Country of the World Benin

About the country Benin, its location, size, population, leaders and rulers.

NATIONS AND THEIR RULER

BENIN

NITTY-GRITTY

Lay of the Land: In southern West Africa, this drumstick-shaped nation rises from the palm tree beaches on the gulf to the rugged foothills of the Atakora Mountains in the north.

Size: 43,483 sq. mi. (112,620 sq. km.), about the size of Tennessee.

Population: 3.4 million.

Who Rules: No civil organs of government have operated since the military coup of Oct. 26, 1972.

Who REALLY Rules: The National Council of the Revolution, a coalition of military brass and civilians, under the strong leadership of Lt. Col. Mathieu Kerecou, who engineered the 1972 coup. The chief aim of the Marxist military regime is to rid Benin of foreign influence and to "maintain stability."