The Republic of Benin is a country located in the region of West Africa, bordering Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. Historically known as Dahomey, Benin is situated on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, which is part of the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The country's economy is historically rooted in agriculture, with major exports including palm oil and cotton. The population is estimated at approximately 12.1 million people, and the country's capital is Porto-Novo, while the largest economic center is Cotonou.