Flag of Benin

🎨 What the flag means

Benin's flag has a green stripe on the left and two stripes of yellow and red on the right. According to the national anthem, green stands for hope, red for the courage of the ancestors, and yellow for the country's treasures. These are also the Pan-African colours used on many African flags.

📊 Quick facts

👥 Population

14.1 million (2023)

🏙️ Capital

Porto-Novo234.2 thousand people (2025)

🗣️ Main language

French

✨ 3 fun facts

1. Until 1975 the country was called Dahomey, after an old kingdom; its new name comes from the Bight of Benin on its coast.
2. Pendjari National Park in the north is home to elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos and monkeys.
3. In southern Benin, some children get a name that tells which day of the week they were born on.