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Economy of Benin vs Ivory Coast compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Benin has a GDP of $24.6B compared to $99.8B for Ivory Coast, ranking 124/197 and 77/197 by economy size, respectively.

Benin has $14.1B in government debt (57.3% of GDP), compared to $56.2B (56.3% of GDP) in Ivory Coast.

Benin vs Ivory Coast GDP by year

Benin
Ivory Coast
1x
Year GDP, current $
Benin Ivory Coast
2025 $24,566,420,904 $99,773,555,666
2024 $21,482,643,706 $87,113,179,149
2023 $19,673,291,004 $80,780,312,569
2022 $17,425,405,091 $70,922,824,814
2021 $17,687,623,530 $72,794,636,654
2020 $15,686,741,884 $63,027,852,805
2019 $14,391,686,313 $60,382,894,697
2018 $14,262,408,090 $58,522,477,787
2017 $12,701,655,837 $52,512,343,997
2016 $11,821,065,853 $48,407,761,037
2015 $11,388,160,997 $45,815,005,169
2014 $13,284,527,847 $48,843,005,614
2013 $12,517,845,124 $42,760,235,485
2012 $11,141,358,116 $36,302,302,877
2011 $10,693,321,364 $36,693,710,801
2010 $9,535,345,016 $34,936,307,980
2009 $9,738,626,517 $33,886,813,250
2008 $9,787,734,526 $34,078,240,293
2007 $8,169,048,383 $28,760,090,953
2006 $7,034,111,315 $25,281,413,263
2005 $6,567,654,954 $24,036,918,703
2004 $6,190,270,380 $23,510,575,681
2003 $5,349,258,094 $21,251,754,340
2002 $4,194,342,686 $18,054,383,321
2001 $3,666,222,635 $16,810,537,044
2000 $3,519,991,440 $16,577,533,892
1999 $3,677,393,999 $18,870,992,456
1998 $2,455,092,686 $19,619,654,756
1997 $2,268,301,646 $18,047,558,038
1996 $2,361,116,449 $18,071,152,831
1995 $2,169,627,138 $11,000,146,267
1994 $1,598,075,944 $8,313,557,510
1993 $2,274,558,083 $11,045,760,288
1992 $1,695,315,306 $11,152,971,274
1991 $1,986,437,797 $10,492,628,581
1990 $1,959,965,330 $10,795,850,583
1989 $1,502,294,416 $9,757,410,645
1988 $1,620,246,084 $10,255,169,806
1987 $1,562,412,228 $10,087,654,465
1986 $1,336,102,025 $9,158,302,100
1985 $1,045,712,789 $6,977,650,644
1984 $1,051,134,009 $6,841,639,247
1983 $1,095,348,199 $6,838,184,773
1982 $1,267,778,670 $7,567,110,849
1981 $1,291,120,188 $8,432,589,942
1980 $1,405,251,847 $10,175,617,609
1979 $1,186,231,020 $9,142,933,967
1978 $928,843,469 $7,900,526,298
1977 $750,049,779 $6,265,068,189
1976 $698,408,262 $4,662,053,825
1975 $676,870,140 $3,893,839,190
1974 $554,654,861 $3,070,152,309
1973 $504,376,074 $2,508,421,426
1972 $410,331,857 $1,849,400,402
1971 $335,073,028 $1,584,128,509
1970 $333,627,713 $1,455,482,795
1969 $330,748,245 $1,361,360,293
1968 $326,323,105 $1,281,281,277
1967 $306,221,953 $1,082,922,725
1966 $302,925,235 $1,024,102,880
1965 $289,908,680 $919,771,229
1964 $269,819,006 $921,063,327
1963 $253,927,697 $761,047,198
1962 $236,434,954 $645,284,474
1961 $235,668,221 $618,245,634
1960 $226,195,578 $546,203,559

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

GDP per capita in Benin vs Ivory Coast by year

Benin
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ivory Coast
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Benin Ivory Coast
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,658 - $3,050 -
2024 $1,485 $4,435 $2,728 $7,669
2023 $1,394 $4,130 $2,592 $7,237
2022 $1,266 $3,844 $2,333 $6,719
2021 $1,319 $3,464 $2,456 $6,045
2020 $1,200 $3,245 $2,180 $5,544
2019 $1,131 $3,149 $2,142 $5,516
2018 $1,152 $2,965 $2,131 $4,946
2017 $1,055 $2,886 $1,964 $4,690
2016 $1,011 $2,842 $1,863 $4,531
2015 $1,002 $2,725 $1,815 $4,404
2014 $1,204 $2,670 $1,991 $4,074
2013 $1,169 $2,512 $1,786 $3,619
2012 $1,072 $2,346 $1,547 $3,291
2011 $1,059 $2,265 $1,597 $3,176
2010 $973 $2,220 $1,554 $3,361
2009 $1,024 $2,213 $1,540 $3,177
2008 $1,061 $2,215 $1,584 $3,116
2007 $912 $2,136 $1,368 $2,985
2006 $809 $2,021 $1,230 $2,942
2005 $779 $1,946 $1,198 $2,842
2004 $759 $1,915 $1,200 $2,794
2003 $676 $1,842 $1,111 $2,702
2002 $546 $1,800 $968 $2,851
2001 $492 $1,746 $925 $2,962
2000 $487 $1,671 $937 $3,041
1999 $525 $1,592 $1,096 $3,065
1998 $362 $1,537 $1,177 $3,086
1997 $345 $1,508 $1,125 $3,040
1996 $369 $1,444 $1,170 $2,832
1995 $348 $1,395 $740 $2,683
1994 $262.1 $1,316 $582 $2,551
1993 $387 $1,311 $804 $2,577
1992 $302 $1,265 $845 $2,625
1991 $365 $1,239 $827 $2,677
1990 $371 $1,186 $886 $2,693
1989 $293.3 - $833 -
1988 $326 - $910 -
1987 $324 - $930 -
1986 $285.8 - $877 -
1985 $230.4 - $695 -
1984 $238.6 - $709 -
1983 $256 - $737 -
1982 $305 - $849 -
1981 $320 - $986 -
1980 $358 - $1,238 -
1979 $311 - $1,157 -
1978 $249.8 - $1,039 -
1977 $207 - $856 -
1976 $197.7 - $661 -
1975 $196.5 - $575 -
1974 $164.9 - $474 -
1973 $153.6 - $406 -
1972 $127.9 - $313 -
1971 $106.9 - $280.3 -
1970 $108.8 - $269 -
1969 $110.3 - $262.2 -
1968 $111.2 - $256.8 -
1967 $106.6 - $225.6 -
1966 $107.6 - $221.8 -
1965 $105.1 - $207 -
1964 $99.8 - $215.5 -
1963 $95.7 - $185.1 -
1962 $90.8 - $163.1 -
1961 $92.1 - $162.3 -
1960 $89.9 - $148.7 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

Benin's GDP per capita is $1,658, ranking 162/197, compared to $3,050 in Ivory Coast, ranking 145/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Benin ranks 162nd at $4,435, while Ivory Coast ranks 145th at $7,669.

Economic indicators

Benin Ivory Coast
Gross domestic product
$24.6B
2025
$99.8B
2025
GDP rank
124/197
2025
77/197
2025
GDP growth
8.07%
2024-2025
6.5%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$1,658
2025
$3,050
2025
GDP per capita rank
162/197
2025
145/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,435
2024
$7,669
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
162/197
2024
145/197
2024
Government debt
$14.1B
2025
$56.2B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.3%
2025
56.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$950
2025
$1,718
2025
Government debt per person rank
145/185
2025
124/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,056
2026
$2,667
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.33B
2020
Income share by richest 10%
27.2%
2021
27.8%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2021
3.1%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.5%
2025
20.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.1%
2024-2025
0.13%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
1.69%
2022
2.31%
2022
Population
15358725
33910252

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Benin
Spending

Debt
Ivory Coast
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Benin Ivory Coast
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 18.5% 57.3% 20.2% 56.3%
2024 18.2% 60.5% 20.4% 59.5%
2023 19.3% 61.3% 21% 56.7%
2022 20% 59.7% 21.9% 56%
2021 20% 55.6% 20.5% 50.2%
2020 19.1% 46.1% 20.4% 46.3%
2019 14.3% 40.4% 17.2% 37.2%
2018 16.5% 40.8% 17.6% 35.3%
2017 17.7% 39.4% 18.1% 32.6%
2016 15.4% 35.9% 17.6% 31.1%
2015 18.2% 30.9% 16.5% 29.2%
2014 14.2% 22.3% 15.2% 26.7%
2013 14.9% 18.5% 15.9% 24.6%
2012 14.2% 19.5% 16.1% 24.7%
2011 14.7% 21.9% 13.2% 50%
2010 14.1% 21% 14.5% 45.6%
2009 17% 18.7% 14.4% 46.5%
2008 14.5% 18.3% 14.6% 51.2%
2007 15.8% 14.3% 14.8% 53.5%
2006 13% 8.37% 14.5% 57.5%
2005 14.1% 27% 13.6% 58.2%
2004 13.4% 21.5% 13.5% 56.7%
2003 13.7% 23.4% 12.7% 56.4%
2002 15.3% 30.8% 13.1% 63%
2001 15.4% 38% 11.4% 71.2%
2000 15.6% 39.6% 12.9% 74%
1999 10.7% 39.4% 13.7% 78%
1998 14.9% 53.6% 14.6% 75.2%
1997 17.3% 42.9% 15.2% 84.2%
1996 18.2% 43.4% - -
1995 20.2% 48.3% - -
1994 18.5% 64.6% - -
1993 16.4% 41.9% - -
1992 18.4% 41.8% - -
1991 17.2% 44% - -
1990 18.1% 45.3% - -
1989 17.1% 50.3% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

In 2025, Benin's government spending was $4.54B, accounting for 18.5% of its GDP, while Ivory Coast spent $20.1B, or 20.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.3% in Benin and 56.3% in Ivory Coast, ranking 83/185 and 85/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Benin

Ivory Coast
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Benin Ivory Coast
2025 -2.9% -3%
2024 -3.06% -3.96%
2023 -4.13% -5.12%
2022 -5.55% -6.74%
2021 -2.53% -4.88%
2020 -4.68% -5.42%
2019 -0.53% -2.22%
2018 -2.96% -2.9%
2017 -4.18% -3.27%
2016 -4.29% -2.98%
2015 -5.55% -2.04%
2014 -1.65% -1.57%
2013 -1.37% -1.62%
2012 -0.22% -2.28%
2011 -0.98% -2.89%
2010 -0.28% -1.34%
2009 -2.24% -1%
2008 -0.04% -0.21%
2007 0.22% -0.39%
2006 -0.15% -1.03%
2005 -1.52% -1.03%
2004 -0.7% -1.04%
2003 -1.07% -1.26%
2002 -3.33% -0.64%
2001 -3.27% 0.7%
2000 -3.69% -0.83%
1999 1.94% -1.27%
1998 2.5% -0.7%
1997 0.64% -0.75%
1996 -0.15% -
1995 -2.61% -
1994 -2.14% -
1993 -0.56% -
1992 -2.71% -
1991 -3.08% -
1990 -3.24% -
1989 0.89% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

In 2025, Benin's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $712M, equivalent to 2.9% of GDP. This compares to Ivory Coast's deficit of $3B, or 3% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Benin recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while Ivory Coast ran a deficit in 28 years. On average, Benin posted an annual deficit equal to 1.92% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.13% of GDP for Ivory Coast.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Benin

Ivory Coast
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Benin Ivory Coast
2025 1.1% 0.13%
2024 1.2% 3.45%
2023 2.7% 4.37%
2022 1.4% 5.23%
2021 1.7% 4.16%
2020 3% 2.41%
2019 -0.9% 0.79%
2018 0.8% 0.4%
2017 1.8% 0.69%
2016 -0.8% 0.72%
2015 0.2% 1.25%
2014 -0.6% 0.45%
2013 0.4% 2.58%
2012 6.7% 1.3%
2011 2.7% 4.91%
2010 2.1% 1.23%
2009 0.9% 1.02%
2008 7.4% 6.31%
2007 1.3% 1.89%
2006 3.8% 2.47%
2005 5.4% 3.89%
2004 0.9% 1.46%
2003 1.5% 3.3%
2002 2.4% 3.08%
2001 4% 4.36%
2000 4.2% 2.53%
1999 0.3% 0.7%
1998 5.8% 4.61%
1997 3.8% 4.02%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Benin has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.25%, compared with 2.54% in Ivory Coast. In 2025, inflation was 1.1% in Benin and 0.13% in Ivory Coast.

Top exports between countries

Benin
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $9.11M
Machinery & equipment $6.84M
Raw materials & minerals $1.14M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.04M
Wood & paper products $1.01M
Raw agricultural goods $410K
Chemicals & pharma $267K
Animal & marine products $164K
Metals $128K
Precious metals & jewellery $6K
Ivory Coast
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $43.1M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $17.2M
Machinery & equipment $11.1M
Raw materials & minerals $8.09M
Textiles & consumer goods $7.67M
Wood & paper products $2.67M
Metals $2.47M
Raw agricultural goods $315K
Miscellaneous $42K
Animal & marine products $17K

Balance of trade

Benin Ivory Coast
Current account balance
-$1.61B
2023
-$3.89B
2024
Current account balance ranking
132/190
2023
156/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.18%
2023
-4.47%
2024
Goods imports
$4.65B
2023
$15.3B
2024
Goods exports
$4.05B
2023
$20.8B
2024
Service imports
$1.54B
2023
$6.63B
2024
Service exports
$461M
2023
$1.22B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.1%
2025
24.8%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.1%
2025
29.8%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Benin Ivory Coast
Economic freedom 60 58.1
Economic freedom ranking 96/197 111/197
Property rights 46.4 43.9
Government integrity 44.1 39.3
Judicial effectiveness 47.7 30.2
Tax burden 69.4 81.6
Government spending 89.1 86.6
Fiscal health 65.4 48
Business freedom 53.3 68.3
Labor freedom 60.2 57.1
Monetary freedom 82.1 67.6
Trade freedom 62.6 74.4
Investment freedom 50 50
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Benin
Ivory Coast
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Benin Ivory Coast
2026 60 58.1
2025 58.5 57.8
2024 57.7 58.4
2023 59.8 60.4
2022 61 61.6
2021 59.6 61.7
2020 55.2 59.7
2019 55.3 62.4
2018 56.7 62
2017 59.2 63
2016 59.3 60
2015 58.8 58.5
2014 57.1 57.7
2013 57.6 54.1
2012 55.7 54.3
2011 56 55.4
2010 55.4 54.1
2009 55.4 55
2008 55.2 53.9
2007 55.1 54.9
2006 54 56.2
2005 52.3 56.6
2004 54.6 57.8
2003 54.9 56.7
2002 57.3 57.3
2001 60.1 54.8
2000 61.5 50.2
1999 60.6 51.7
1998 61.7 51.3
1997 61.3 50.5
1996 54.5 49.9
1995 - 53.4

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Benin is 60, ranking 96/197, compared to 58.1 for Ivory Coast, ranking 111/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Benin Ivory Coast
Services, % of GDP
50.1%
2025
51.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
17.5%
2025
23.9%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
22.9%
2025
16.8%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$23.7B
2025
$91B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$4,760
2025
$7,750
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$430M
2023
-$2.89B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$543M
2024
$3.12B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$60.3M
2024
$228M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.38%
2024
6.47%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
36.2%
2021
37.5%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
35.8%
2025
19.3%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/benin/ivory-coast | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1997, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.