Photo: Shubert Ciencia derivative work: JamesA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 13 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Benin: Food & Agriculture
What does a country grow, and what does it take to grow it?
Benin is placed joint 129th of 184 countries on food & agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) 3.43 (2024); Cereal Yield 1,127 (2023).
Share
Food & Agriculture
joint129th
of 184 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 3.43Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), 2024Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
- 1,127Cereal Yield, 2023Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
- 2,846Dietary Energy Supply, 2024Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
- 0.17Agriculture Orientation Index, 2024Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Benin on food & agriculture — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
3.43
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
Higher is better
Benin: 3.43. Across the 186 countries in this edition, values run from 1.67 (Tuvalu) to 4.57 (Italy); the world median is 3.14.
- World median
- 3.14
- Best in Western Africa
- 3.43 Benin
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 3 · Niger 2.29 · Nigeria 3.29 · Togo 2.86
Key 2 of 4
Cereal Yield
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
1,127
Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Higher is better
Benin: 1,127. Across the 179 countries in this edition, values run from 23 (Cabo Verde) to 29,147 (Oman); the world median is 3,072.
- World median
- 3,072
- Best in Western Africa
- 2,688 Ghana
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 1,221 · Niger 488.8 · Nigeria 1,549 · Togo 1,173
Key 3 of 4
Dietary Energy Supply
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2,846
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Higher is better
Benin: 2,846. Across the 155 countries in this edition, values run from 1,757 (Somalia) to 3,962 (United States); the world median is 2,982.
- World median
- 2,982
- Best in Western Africa
- 3,151 Ghana
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 2,826 · Niger 2,683 · Nigeria 2,444 · Togo 2,629
Key 4 of 4
Agriculture Orientation Index
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
0.17
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Higher is better
Benin: 0.17. Across the 132 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Ghana) to 5.38 (Singapore); the world median is 0.305.
- World median
- 0.305
- Best in Western Africa
- 0.45 Senegal
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 0.29 · Niger 0.09 · Nigeria 0.16 · Togo 0.17
02Over time
Which way Benin is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators · higher is better
BeninWorld median
Benin rose from 2.71 in 2015 to 3.43 in 2024; the world median went from 3.14 to 3.14.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2024 3.4 3.1 2023 3.4 3.1 2022 3.3 3.2 2021 3.4 3.1 2020 3.4 3.1 2019 3.4 3.1 2018 3.4 3.2 2017 2.7 3.1 2016 2.9 3.1 2015 2.7 3.1 Cereal Yield
Cereal yield (kg per hectare) · higher is better
BeninWorld median
Benin rose from 1,102 in 2000 to 1,127 in 2023; the world median went from 2,170 to 3,072.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2023 1,127 3,072 2022 1,362 3,217 2021 1,409 3,003 2020 1,433 3,260 2019 1,238 3,106 2018 1,429 2,883 2017 1,405 2,984 2016 1,456 3,043 2015 1,337 3,000 2014 1,460 3,001 2013 1,480 2,970 2012 1,373 2,782 2011 1,518 2,754 2010 1,201 2,647 2009 1,424 2,653 2008 1,159 2,664 2007 1,286 2,553 2006 1,191 2,514 2005 1,136 2,512 2004 1,146 2,428 2003 1,149 2,331 2002 1,131 2,378 2001 1,069 2,199 2000 1,102 2,170 Dietary Energy Supply
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) · higher is better
BeninWorld median
Benin rose from 2,431 in 2001 to 2,846 in 2024; the world median went from 2,628 to 2,982.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2024 2,846 2,982.0 2023 2,814 2,969.0 2022 2,783 2,962.5 2021 2,759 2,967.0 2020 2,726 2,934.0 2019 2,687 2,912.5 2018 2,651 2,893.0 2017 2,627 2,886.0 2016 2,619 2,863.0 2015 2,615 2,835.0 2014 2,611 2,844.0 2013 2,610 2,856.0 2012 2,600 2,838.0 2011 2,588 2,827.5 2010 2,574 2,808.0 2009 2,559 2,818.0 2008 2,546 2,811.0 2007 2,534 2,810.5 2006 2,522 2,772.0 2005 2,510 2,740.5 2004 2,498 2,712.5 2003 2,501 2,685.0 2002 2,477 2,667.0 2001 2,431 2,628.0 Agriculture Orientation Index
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) · higher is better
BeninWorld median
Benin rose from 0.16 in 2001 to 0.17 in 2024; the world median went from 0.36 to 0.305.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2024 0.17 0.305 2023 0.15 0.305 2022 0.15 0.290 2021 0.12 0.260 2020 0.19 0.255 2019 0.12 0.265 2018 0.14 0.270 2017 0.15 0.260 2016 0.14 0.285 2015 0.16 0.305 2014 0.15 0.300 2013 0.16 0.285 2012 0.16 0.330 2011 0.16 0.290 2010 0.16 0.320 2009 0.15 0.370 2008 0.15 0.390 2007 0.15 0.410 2006 0.15 0.355 2005 0.15 0.325 2004 0.15 0.320 2003 0.17 0.320 2002 0.16 0.340 2001 0.16 0.360
03In context
Benin beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 184 countries on food & agriculture, never a place within the region.
Benin and the countries it borders
Standing among all 184; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators | Cereal YieldCereal yield (kg per hectare) | Dietary Energy SupplyDietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) | Agriculture Orientation IndexAgriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | =129th | 3.43 | 1,127 | 2,846 | 0.17 |
 Burkina Faso | 131st | 3 | 1,221 | 2,826 | 0.29 |
 Nigeria | 143rd | 3.29 | 1,549 | 2,444 | 0.16 |
 Togo | =151st | 2.86 | 1,173 | 2,629 | 0.17 |
 Niger | 173rd | 2.29 | 488.8 | 2,683 | 0.09 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 184.
Placed either side on food & agriculture
The countries immediately above and below Benin in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Benin is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under food & agriculture, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Benin does better than the middle country measured.
Per Capita Food Supply VariabilityFAO · 2024 · world median 291129▼ Worsened since 2014
Benin: 11 · world median 29 · Year-to-year variability of the food supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4 to 227; lower is better.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06140.91107.06▲ Improved since 2012
Benin: 140.91 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 20th of 194 · derived.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23128.14106.23▲ Improved since 2012
Benin: 128.14 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 27th of 195 · derived.
Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to LandFAO · 2025 · world median 353No earlier reading
Benin: 5 · world median 3 · Level of legal guarantees of women's equal rights to land ownership and control, 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 6; higher is better.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08126.25106.08▲ Improved since 2012
Benin: 126.25 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 195 · derived.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5651.381.565▼ Worsened since 2013
Benin: 1.38 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 107th of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
Organic Agricultural AreaFAO · 2024 · world median 0.7250.890.725▲ Improved since 2014
Benin: 0.89 · world median 0.725 · Organic share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 86.38; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 150 · derived.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which Benin does worse than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.214.35.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Benin: 14.3 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 40th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 4.913.14.9▼ Worsened since 2015
Benin: 13.1 · world median 4.9 · Population in severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 62.9; lower is better.
Position 29th of 119 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7421,9946,742No real change since 2015
Benin: 1,994 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 118th of 151 · derived.
No better end14
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.57222.926.572Moved since 2015
Benin: 22.92 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 23rd of 158 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.2510.109Moved since 2013
Benin: 0.251 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 37th of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3840.2414.38No real change since 2015
Benin: 40.24 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 39th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,2782,429,628689,278Moved since 2013
Benin: 2,429,628 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 49th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9641.8337.96Moved since 2013
Benin: 41.83 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 92nd of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,37564,02152,375Moved since 2014
Benin: 64,021 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.061.73Moved since 2014
Benin: 2.06 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 85th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.480.535Moved since 2013
Benin: 0.48 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 102nd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,6356,8368,635Moved since 2013
Benin: 6,836 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 111th of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.3633.1787.36Moved since 2013
Benin: 33.17 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 132nd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · 2023 · world median 3.661.1443.66No earlier reading
Benin: 1.144 · world median 3.66 · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 89.04.
Position 86th of 121 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.1425.2162.14No real change since 2012
Benin: 25.21 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 128th of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Women's Share of Agricultural LandownersFAO · 2025 · world median 25.6415.525.64No earlier reading
Benin: 15.5 · world median 25.64 · Women's share of owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.16 to 57.8.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.6310.4437.63Moved since 2013
Benin: 10.44 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
No current reading for Benin
Cereal Import Dependency Ratio (last 2008), Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Global Report on Food Crises, Meat Supply per Person, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers (last 2008) and Vegetable Supply per Person. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Food & Agriculture among Benin’s 16 topics
Food & Agriculture is Benin’s 10th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability20th of 1864/4 keys
- Gender & Equality70th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour70th of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Security69th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions89th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology96th of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties111th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 126th of 1934/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade123rd of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 129th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality112th of 1593/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation124th of 1764/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge162nd of 1984/4 keys
- Energy147th of 1653/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing183rd of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital186th of 1963/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on food & agriculture
The three countries placed highest of 184, and the leaders Benin can most readily be measured against.
1
SerbiaSouthern Europe
1st of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
AustriaWestern Europe
2nd of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 184 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles31st2/4 keysHighest in Western Africa
Senegal98th4/4 keysThis page
Benin=129th4/4 keys
Positions out of 184 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Benin on food & agriculture: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Benin rank on food & agriculture?
Benin is placed joint 129th of 184 countries on Food & Agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Cereal Yield, Dietary Energy Supply and Agriculture Orientation Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) figure for Benin?
3.43 in 2024 (current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3.14.
What is the latest Cereal Yield figure for Benin?
1,127 in 2023 (cereal yield (kg per hectare)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3,072.
How does Benin compare with Nigeria on food & agriculture?
Nigeria is placed 143rd of 184, and Benin joint 129th. Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy): Nigeria 3.29, Benin 3.43; Cereal Yield: Nigeria 1,549, Benin 1,127; Dietary Energy Supply: Nigeria 2,444, Benin 2,846; Agriculture Orientation Index: Nigeria 0.16, Benin 0.17.
How have Benin’s food & agriculture figures changed?
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) rose from 2.71 in 2015 to 3.43 in 2024; Cereal Yield rose from 1,102 in 2000 to 1,127 in 2023; Dietary Energy Supply rose from 2,431 in 2001 to 2,846 in 2024; Agriculture Orientation Index rose from 0.16 in 2001 to 0.17 in 2024.
Which food & agriculture statistics are missing for Benin?
No current reading is published for Benin on Cereal Import Dependency Ratio, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Global Report on Food Crises, Meat Supply per Person, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers and Vegetable Supply per Person. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This subject is about production and land use, not about whether people are fed. Hunger, undernourishment and what a population actually eats are measured under Health & Wellbeing, and the two regularly disagree — a country can grow a great deal and still leave many people short, and one that grows little can be well fed by trade. The wider environmental cost of farming — emissions, water withdrawal, forest cover — is filed under Environment & Sustainability.
How the Food & Agriculture standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The food & agriculture method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Cereal Yield — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Dietary Energy Supply — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Agriculture Orientation Index — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 3 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Benin’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Benin (banner) — Shubert Ciencia derivative work: JamesA, CC BY 2.0
- Serbia — Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Benin: Food & Agriculture — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/benin/food