Formerly known as the Republic of Dahomey, the West African Republic of Benin is one of the smallest and most densely populated states in the region. It has a land area of 112,622 square kilometers (43,475 square miles), a section of which is perpendicular to the Gulf of Guinea in the south. To the north of Benin lies Burkina Faso and Republic of Niger, to the east is the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to the west is the Republic of Togo. The capital and seat of government is Porto Novo.

Although Benin comprises forty-two ethnic groups, its population—estimated at just over 7 million in 2004—is divided between four main ethno-linguistic groups: the Fon speakers, who live in the south and are the country's largest single ethnic group; the Yorubas, who live in the southeast near Nigeria, the group's main homeland; the Volta speakers, who inhabit central and northern Benin...