Governments / Countries / Benin
How is Benin governed?
Benin is a presidential republic. The president is both head of state and head of government. Real power sits with the president.
Recently changed or contested. A Senate was created by the late-2025 constitutional revision; verify that it is seated.
Questions people ask
- Is Benin a monarchy or a republic?
- Benin is a republic (presidential republic).
- Who really rules Benin?
- The president holds the real executive power. Head of state: President. Head of government: President. They are the same office.
- How is the head of state of Benin chosen?
- Direct popular vote.
- Does Benin have a king?
- No. Benin has no monarch.
- Is Benin a federation?
- No. It is a centralised unitary state.
- How many chambers does the parliament of Benin have?
- Two chambers: National Assembly (109 seats) and Senate.
Parliament: National Assembly + Senate
Benin's legislature has two chambers, 109 seats in all. Each dot is one seat; party seat counts are on IPU Parline.
Seat total varies or is not fixed