When is the next election in Benin?

Name: National office holders and key facts for Benin
Creator: PollsAfrica
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The next national election in Benin is the Benin presidential election 2031: Due by 2031. Official figures come from Commission Électorale Nationale Autonome (CENA).

Government directory

Government of Benin

140 officials listed, each linked to its source.

Population14.8 million2025

GDPUS$25bn2025

Next electionDue by 2031Presidential election

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Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, has its capital at Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government) and a population of 14,814,460 (World Bank, 2025). The CIA World Factbook describes its system of government as a presidential republic. President of the Republic, Head of State Romuald Wadagni (in office since 24 May 2026) is head of state; Vice President of the Republic Mariam Chabi Talata is the deputy. The legislature is the National Assembly (Assemblée nationale), a unicameral body with 109 seats. The most recent national election, per IFES ElectionGuide, was held on 12 Apr 2026. Elections are run by the Commission Électorale Nationale Autonome (CENA). The directory below lists 9 cabinet and ministerial posts with their current holders and sources.

Head of state · President of the Republic, Head of State

Romuald Wadagni

Since 24 May 2026 · Source: presidence.bj

Vice president · Vice President of the Republic

Mariam Chabi Talata

Source: presidence.bj

Office	Holder	Since
Head of government	Romuald Wadagni	24 May 2026

Sources: Government of Benin (retrieved 11 Oct 2026).

Legislature

National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

Unicameral. Source: CIA World Factbook

Chamber	Seats	Last election
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)	109 (all directly elected)	11 Jan 2026

Benin National Assembly: list of deputies

Political mix

Seats by party in each chamber of Benin. One dot is one seat.

National Assembly

As elected, 2026

109

National Assembly seats

Progressive Union Renewal60(55%)
Republican Bloc49(45%)

Seats by party (table)

National Assembly: seats by party, as elected, 2026
Party	Seats	Share of seats
Progressive Union Renewal	60	55%
Republican Bloc	49	45%

As elected: the seats each party won at the 2026 election. It does not follow members who changed party afterwards. 109 seats in the chamber. As of 11 January 2026. Source: Wikipedia, 2026 Beninese parliamentary election (reference source).

Seats as declared for the 11 January 2026 election. The Assembly's own register prints the same split (UPR 60, BR 49), so the chart and the member list agree.

The Assembly's register of deputies prints 109 rows for the tenth legislature, elected on 11 January 2026 and installed on 8 February 2026, so this list covers the whole chamber. Party is the code the register prints, UPR or BR. The constituency is the register's own number from 1 to 24; it prints no constituency name beside the number, so the number is shown as printed. The register leaves its department, commission, parliamentary group and sex columns empty, so those fields stay empty here. It prints no photograph either, so member pages are text only and are kept out of search results. The page says it was last updated on 10 February 2026 and the Assembly has published no later version, so any substitution made since then does not appear in this list.

Cabinet

Portfolio	Holder	Since
Minister of Finance	Aristide MEDENOU	-
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Corinne AMORI BRUNET	-
Minister of Interior	Djibril MAMA CISSE MOUSSA	-
Minister of Justice	Yvon DETCHENOU	-
Minister of Defence	Gildas AGONKAN	-
Minister of Health	Benjamin Ignace Bodounrin HOUNKPATIN	-
Minister of Education (secondary)	Clément KOUCHADE	-
Minister of Education (nursery and primary)	Armand Kuyema NATTA	-
Minister of Education (higher education)	Sèdami MEDEGAN FAGLA	-

Sources: Gouvernement du Bénin, membres du Gouvernement (retrieved 23 Oct 2026).

Other cabinet members

Portfolio	Holder	Appointed
President of the Republic, Head of State and Head of Government (Président de la République, Chef de l'État, Chef du Gouvernement, Chef Suprême des Armées)	Romuald Wadagni	24 May 2026
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Ministre de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche)	Adin Yeton Bloukounon Goubalan	24 May 2026
Minister of Family and Social Action (Ministre de la Famille et de l'Action Sociale)	Véronique Tognifode	24 May 2026
Minister of Decentralisation and Local Governance (Ministre de la Décentralisation et de la Gouvernance Locale)	Janvier Yahouedeou	24 May 2026
Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage (Ministre de la Culture, des Arts et du Patrimoine)	Yassine Latoundji	24 May 2026
Minister of Domestic Trade, in charge of the Formalisation of the Economy (Ministre du Commerce Intérieur, en charge de la formalisation de l'économie)	Shadiya Alimatou Assouman	24 May 2026
Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation, in charge of the National AI Strategy (Ministre de la Transformation Digitale et de l'Innovation, en charge de la stratégie nationale d'intelligence artificielle)	Mahuna Akplogan	24 May 2026
Minister of Energy, Water and Mines (Ministre de l'Energie, de l'Eau et des Mines)	Edouard Dahome	24 May 2026
Minister of Living Environment and Transport, in charge of Sustainable Development (Ministre du Cadre de Vie et des Transports, chargé du Développement Durable)	Georges Ale	24 May 2026
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion, in charge of Vocational Training (Ministre des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises et de la Promotion de l'Emploi, en charge de la Formation Professionnelle)	Awaou Baco	24 May 2026
Minister of Communication, in charge of Media (Ministre de la Communication, en charge des Médias)	Aurelie Adam Soule épouse Zoumarou	24 May 2026
Minister of Sports and Civic Engagement (Ministre des Sports et de l'Engagement Civique)	Benoît K. M. Dato	24 May 2026

Sources: Presidency of Benin (retrieved 11 Oct 2026); Government of Benin (retrieved 11 Oct 2026).

List as of 11 Oct 2026.

Parliament, courts and independent offices

Office	Holder	Since
Speaker of the National Assembly	Joseph Fifamin DJOGBENOU	8 Feb 2026
Chief Justice	Victor Dassi ADOSSOU	4 Mar 2026
Attorney General	Djidonou Saturnin AFATON	16 Oct 2024
Central Bank Governor (BCEAO, regional)	Jean-Claude Kassi BROU	-

Sources: Assemblée nationale du Bénin, CV du Président (retrieved 23 Oct 2026); Secrétariat général du Gouvernement, décret n° 2026-082 (retrieved 23 Oct 2026); Secrétariat général du Gouvernement, compte rendu du Conseil des ministres du 16 octobre 2024 (retrieved 23 Oct 2026); BCEAO, organigramme (retrieved 23 Oct 2026).

Benin election dates 2026, 2027 and 2028

Next national election: Due by 2031, presidential election.

Date	Election	Status	Turnout	Winner
11 Jan 2026	Parliamentary election	Held	-	Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UPR)
12 Apr 2026	Presidential election	Held	-	Romuald Wadagni
Due by 2031	Presidential election	Due	-	-

Sources: Commission Électorale Nationale Autonome (CENA) (retrieved 9 Oct 2026).

Africa election calendar

Economy at a glance

Full economy page

GDP: US$25bn; 2025
GDP growth: 8.1%; 2025
Remittances received: US$339m; 2023
Foreign direct investment: US$482m; 2025

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More data for Benin

World Bank data

Economy: GDP, investment, trade and remittances, 2015 to 2025

Money sent home by citizens abroad, foreign direct investment, reserves, external debt and aid.

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Population of Benin

Benin had 14.8 million people in 2025, 28th largest of 53 in Africa. The IMF projects 17.1 million by 2030. African countries by population.

Benin in numbers

Population (2025)
14.8
28th largest of 53 in Africa
Population growth since 2015 (2025)
30.4 %
20th fastest-growing of 52 in Africa
Projected population 2030 (2030)
17.1
27th highest of 52 in Africa
People per sq km (2025)
131
13th most crowded of 53 in Africa

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook database, October 2026 (DataMapper indicators NGDPDPC, NGDPD and LP), October 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Population of Benin, 2015 to 2030Millions of people. From 2026 the figures are IMF projections.

View the data as a table

Period	Benin
2015	11.4
2016	11.7
2017	12.0
2018	12.4
2019	12.7
2020	13.1
2021	13.4
2022	13.8
2023	14.1
2024	14.5
2025	14.8
2026	15.2 (partial)
2027	15.7 (partial)
2028	16.1 (partial)
2029	16.6 (partial)
2030	17.1 (partial)

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook database, October 2026 (DataMapper indicators NGDPDPC, NGDPD and LP), October 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Inflation and unemployment in Benin

Prices in Benin rose 1.1% in 2025, 42nd highest of 52 in Africa. The ILO estimates unemployment at 1.6% (2025) and 2.9% among people aged 15 to 24. Benin's own survey put it at 1.7% in 2022. Inflation in Africa · Unemployment in Africa · Benin's economy.

Prices and jobs in Benin

Inflation (2025)
1.1 %
11th lowest of 52 in Africa
Unemployment (2025)
1.6 %
5th lowest of 53 in Africa
Youth unemployment (2025)
2.9 %
7th lowest of 53 in Africa
Unemployment, national survey (2022)
1.7 %
National survey

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Inflation in BeninRise in consumer prices, % a year.

View the data as a table

Period	Benin
2010	2.2
2011	2.7
2012	6.7
2013	0.4
2014	-0.5
2015	0.2
2016	-0.8
2017	0.0
2018	0.9
2019	0.7
2020	3.0
2021	1.7
2022	1.4
2023	2.7
2024	1.2
2025	1.1
2026	Not published

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Unemployment in Benin: ILO estimate and national survey% of the labour force. The national survey line has gaps in years without a survey.

View the data as a table

Period	ILO modelled estimate	National survey
2010	1.0	1.0
2011	2.7	2.6
2012	2.5	Not published
2013	2.2	2.2
2014	2.0	Not published
2015	1.9	Not published
2016	1.8	Not published
2017	1.7	Not published
2018	1.4	Not published
2019	1.2	1.2
2020	1.5	Not published
2021	1.8	Not published
2022	1.7	1.7
2023	1.6	Not published
2024	1.6	Not published
2025	1.6	Not published
2026	Not published	Not published

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Life expectancy and infant mortality in Benin

A child born in Benin can expect to live 61 years (2024). 75 of every 1,000 children die before age five. Life expectancy in Africa, all countries ranked.

Health in Benin

Life expectancy (2024)
61.0
46th longest of 54 in Africa
Child deaths under five (2024)
75
44th lowest of 54 in Africa
Health spending per person (2023)
47
39th highest of 54 in Africa

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Life expectancy in Benin against the middle African countryLife expectancy at birth, years.

View the data as a table

Period	Benin	Middle African country
2014	59.0	61.8
2015	59.1	62.3
2016	59.3	62.8
2017	59.5	63.1
2018	59.7	63.2
2019	59.9	63.3
2020	60.2	63.7
2021	59.6	62.5
2022	60.5	64.6
2023	60.8	65.6
2024	61.0	65.8

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Infant and child mortality in BeninDeaths before age five per 1,000 live births. Lower is better.

View the data as a table

Period	Benin
2014	98
2015	96
2016	94
2017	92
2018	89
2019	87
2020	85
2021	82
2022	80
2023	77
2024	75

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Literacy rate in Benin

51.4% of adults in Benin can read and write (2022, World Bank). Literacy rate in Africa by country · Universities and exam bodies in Benin.

Literacy and schooling in Benin

Adult literacy (2022)
51.4 %
42nd highest of 52 in Africa
Youth literacy (2022)
71.3 %
40th highest of 53 in Africa
Education spending, % of GDP (2023)
3.2 %
28th highest of 52 in Africa

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Human development and internet access in Benin

Benin's Human Development Index was 0.515 in 2023, 173rd of 193 countries in the world (low human development). Human Development Index in Africa · Tech and internet in Africa · Learn digital skills with SR Academy.

Development and digital access in Benin

Human Development Index (2023)
0.52
33rd highest of 54 in Africa
Internet users (2024)
34.0 %
31st highest of 54 in Africa
Mobile subscriptions (2024)
126
10th highest of 54 in Africa
Access to electricity (2024)
59.0 %
30th highest of 54 in Africa

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Human development in BeninUNDP Human Development Index, 0 to 1, against the middle African country.

View the data as a table

Period	Benin	Middle African country
2000	0.42	0.44
2001	0.43	0.45
2002	0.44	0.45
2003	0.44	0.46
2004	0.45	0.46
2005	0.46	0.47
2006	0.46	0.47
2007	0.47	0.48
2008	0.48	0.49
2009	0.48	0.50
2010	0.49	0.50
2011	0.49	0.51
2012	0.50	0.52
2013	0.51	0.52
2014	0.51	0.52
2015	0.51	0.53
2016	0.51	0.53
2017	0.51	0.54
2018	0.51	0.54
2019	0.51	0.55
2020	0.50	0.55
2021	0.51	0.56
2022	0.51	0.57
2023	0.52	0.57

Source: UNDP, Human Development Report, composite indices time series. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Is Benin safe?

The US State Department rates Benin at level 2 of 4: exercise increased caution. The homicide rate is 1.1 per 100,000 people (2017). Safest countries in Africa.

Safety in Benin

US travel advisory level (2026)
2
34th safest by advisory of 54 in Africa
Homicide rate (2017)
1.1
4th lowest of 37 in Africa
Conflict deaths (2024)
77
14th highest of 30 in Africa

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Coups, democracy and stability in Benin

Benin has had 6 successful coups, the latest on 26 October 1972, and 7 failed attempts or plots. Coups in Africa: every country.

7 December 2025: Failed coup attempt
24 September 2024: Coup plot
16 January 1977: Failed coup attempt
19 October 1975: Coup plot
21 January 1975: Failed coup attempt
26 October 1972: Coup (succeeded)
23 February 1972: Failed coup attempt
10 December 1969: Coup (succeeded)

Democracy and stability in Benin

Voice and accountability (2025)
51
16th highest of 54 in Africa
Political stability (2025)
59
18th highest of 54 in Africa
Control of corruption (2025)
44
11th highest of 54 in Africa

Source: World Bank, Worldwide Governance Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Benin's debt

Government debt was 59.3% of GDP in 2025 (IMF). The largest foreign creditor is World Bank-IDA, owed 26% of public debt abroad (2024). Benin's debt and creditors in full · Debt in Africa.

Compare Benin

Where Benin ranks in Africa

Its place among the 54 African countries on each of our Africa rankings. Each tile opens the full ranking with its source.

All Africa rankings

Cite this

PollsAfrica (2026). Government of Benin. Retrieved 26 Oct 2026 from https://pollsafrica.com/countries/benin