Real size
How big is Benin really?
117,000 km²
45,000 sq mi · 67th smallest of the 167 here · about the size of Honduras
Normal web maps show it about the right size
Benin covers 117,000 km² (45,000 sq mi), about the size of Honduras. It sits close to the equator, where normal web maps barely stretch land, so they show it at about its real size, and make countries farther from the equator look bigger than it.
Measured from our map outlines, so official figures can differ by a few percent. Ranks count the 167 countries and territories on these pages: those over 5,000 km², not counting disputed territories.
- Real area
- 117,000 km²
- Size rank
- 101st of 167
- On a normal web map
- About right
- Latitude
- 10°N
Countries about the same size
- HondurasAbout the same size
- MalawiAbout the same size
- BulgariaAbout the same size
- North KoreaNorth Korea is 1.1 times the size of Benin
- EritreaEritrea is 1.1 times the size of Benin
Benin through history
Borders here have moved many times. Step through our maps, from 2000 BCE to today, to see who ruled this land before, and how big their realms really were.
Open the history map →Browse the eras →
Common questions
- How big is Benin?
- Benin covers about 117,000 km² (45,000 sq mi). It is the 67th smallest of the 167 countries and territories on these pages (those over 5,000 km²).
- Do maps show Benin at the right size?
- Yes. Benin lies so close to the equator that a normal web map barely stretches it, while countries far to the north or south are drawn several times too big.
- Is Benin bigger than Iceland?
- Yes. Benin is about 1.2 times the size of Iceland.
- Is Benin bigger than Honduras?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.
- Is Benin bigger than Malawi?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.