The country was on track until the economic crisis divided the growth in Benin by half. The country's GDP fell dramatically from 2010 due to the world financial crisis. However, the country can rely on the production of cotton, its main strength to regain the ranks.

The economic deterioration of Benin is also embodied in the waves of protests following the re-election of incumbent President Boni Yayi in March 2011. It has been accused of over-indebting of the country by "using public money for electioneering purposes,"