Flag of Benin
The current flag of Benin has been adopted for the first time in 1960, when the country achieved independence from France. The flag consists of three stripes - two horizontal ones in yellow and red colors and one vertical green on the left side of the flag. These colors are traditional Pan-African colors, where green represents hope, yellow symbolizes wealth and red stands for courage and the bloodshed during the struggles for independence. These colors emphasize the solidarity with the other African nations. In 1975, Marxist government came to power in Benin and the country was renamed to the Republic of Dahomey. In these times, a green flag with a red star in the upper left corner was used. After the fall of the regime in 1990, the previous flag has been readopted.
Country information
| Sovereign State | Yes |
|---|---|
| Country codes | BJ, BEN (ISO 3166-1) |
| Official name | Republic of Benin |
| Capital city | Porto-Novo |
| Continent | Africa |
| Member of | United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation |
| Population | 11 733 059 (2019) |
| Total area | 114 763 km2 |
| Highest point | Mont Sokbaro (658 m, 2 159 ft) |
| Lowest point | Bight of Benin |
| GDP per capita | $ 902 (World Bank, 2018) |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (Fr, XOF) |
| Calling code | +229 |
| Internet TLD | .bj |
