The main source of income in Benin comes from a combination of agriculture, trade (especially re-export), and services. Here’s a breakdown of the country’s top income sources as of 2025:
🇧🇯 1. Agriculture – The Backbone of the Economy
- Contributes over 25% to GDP
- Employs about 70% of the workforce
- Top crops:
- Cotton (Benin’s largest export)
- Cashew nuts
- Maize, cassava, yams, and pineapple
➡ Cotton alone accounts for over 40% of export earnings, making it Benin’s most important cash crop.
⚓ 2. Re-export Trade through the Port of Cotonou
- Benin imports goods (especially used vehicles, rice, clothing, electronics) and re-exports them to Nigeria, Niger, and other landlocked neighbors.
- The Port of Cotonou is a vital regional trade hub.
➡ This sector drives customs revenues, foreign exchange inflows, and jobs in logistics and transport.
🏙️ 3. Services Sector
- Includes transport, banking, retail, tourism, and telecom.
- Rapidly growing, especially with digital transformation and urbanization.
➡ In 2025, the services sector contributes more than 45% to GDP, though it’s mostly informal.
🏗️ 4. Construction & Real Estate
- Infrastructure development funded by government and international lenders
- Urban housing demand is rising sharply, especially in Cotonou and Parakou
📉 What about Oil or Mining?
- Benin has very limited oil or mineral resources.
- Unlike Nigeria or Ghana, it doesn’t rely on extractive industries.
💡 Summary: Benin’s Main Sources of Income (2025)
| Sector | Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | ~25% of GDP | Cotton is key export |
| Trade & Re-export | Major forex earner | Driven by Port of Cotonou |
| Services | ~45% of GDP | Mostly informal, growing fast |
| Construction & Real Estate | Growing | Urbanization + public projects |
Would you like a visual chart, a sector-by-sector export breakdown, or insights into which sectors are attracting the most foreign investment?
