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|common_name = Benin |image_flag = Flag of Benin.svg |image_coat = Coat of arms of Benin.svg |image_map = Location Benin AU Africa.svg |map_caption = |image_map2 = |national_motto = |national_anthem = |official_languages = French |languages_type = Vernacular languages |languages = |demonym = |ethnic_groups = |ethnic_groups_year = 2002 |capital = Porto-Novoa |largest_city = Cotonou |government_type = |leader_title1 = President |leader_name1 = Yayi Boni |leader_title2 = Prime Minister |leader_name2 = Lionel Zinsou |legislature = National Assembly |sovereignty_type = Independence |established_event1 = from France |established_date1 = 1 August 1960 |area_rank = 101st |area_magnitude = 1 E11 |area_km2 = 114,763 |area_sq_mi = 43,484 |percent_water = 0.02% |population_estimate = 10,323,000 |population_estimate_rank= 85th |population_estimate_year= July 2013 |population_census = 9,983,884 |population_census_year = 2013 |population_density_km2 = 78.1 |population_density_sq_mi= 202.2 |population_density_rank = 120th |GDP_PPP = $15.586 billion〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Benin )〕 |GDP_PPP_rank = |GDP_PPP_year = 2012 |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,666〔 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |GDP_nominal = $7.429 billion〔 |GDP_nominal_year = 2012 |GDP_nominal_per_capita = $794〔 |Gini_year = 2003 |Gini_change = |Gini = 36.5 |Gini_ref = |Gini_rank = |HDI_year = 2013 |HDI_change = steady |HDI = 0.476 |HDI_ref = |HDI_rank = 165th |currency = West African CFA franc |currency_code = XOF |country_code = |time_zone = WAT |utc_offset = +1 |time_zone_DST = not observed |utc_offset_DST = +1 |drives_on = right |calling_code = +229 |cctld = .bj |footnote_a = Cotonou is the seat of government. }} Benin ( or ; (フランス語:Bénin)), officially the Republic of Benin ((フランス語:République du Bénin)) and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of approximately 115,000 square kilometers (42,000 sq mi), with a population of approximately 9.98 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.〔("Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations" ). United Nations, 29 June 2010〕 The official language of Benin is French. However, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and Protestantism. Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.〔("Benin – International Cooperation" ). Nation Encyclopedia (29 June 2010)〕 From the 17th to the 19th century, the main political entities in the area were the Kingdom of Dahomey along with the city-state of Porto-Novo and a large area with many different tribes to the north. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast from as early as the 17th century due to the large number of slaves shipped to the New World during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. After slavery was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France, and had a tumultuous period with many different democratic governments, many military coups and military governments. A Marxist–Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the current multi-party Republic of Benin.〔Ibp Usa. Global Logistics Assessments Reports Handbook: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries, p. 85. Int'l Business Publications, 2008. ISBN 0-7397-6603-1〕 ==Etymology== During the colonial period and at independence, the country was known as Dahomey. On 30 November 1975 it was renamed to Benin, after the body of water on which the country lies—the Bight of Benin—which, in turn, had been named after the Benin Empire. The country of Benin has no connection to Benin City in modern Nigeria, nor to the Benin bronzes. The new name, Benin, was chosen for its neutrality. Dahomey was the name of the former Kingdom of Dahomey, which covered only most of the southern third of the present country and therefore did not represent Porto-Novo (a rival state in the south), the northwestern sector Atakora, nor the kingdom of Borgu, which covered the northeastern third. ==History== (詳細はウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Benin」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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