index, 2021 = 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.64 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 3.72 | 102.2 |
| 2023 | 4.05 | 111.3 |
| 2024 | 4.02 | 110.4 |
| 2025 | 3.99 | 109.6 |
- Imports of goods
- USD 3.85 billion 2021–2025 averageSource: ITC. Period: 2021–2025 average
- Exports of goods and services
- USD 4.19 billion 2025Source: World Bank, national accounts. Period: 2025
- Change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- +9.6%
- Average annual rate of change in exports of goods, 2021–2025
- +2.3%
Export specialisation
Main export products
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Main export destinations
share of exports of goods, %, 2024 Source: UN Comtrade, 2024; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2024
Investment areas
- Value-added processing of cotton and cashews (textiles, food products)
- Agri-logistics
- The Port of Cotonou and transit infrastructure
- Tourism
- Renewable energy
Agreements with Russia
Investment protection
There is no bilateral agreement with Russia on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments.
Absent
Double taxation
There is no double taxation agreement with Russia.
Absent
Visa requirements
Russian citizens holding ordinary passports require a visa
Visa required
Peaceful nuclear energy
No information
Other agreements
- Agreement on Visa-Free Travel for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports (2001).
- Agreement on Simplified Procedures for Visits by Russian Warships to Beninese Ports (signing authorized by Order No. 32-r dated 19 January 2026).
- Agreement on Military-Technical Cooperation (2010).
Incentives
- Main regimes and incentives
Investment Code (2020): regimes for small, medium and large enterprises with equipment duty exemptions and tax holidays; incentives in the GDIZ special economic zone.
- Type of measure
- Investment agency
- APIEx — Investment and Export Promotion Agency (Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations)
- Zone operator / authority
- SIPI-Bénin — GDIZ management company
