Economic Overview

For the latest updates on the key economic responses from governments to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the IMF's policy tracking platform Policy Responses to COVID-19.

Benin’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals have helped the country achieve strong economic growth despite the recent external shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. After reaching 7.2% in 2021, GDP growth remained resilient in 2022, slowing down to 5.7% (IMF). Economic growth is expected to accelerate to 6.2% in 2023 and 6% in 2024, driven by agroindustry, construction, and port-related activity (IMF). Higher infrastructure spending and a wider regional recovery will support activity (The Economist Intelligence Unit).

In 2022, despite a challenging global and regional context, Benin’s economy remained resilient, supported by
a strong investment push. Investments in the electricity grid and freight transport have driven growth (Coface). In July 2022, a blended 42-month Extended Fund Facility and Extended Credit Facility was approved by the IMF to help Benin address financing needs, support the country’s National Development Plan centered on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and catalyze donor support (IMF). Reflecting the spillovers of the war in Ukraine, inflation increased from 1.7% in 2021 to 5% in 2022, but remained subdued owing to a strong harvest season and subsidy measures adopted by the government (IMF). Households have benefited from subsidies on agricultural inputs and fuels, as well as from tariff reductions (Coface). According to IMF forecast, inflation is expected to decrease to 1.8% in 2023 and 2% in 2024. Budget deficit decreased only slightly, from -5.7% GDP in 2021 to -5.5% GDP in 2022, as policy remained accommodative to cushion the impact of the repeated shocks (IMF). Consolidation efforts are scheduled to resume in 2023, with a forecast budget balance of -4.3% GDP (IMF). Public debt increased from 49.9% GDP in 2021 to 54.8% GDP in 2022, and it is expected to slowly decrease to 55.6% GDP in 2023 and 54.3% GDP in 2024 (IMF). Public debt is divided equally between multilateral loans, external obligations and domestic obligations and it should stabilise thanks to continued fiscal consolidation and growth (Coface). Around 20% higher than the previous one, the 2023 Budget resumed the consolidation of public finances while allocating substantial resources to critical social and security-related spending. The priorities remain the promotion of high-potential sectors such as agriculture, tourism and digital economy; the development of key transport, energy and sanitation infrastructure; the reduction of poverty and social vulnerability; and fiscal consolidation.

Despite many efforts to reduce it, the poverty rate remains as high as 38.5% according to World Bank data. In 2021, the unemployment rate in the country was estimated at 1.8% (ILO estimate). However, underemployment rate stood at more than 70%, and informal employment rate at more than 90% (World Bank).

Foreign Trade

Benin is open to foreign trade which represents 63% of its GDP (World Bank). The country is a member of various trade organizations including the World Trade Organisation and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The vast majority of its trade passes through the port of Cotonou, the capacity of which the government wants to develop.

Benin mainly exports cotton (61% of total exports), cashew nut, coconut, Brazilian nuts, shea nuts, petroleum products, cement, gold, textile products, and seafood to Bangladesh, India, China, Vietnam, Chad, Niger and Egypt. Its main imports are food products (rice, meat, frozen fish), oil products, drugs, vehicles and capital goods from India, China, France, Belgium, Togo, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. It is also quite active in re-exportation, from Nigeria mainly.

For years now, Benin has had a structural trade deficit. In 2021, the trade deficit in goods amounted to USD 888 million (WTO). This is mainly due to low exports which are largely made up of low-cost agricultural products, and the country’s heavy reliance on foreign countries for its oil and energy supply. According to WTO data, in 2021, Benin exported goods with a total value of USD 3.4 billion while it imported goods worth USD 4.3 billion. Concerning services, Benin exported USD 555 million worth of services in 2021 and imported USD 984 million worth of services (WTO). In 2022, net imports deteriorated due to the post-pandemic reduction in shortages, food and energy inflation, and the depreciation of the CFA franc against the dollar (Coface).

COVID-19 Country Response

COVID-19 epidemic evolution

To find out about the latest status of the COVID19 pandemic evolution and the most up-to-date statistics on the COVID19 disease in Benin, please visit the Beninese government platform with the official data. The platform provides a daily epidemiological update, which includes key national figures.
For the international outlook you can consult the latest situation reports published by the World Health Organisation as well as the global daily statistics on the coronavirus pandemic evolution including data on confirmed cases and deaths by country.

Sanitary measures

To find out about the latest public health situation in Benin and the current sanitary measures in vigour, please consult the Beninese government platform including the up-to-date information on the containment measures put in place and public health recommendations.

Travel restrictions

The COVID-19 situation, including the spread of new variants, evolves rapidly and differs from country to country. All travelers need to pay close attention to the conditions at their destination before traveling. Regularly updated information for all countries with regards to Covid-19 related travel restrictions in place including entry regulations, flight bans, test requirements and quarantine is available on TravelDoc Infopage.
It is also highly recommended to consult COVID-19 Travel Regulations Map provided and updated on the daily basis by IATA.
The US government website of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention provides COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination.
The UK Foreign travel advice also provides travelling abroad advice for all countries, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

Import & export restrictions

So far, no restrictions have been imposed on imports or exports in the Republic of Benin. For information on all the measures applicable to movement of goods during the period of sanitary emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak (including eventual import and export restrictions, if applicable), please consult the Beninese government platform.
For a general overview of trade restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the section dedicated to Benin on the International Trade Centre's COVID-19 Temporary Trade Measures webpage.c

Economic recovery plan

So far, no information on the economic recovery plan to deal with the consequences of the COVID19 pandemic on the Beninese economy has been published on the official websites of the Beninese government.
For a general overview of the main economic policy measures (fiscal, monetary and macroeconomic) taken by the Beninese government to limit the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the section dedicated to Benin in the IMF’s Policy Tracker platform.

Support plan for businesses

The country's official sources do not provide information on specific business support programmes following the coronavirus epidemic outbreak.
For a general overview of international SME support policies in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, please refer to the World Bank's Map of SME-Support Measures in Response to COVID-19.

Support plan for exporters

The country's government official sources do not provide information with regards to specific schemes for exporting companies following the coronavirus epidemic outbreak.