Editing Demographics of Benin (section)

== Ethnic groups ==
There are several dozen '''ethnolinguistic groups''' in Benin, representing three of Africa's language families: [[Niger–Congo languages|Niger–Congo]], [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan]], and [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]]. The latter is represented by [[Hausa people|Hausa]], living mostly as merchants in the north, while Nilo-Saharan is represented by the Dɛndi people, descending from the [[Songhai Empire]]. The [[Songhay languages|Songhay]] language [[Dendi language|Dɛndi]] predominates along the [[Niger River]] in the far north, and is used as a [[lingua franca]] in Muslim areas throughout the north, in Alibori, Borgou, and Donga provinces. Of the Niger–Congo family, five branches are represented:
[[File:Femme et le plaisir d'être belle(Peuhl) du Benin) 04.jpg|thumb|Fula woman in Benin.]]
* [[Mande languages|Mande]] by the [[Boko people|Boko]] or Busa, now in the far eastern corner (southern Alibori-northern Borgou), but previously more widely spread before being largely absorbed by the Bariba
* [[Senegambian languages|Senegambian]] by the nomadic [[Fulani]] scattered across the northeast
* [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]] by the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] such as those of the old kingdom of [[Sakete]], and the capital city of [[Porto-Novo]], having expanded west from the Yoruba cities of [[Oyo, Nigeria|Oyo]] and [[Ife]] in the 12th to 19th centuries
* [[Gur languages|Gur (Voltaic) languages]] predominate in the four northern provinces, with the [[Bariba people|Batɔmbu (Bariba)]] of the old [[Borgu|Borgou (Bariba) Kingdom]] occupying most of the countryside in its successor provinces of Borgou and Alibori, as well as the provincial capital of [[Parakou]]; the [[Yom language|Yom]] throughout much of Donga province and its capital [[Djougou]]; and several groups in the Atakora, including the [[Ditamari|Bɛtamaribɛ]] of the Otammari country around the provincial capital of [[Natitingou]], the Biali, the [[Waama]] of [[Tanguiéta]], and the [[Gurma|Gulmàceba]].
* [[Kwa languages|Kwa]], especially the [[Gbe languages]] spoken by the [[Tado]] peoples in the southern and central provinces: the [[Aja people|Aja]] who established themselves in Kouffo province from neighboring [[Togo]] and gave rise to the other Tado peoples of Benin, except for the [[Mina people|Mina]] of Mono province, who arrived separately from Togo or [[Ghana]]: The [[Fon people|Fɔn]] culture centered in Zou province around the old Fɔn capital of [[Abomey]], but also dominant in [[Cotonou]] and southern Atlantique areas such as [[Ouidah]]; the [[Maxi, Collines|Maxi]] in central Collines, especially around [[Savalou]]; the [[Ayizo|Ayizɔ]] of central Atlantique ([[Allada]]); the [[Xwla]] and [[Xueda]] in the lagoons of the coast; the [[Tofin|Tɔfin]] of Ouémé; and the [[Gun]]. Other Kwa languages are spoken by the [[Anii]] in southern Donga in the region of [[Bassila]], and the [[Foodo|Fooɖo]] in western Donga near the town of [[Ouaké]].

The largest ethnic group are the [[Fon people|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 Fulani (310,000), and the Gun (240,000). Near the ports in the south can be found many people who are descended from returned [[Brazil]]ian slaves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minorityrights.org/country/benin/#:~:text=Although%20Benin's%20many%20political%20parties,the%20formerly%20northern%2Ddominated%20military.|title=Benin - Minority Rights Group}}</ref>