Christianity in Benin

Christians in Benin constitute approximately 48.5 of the country's population (2022 estimate).

In 2023, more than half of all Christians in Benin are Roman Catholic.

According to the 2002 census, 27.1 percent of the population of Benin was Roman Catholic, 5 percent Celestial Christian, 3.2 percent Methodist and 7.5 percent other Christian groups.

Many nominal Christians also practice traditional local religious beliefs.



History
Christianity first reached Benin in 1680, gaining more permanent footing in the 19th century. English Methodists arrived in 1843, operating amongst the coastal Gun people.

Roman Catholicism
The Catholic hierarchy in Benin consists of the Archdiocese of Cotonou (including the Dioceses of Abomey, Dassa-Zoumé, Lokossa, Porto Novo) and the Parakou (including the Dioceses of Djougou, Kandi, Natitingou, and N'Dali).

In 2011 it was reported that in Benin there were 440 priests and 900 men and women in religious orders. By 2020, there were 1349 priests and 1482 nuns.