Benin ranks 12th in Africa governance index
The country scores 60.1 points, exceeding continental and West African averages despite political participation decline.
Benin placed 12th out of 54 African nations in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, achieving 60.1 points out of 100. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation's assessment, covering 2016-2025, noted a 2.6-point overall increase since 2016.
The nation's score surpasses the African average of 50.1 points and West Africa's average of 52.9 points. While economic opportunities, business environment, infrastructure, and public administration showed significant improvements between 2016 and 2025, political participation indicators declined.
Specifically, the participation sub-category dropped 18.6 points, with democratic elections falling 36.3 points and anti-corruption measures decreasing by 27.7 points. These declines occurred despite improvements in measured corruption levels.
Why it mattersBenin's citizens are affected by a decline in democratic participation and anti-corruption measures, despite overall governance improvements.