“Benin shall love the LORD their God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their strength!”
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.(Deuteronomy 6:5,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Africa
Population | 13.75 million
Area | 112,622㎢, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, bordered by Nigeria to the east and Togo to the west.
Capital City | Porto-Novo (285,000 people) / Abomeykalabi (1.25 million people)
People Groups | Total 63 Groups, Fon 38.4%, Aja 15.1%, Yoruba 12%, Bariba 9.6%, Fulani 8.6%, Ottamari 6.1%, Ewm 4.3%, Dassa 2.9%, others 0.9%, Foreigners 1.9%
People Groups Unreached | 13 (18.7% of the population)
Official Language(s) | French, Fon
Total Languages | 61
Bible Translations | Completed 20, New Testament 14, Partial 8
Religion | Christianity 31.6% (Protestantism 5%, Catholicism 18.9%), Ethnic religions 37.7% Islam 30.2% Evangelicals 7.5% (920,000 people)
》 About Benin
Benin became a French colony in 1894 and gained independence in 1960, embarking on a path of steady political development. However, in 1972, Mathieu Kérékou led a military coup and seized power. In 1990, Kérékou renounced Marxism-Leninism and stepped down as head of state. In 1991, Nicéphore Soglo was elected president in the country’s first multi-party election. Kérékou later returned to power in the 1996 and 2001 elections. Patrice Talon, elected in 2016, currently serves as both president and prime minister and secured a second term in 2021.
Benin’s economy relies primarily on agriculture, with cotton and corn as key crops. Due to its limited natural resources and technological capabilities, it remains one of the world’s poorest nations. Its economy is heavily influenced by trade with Nigeria, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices. However, electricity production, which had long constrained economic growth, has improved, significantly reducing power outages. Private foreign direct investment remains limited, with foreign aid playing a major role in infrastructure development. Over 38% of the population lives below the poverty line, and tragically, many parents resort to selling their children into slavery in Nigeria.
Benin’s GDP per capita is approximately $3,300.
》 Scripture Focus
| Deuteronomy 6:1-5(NIV) 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. |
》 Prayer Points
1. The evangelical church in Benin has grown significantly, from 50,000 believers in 1980 to 920,000 in 2022. However, many still struggle to abandon occult practices, leading to widespread syncretism. Let us pray for the rise of faithful pastors who will guide the growing church in Benin toward Jesus with sound biblical teaching. In a nation where pastoral and evangelistic activities are allowed, ministries in education, healthcare, and development are bearing much fruit.
Despite young people under the age of 24 making up 66% of the population, there are very few ministries dedicated to them. Let us pray for the establishment of holistic ministries that will strengthen the faith and well-being of the next generation. May they grow to love God with all their heart, mind, and strength, and may they become blessings upon Benin and the nations.
2. Human trafficking is a severe issue in Benin, where 45% of the population is under the age of 14. Tens of thousands of children are reportedly trafficked to Nigeria and the Republic of Congo by international criminal organizations. Let us pray for the eradication of human trafficking networks and that Benin will learn to fear God, the Giver of Life, and uphold the dignity and protection of children.
3. Approximately 12% of the population practices Vodun, a form of voodoo. This belief system saw a resurgence in the 1990s after the French colonial period and communist rule, and it is now even followed by the country’s president. Many tourists visit Benin to witness Vodun rituals and festivals. The Fon people, Benin’s largest ethnic group, numbering 2.41 million, are particularly influenced by Vodun. Let us pray that they will hear the gospel and receive true salvation in Christ. Additionally, let us pray for rapid progress in literacy education and Bible translation for the unreached people groups who still lack access to the Scriptures so that the gospel may be spread effectively throughout the nation.
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