Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

54.3

Political Risk Index

44.7

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

57.5

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

56.4

Operational Risk Index

61.2

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Benin is in West Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Lower middle income. (World Bank)
• Population: 14.8 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$24.6bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 8.1% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 7% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 1.1% in 2025 (estimate); projected 0.8% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 59.3% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -5.7% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -2.7% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 581.93 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 606.65 in 2023: 4.1% more units per dollar fewer (the currency strengthened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 54.3 (rank 16 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 44.7 (rank 9 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 57.5 (rank 34 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 56.4 (rank 25 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 61.2 (rank 19 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: logistics risk (66, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 44; government effectiveness 49; political stability and absence of violence 59; rule of law 51; regulatory quality 5. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 69.5% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 1.6% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 2% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 19.8% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 6.3% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 37.1% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 261 published records tagged to Benin. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 59% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 54.5% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 0.1% of merchandise exports (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 2% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 6.3% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 34% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 125.9 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 22.9% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 40.2% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 10.2% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 17.5% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 53.4% of population (2025); access to electricity 59% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Recent developments

• IMF Urges Benin to Keep Budget Prudent (riotimesonline.com, 8 Nov 2026) (GDELT)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Bank lending interest rate (Latest published value is for 2021); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Mediterrania Capital Partners completes investment in Atlantic Group’s AFG Assurances
• Mediterrania Capital Partners invests in AFG Assurances’ operations in Francophone Africa
• Circle Ventures invests in CrissCross’ operations in Africa
• Shelter Afrique Development Bank launches XOF60bn sustainable bond on the WAEMU regional market
• Moussa Diao and Hervé Bouvet acquire Oryx Energies in a management buyout
• Benin and France sign EUR 99.79 million package for power, farming and forensics

Meridian articles

• ICC young arbitration forum names 18 African representatives, including two Nigerians and a Beninese lawyer
• Benin prepares first Sèmè crude cargo 28 years after production stopped
• Benin Deal Room 2026 presents about 20 projects as data show a gap between approved and delivered investment
• BOAD approves 157.5bn FCFA, including financing for Yattassaye’s purchase of Benin oil assets