Natural resources of Benin
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Benin: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
2.3 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2025)
0.0 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
28.1 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 1 mineral commodities with published production in Benin between 2018 and 2022, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 1 of 1
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | Not published | 2,066 | 2,320 | 2,380 | 2,341 | 2,373 | 2018: r; 2020: e; 2021: r |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 2.3% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks Benin 45th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Oil | Minerals | Forests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 3.4 % |
| 2011 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 3.5 % |
| 2012 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 3.9 % |
| 2013 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 3.6 % |
| 2014 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 3.7 % |
| 2015 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 4.2 % |
| 2016 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 4.4 % |
| 2017 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 4.0 % |
| 2018 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 2.5 % |
| 2019 | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 2.4 % |
| 2020 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 2.4 % |
| 2021 | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 2.3 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
28.1 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
32.3 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
749 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Benin. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Benin have?
Benin's main natural resources are timber. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 2.3% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber.
Does Benin produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Benin in 2025. It does list proved reserves of 8 million barrels (2021).
How much do natural resources contribute to Benin's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 2.3% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Benin 45th of 54 African countries.