Population and Demographics

Numerically, the most important people are the Fon, with 1.7 million speakers of the Fon language (2001), followed by:

• the various Yoruba groups (1.2 million)
• the Aja (600,000)
• the Bariba (460,000)
• the Ayizo (330,000)
• the Fulbe (310,000)
• the Gun (240,000)

Near the ports in the south can be found people of lighter skin who are descended from returned Brazilian slaves. There are also small numbers of Europeans, (principally French), and Asians (principally Lebanese and Indians).

Indigenous religions are followed by a majority of the people and include local animistic religions in the Atakora (Atakora and Donga provinces), and Vodun (voodoo) among the Yoruba and Tado peoples of the centre and south of the country. The town of Ouidah on the central coast is the spiritual centre of Beninese vodun.

The Yoruba and Tado pantheons correspond closely:

• The supreme deity Mawu (in the Fon language) or Olodumare (in Yoruba)
• The god of the earth and smallpox, Sakpata or Cankpana
• The god of thunder, Xevioso or Cango
• The god of war and iron, Gu or Ogun

The principal introduced religions are Islam, introduced by the Songhai Empire and Hausa merchants, and now followed throughout Alibori, Borgou, and Donga provinces, as well as among the Yoruba, by 10-15% of the population; and Christianity, followed nominally by another 10-15% throughout the south and centre of Benin and in Otammari country in the Atakora. Most Christians, however, continue to hold Vodun beliefs and have incorporated the Christian pantheon into the Vodun.