🪪 Millions in Benin now have an official identity, opening access to school and banking

• In 2017, about 20 percent of Benin's population had no official papers.
• Now, nearly 99 percent of Benin's population is registered in a biometric ID system.
• An official identity provides access to school, a bank account, credit, and a business of one's own, something that was previously impossible for one in five residents.

Why an identity matters so much

An official identity is a precondition for taking part in society. Without one, you cannot open a bank account, register a business, sit national exams, apply for jobs, or use mobile payments. Anyone without papers is shut out of both school and the formal economy.

In 2017, about 20 percent of Benin's population had no official papers. They had no birth certificate, no national ID, and no other documents. That meant one in five residents was cut off from basic services.

From one in five without papers to nearly everyone registered

In less than ten years, that has changed. Nearly 99 percent of the population is now registered in a biometric system. By the end of May 2025, more than 7.7 million people had a Personal Identification Number. More than 6.1 million certificates had been issued, entirely free of charge. In some cases the authorities created identity documents on the spot, with the help of two witnesses and a municipal officer.

The ID card opens doors

The reform is led by Benin's government through the "C'est Moi" card, which means "It's me." The card provides access to school, a bank account, credit, employment, and entrepreneurship. It makes it possible to sign formal employment contracts and register businesses, which in turn can create jobs for others.

Support from the World Bank

The reform is part of the regional WURI project, which aims to make identity a right for all. By providing access to jobs, credit, and entrepreneurship, the project ties into the World Bank's work on job creation and economic inclusion.

Aristide Adjinacou, Director General of the Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP), says everyone can now access public services, open an account, and own a mobile phone. He says the results rest on the country's own talent, the national ecosystem, and partners such as the WURI project.

WURI is financed by the World Bank with $273 million, of which $45 million goes to Benin. The project covers five other West African countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Niger, and Togo.

The project also supports the government's safety net programs and a single social registry, which strengthens governance and planning.

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