BENIN · ECONOMY
Key Facts
- —The country Benin is a West African coastal state between Nigeria and Togo, led by President Romuald Wadagni, and its Port of Cotonou is the main trade gateway.
- —What happened The Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World 2026 report, released on 6 October, places Benin 11th in Africa, La Nouvelle Tribune reported on 21 October.
- —World rank Benin is 99th of 165 countries, one place lower than the 98th it held a year earlier, while its African rank rose from 12th.
- —Africa’s leader Mauritius is the freest African economy, ranked 9th in the world with a score of 7.97 out of 10.
- —The top of the table Hong Kong ranks first with 8.53 out of 10, followed by Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States.
- —The method The index uses 46 indicators in five areas, each scored from 0 to 10, with data for 2024.
- —Still open Benin’s own score and the area that cost it a place in the world table.
Benin ranks 11th among African countries for economic freedom in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, La Nouvelle Tribune reported on Wednesday 21 October 2026. The country is 99th of 165 worldwide, one place lower than a year earlier.
For US investors, the ranking is a quick read on how open a fast-growing West African economy is to private business. It places Benin in the middle of the African table, behind Kenya, South Africa and Morocco.
What the Fraser Institute Report Found
The Fraser Institute is a Canadian think tank that promotes free markets, and it publishes Economic Freedom of the World every year. The 2026 edition came out on 6 October and ranks 165 countries using data for 2024.
Hong Kong ranks first with a score of 8.53 out of 10, followed by Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States. The United Kingdom is tenth, according to The Standard, a Hong Kong newspaper that covered the release.
How Benin Compares Across Africa
La Nouvelle Tribune puts Benin 11th in Africa and 99th in the world, after 12th in Africa and 98th in the world in 2025. The country gained one place on the continent but lost one in the global table.
Mauritius leads Africa in 9th place worldwide with 7.97 out of 10. Kenya and South Africa rank 8th and 9th in Africa, ahead of Benin, while Senegal is 12th and Namibia 13th.
The same list places Seychelles 35th in the world, Cabo Verde 42nd, Gambia 68th and Botswana 70th. Rwanda is 76th, Uganda 78th, Kenya 85th, South Africa 87th and Morocco 91st, all ahead of Benin.
What the Score Measures
The index uses 46 indicators grouped into five areas, including the size of government, property rights, sound money, trade freedom and regulation. Each indicator is scored from 0 to 10, and a higher score means more economic freedom.
La Nouvelle Tribune credits two government action programmes, covering 2016 to 2021 and 2021 to 2026, for work on public finances and the business climate. Patrice Talon launched them as president in 2016, and his successor Romuald Wadagni now leads the government.
Benin Among Its West African Neighbours
Within West Africa, Cabo Verde ranks 42nd in the world and Gambia 68th, both well ahead of Benin at 99th. Senegal sits one place behind Benin on the African list, at 12th.
Benin is a coastal state of the West African region, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Nigeria in the east. A mid-table result puts it in the same group as several fast-growing neighbours that are trying to attract private capital.
Benin’s Economy Behind the Ranking
The International Monetary Fund expects Benin to grow 7% in 2026 after 8.1% in 2025, as our report on the forecast described. The government’s 2027 spending plan, covered in our budget report, sets a deficit target of 2.8% of output.
Benin uses the CFA franc, a currency pegged to the euro, so its value against the dollar moves with the euro. The Port of Cotonou is the main trade gateway for Benin and for landlocked northern neighbours.
Why Investors Watch the Index
The Fraser Institute has published the index for decades, and fund managers and trade groups use it as a quick comparison across countries. A high economic freedom score points to secure property rights, stable money and low barriers to trade.
A low score does not close a market to investors, but it flags where rules or state control may raise costs. For Benin, the open question is how much of the 2016 to 2026 reform drive shows up in the 2024 data behind this table.
What It Means for US Readers
Benin sits ahead of Senegal and Namibia but behind Kenya, South Africa and Morocco, so its economic freedom record is mid-table rather than a standout. US funds that hold African debt, or ship goods through the Port of Cotonou, can read the ranking as a sign that reform has held.
The index is built by a think tank that favours free markets, so investors weigh it next to growth, debt and political risk data. The United States itself ranks fifth, which lets American readers compare their home market with Benin directly.
What Is Not Known
The size of Benin’s gap to Kenya or Mauritius is open, because its exact score has not been published in the reports on the ranking. It is also open which of the five areas cost the country a place in the world table.
The next economic freedom edition, based on 2025 data, will show whether Benin regains its former position. Whether the new government under Wadagni changes the reform path that Talon set is also unsettled.
More: Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Benin rank for economic freedom in Africa?
Benin ranks 11th in Africa in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, according to La Nouvelle Tribune. It is 99th among 165 countries worldwide.
Which African country has the most economic freedom?
Mauritius leads Africa, ranked 9th in the world with a score of 7.97 out of 10. Seychelles is the next African country on the list, in 35th place.
Who ranks first in the world?
Hong Kong ranks first with 8.53 out of 10, ahead of Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States. The report released on 6 October covers 165 countries.
How does the Fraser Institute measure economic freedom?
It scores 46 indicators in five areas, from the size of government to regulation, on a scale of 0 to 10. The 2026 report uses data for 2024.
Does the ranking mean Benin is a safe place to invest?
No single ranking settles that question. Investors also look at growth, debt, currency and political risk before they commit money.
Sources: La Nouvelle Tribune, Le Bénin classé 11e en matière de liberté économique, 21 October 2026; Fraser Institute, Economic Freedom of the World 2026 news release, 6 October 2026; The Standard Hong Kong, HK retains status as world’s freest economy, 6 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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