Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Benin: trade and investment
Exports is 17.1% (2025), 155th of 184 in the world and 33rd of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 20.1% (2025), 169th of 184 in the world and 38th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 37.1% (2025), 168th of 184 in the world and 38th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Benin in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 17.1%2025 | 155/184 | 33/43 | 20.6% | 23.1% | 19.9% | −7.7 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 23.2% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 20.1%2025 | 169/184 | 38/43 | 26.7% | 28.4% | 25.0% | −12.0 ppsince 2015 | 27.9% | 26.3% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 37.1%2025 | 168/184 | 38/43 | 47.3% | 51.4% | 44.8% | −19.6 ppsince 2015 | 55.7% | 46.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -8.2%2023 | 152/185 | 32/42 | -2.3% | -5.6% | -1.7% | −2.8 ppsince 2013 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $4.0bn2025 | 130/206 | 25/48 | $392m | $1.3bn | $3.0bn | +137%since 2015 | $487bn | $1.1tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 30.5%2024 | 14/170 | 1/39 | · | · | 1.8% | +26.4 ppsince 2014 | 6.0% | 14.7% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2024 | 165/172 | 36/39 | 0.0%2001 | 0.0% | 0.0% | −0.3 ppsince 2014 | 40.9% | 24.8% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 39.7%2024 | 42/172 | 12/39 | 20.1% | 67.6% | 25.1% | +9.8 ppsince 2014 | 14.6% | 13.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 10.2%2022 | 35/184 | 18/45 | 12.6%2001 | 11.0% | 9.9% | −1.0 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 2.0%2025 | 103/197 | 24/46 | -0.4% | 0.6% | 1.1% | +0.6 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 1.7%2023 | 104/178 | 28/41 | 2.4% | 1.5% | 1.3% | −0.3 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 5.8% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 337,0002019 | 141/196 | 22/42 | 1.1m | 222,0002011 | 337,0002019 | −67%since 2008 | 56.0m | 208m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $241m2019 | 117/177 | 12/40 | $77.4m | $149m | $241m2019 | +83%since 2009 | $34.9bn | $145bn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Benin and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Benin. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Benin | Nigeria | Niger | Burkina Faso | Togo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 17.1%2025 | — | 15.8%2025 | 35.0%2025 | 24.6%2023 |
| Imports | 20.1%2025 | — | 18.1%2025 | 30.0%2025 | 35.3%2023 |
| Trade openness | 37.1%2025 | — | 33.9%2025 | 65.0%2025 | 59.9%2023 |
| Current account | -8.2%2023 | 4.8%2025 | -6.1%2024 | -4.0%2024 | -0.3%2020 |
| Merchandise exports | $4.0bn2025 | $55.5bn2025 | $1.9bn2025 | $11.1bn2025 | $1.8bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 30.5%2024 | 2.7%2024 | 8.6%2024 | 1.6%2024 | 0.7%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 0.0%2024 | 85.9%2025 | 88.0%2024 | 0.0%2024 | 1.8%2025 |
| Food exports | 39.7%2024 | 6.4%2025 | 4.1%2024 | 7.1%2024 | 34.4%2025 |
| Average tariff | 10.2%2022 | 9.3%2022 | 8.4%2022 | 7.2%2022 | 13.6%2022 |