Countries

Benin

Benin is a narrow West African country between Togo and Nigeria, stretching north from the Gulf of Guinea to the Niger River. Independent from France in 1960 as Dahomey, it took the name Benin in 1975. Porto-Novo is the capital, Cotonou the largest city.

A narrow wooden pirogue under sail carrying goods across the reed-fringed water of Lake Nokoue, Benin

Lake Nokoue, near Ganvie

Photo: Adoscam, CC BY-SA 4.0

Green stands for hope and renewal, yellow for the country's wealth and red for the courage of its ancestors. First adopted in 1959, replaced in 1975 and restored in 1990.

How it has changed

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