Benin Emigration and Immigration

Online Sources

 * 1878-1960 UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960, at Ancestry.com, index and images. ($)
 * 1889-1912 Dahomey (Benin) Civil Registration and Parish Registers, 1889-1912, index and images.
 * 1890-1960 Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960 at FindMyPast; index & images ($)

British Overseas Subjects

 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, Benin, index and images, ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Benin, index and images, ($)

Benin Emigration and Immigration
"Emigration" means moving out of a country. "Immigration" means moving into a country. Emigration and immigration sources list the names of people leaving (emigrating) or arriving (immigrating) in the country. These sources may be passenger lists, permissions to emigrate, or records of passports issued. The information in these records may include the emigrants’ names, ages, occupations, destinations, and places of origin or birthplaces. Sometimes they also show family groups.

Immigration into Benin

 * Little is known of Benin's early history. From the 17th to the 19th century, the main political entities in the area were the Kingdom of Dahomey, along with the city-state of Porto-Novo, and a large area with many different nations to the north. This region was referred to as the Slave Coast from as early as the 17th century due to the large number of people who were kidnapped and trafficked to the New World during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
 * After enslavement was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France.
 * Recent migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin that include Nigerians, Togolese, and Malians.
 * The foreign community also includes many Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce.
 * The personnel of the many European embassies and foreign aid missions and of nongovernmental organizations and various missionary groups account for a large part of the 5,500 European population.
 * A small part of the European population consists of Beninese citizens of French ancestry.

Emigration From Benin
KNOMAD Statistics: Emigrants: 657,594. Top destination countries: Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Gabon, France, Ghana, Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali