Health Record Rights Index · country brief · this country's data as of October 1, 2026
Who holds the health record in Benin?
In 2026, Benin scores 37 out of 100 for how much say a person has over their own health record. It is tied for 109th of 198 countries and territories, and could rank anywhere from 89th to 148th allowing for scoring error, in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: doctors, hospitals and insurers. Source: Health Record Rights Index, SuperTruth, this country's data as of October 1, 2026.
Doctors, hospitals and insurers decide. Its strongest right, compared with the typical country, is privacy and security (52 out of 100, against 45 for the typical country). The furthest behind is one record across your care (22 out of 100, against 38 for the typical country).
Benin has a strong data law and an active regulator, but patients cannot view or share records online; a digital record is only a promise.
Published · updated · this country's data as of October 1, 2026 · research tool, not legal advice
overall score · Weak band, 25 to 44
37/100
rank among 198 countries and territories; likely 89th to 148th, allowing for scoring error
In 2026, getting your full record scores 45 out of 100 in Benin; the typical country scores 40 to 45. The Digital Code gives a free right to a copy of your personal data within 60 days, which covers medical files. There is no national portal or patient app, and use of this right in health care was not verified, so the score sits at 45. Source: AFAPDP, April 20, 2018, and the other sources below.
Who controls health records in Benin?
In 2026, doctors, hospitals and insurers hold the keys to your health record in Benin. Control over who sees it scores 30 out of 100 in Benin; the typical country scores 30. Health data may be processed without consent when needed for care under a health professional, and there is no shared record, opt-out or access log. The patient's main tool is a general right to object for legitimate reasons. Source: AFAPDP, April 20, 2018, and the other sources below.
How does Benin compare?
In 2026, Benin scores 37 out of 100, against 39 for the typical country. This brief compares it with Ethiopia (37 out of 100), Tunisia (37 out of 100) and Côte d'Ivoire (38 out of 100). Source: the ranking of all 198 countries and territories.
Eight rights, compared with Ethiopia, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire and the typical country
Scores out of 100, by right
Getting your full record20%
45
40 · 40 · 35
Control over who sees it20%
30
28 · 35 · 30
Privacy and security15%
52
44 · 45 · 48
One record across your care15%
22
30 · 30 · 38
Protection from sale and ads10%
45
50 · 44 · 45
Doctors see it when treating you10%
20
24 · 28 · 36
Your say over research use5%
50
49 · 49 · 49
Rules for AI in your care5%
30
56 · 27 · 25
Black dot: Benin. Hollow dots: Ethiopia, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire (scores out of 100 on the right, same order). Gray line: the typical country of all 198. Overall: Benin 37 out of 100. Scores move in steps of about 5 points, so read a rank with its likely range.
What would Benin need to change to score higher?
Benin sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. Its two weakest rights, compared with the typical country and weighted by how much each counts, are one record across your care (22 out of 100, against 38 for the typical country) and doctors see it when treating you (20 out of 100, against 33 to 34 for the typical country). Our scoring rules give more points for:
One record across your care: Family doctors, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, insurers and public health all linked to one record that is used across the country.
Doctors see it when treating you: Doctors who treat you able to see your full record from other providers, with your consent and emergency rules in place.
Which laws give health record rights in Benin?
Law 2017-20 on the Digital Code (Book V, personal data) (2018): Health data is sensitive; free access within 60 days; breach notice without delay; fines up to 100 million CFA.
Law 2020-35 amending the Digital Code (2021): Sets the data authority at eight members, five chosen by the National Assembly.
Law 2020-37 on protecting people's health (2021): Patient rights to information, privacy, confidentiality and consent to or refusal of care.
Doctors, waits and private care context, not part of the score
Doctors per 10,000
2.1 2024
Nurses and midwives per 10,000
6.1 2024
Private insurance + out-of-pocket
45.4% 2023
Record reaches private care?
unknown
Real cases
We found no real cases published in the last two years.
In 2026, Benin scored 37 out of 100 for how much say a person has over their own health record, tied for 109th of 198 countries and territories (could be 89th to 148th), in the Weak band. Who holds the keys: doctors, hospitals and insurers. Source: Health Record Rights Index, SuperTruth, this country's data as of October 1, 2026, https://healthrecordrights.com/brief/benin/
The 15 sources for Benin
Each source appears once, under the first right it supports. Titles are shown as our research agents recorded them, usually in the page's own language; text in square brackets is our machine translation. Links were checked on the date shown.
Getting your full record (3 sources)
“Loi n° 2017-20 portant code du numérique en République du Bénin” [Law No. 2017-20 on the Digital Code in the Republic of Benin] our machine translation
AFAPDP (law or regulation) · Title in French
Dated April 20, 2018 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
Used for: Getting your full record; Control over who sees it; Privacy and security; Protection from sale and ads; Doctors see it when treating you; Your say over research use
“Loi n° 2020-37 du 03 février 2021 portant protection de la santé des personnes” [Law No. 2020-37 of 03 February 2021 on the protection of people's health] our machine translation
SGG (law or regulation) · Title in French
Dated February 3, 2021 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Loi n° 2020-35 du 06 janvier 2021 modifiant le code du numérique” [Law No. 2020-35 of 6 January 2021 amending the digital code] our machine translation
ARCEP Bénin copy (law or regulation) · Title in French
Dated January 6, 2021 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Protection des données personnelles : les pouvoirs de sanction de l'Apdp” [Personal data protection: the sanctioning powers of the APDP] our machine translation
La Nation (news) · Title in French
Dated August 11, 2026 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
Direction des Systèmes d'Information, Ministère de la Santé [Information Systems Directorate, Ministry of Health] (government guidance) · Title in French
No date recorded · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Projet ARCH : le Gouvernement généralise le volet assurance maladie” [ARCH project: the Government rolls out the health insurance component nationwide] our machine translation
Gouvernement du Bénin [Government of Benin] (government guidance) · Title in French
Dated January 19, 2021 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Loi n° 2010-40 du 08 décembre 2010 portant code d'éthique et de déontologie pour la recherche en santé” [Law No. 2010-40 of 08 December 2010 on the code of ethics and professional conduct for health research] our machine translation
SGG (law or regulation) · Title in French
Dated December 8, 2010 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Décret n° 2024-1298 du 06 novembre 2024 portant modalités d'homologation des dispositifs médicaux” [Decree No. 2024-1298 of 06 November 2024 on the procedures for approval of medical devices] our machine translation
SGG (law or regulation) · Title in French
Dated November 6, 2024 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Stratégie nationale d'intelligence artificielle et des mégadonnées 2023-2027” [National strategy for artificial intelligence and big data 2023-2027] our machine translation
Ministère du Numérique [Ministry of Digital Affairs] (government guidance) · Title in French
Dated 2023 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
“Stratégie nationale de l'IA : les raisons derrière la création d'un ministère dédié” [National AI strategy: the reasons behind the creation of a dedicated ministry] our machine translation
Le Matinal (news) · Title in French
Dated May 31, 2026 · Link checked October 2, 2026 (opened)
SuperTruth Inc. · 24 S. 24th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA · +1 215 918 4140 · supertruth.ai Something wrong? Tell us · Questions or a briefing: supertruth.ai/on-the-record#contact · Full index: healthrecordrights.com
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (38 mostly high-income countries). DTI™: the Data Trust Index, which grades the evidence behind each score. SuperTruth makes it and publishes this index. Everything here comes from public information: laws, government and regulator pages, court decisions, published news, WHO, OECD and World Bank data. Full sources: https://healthrecordrights.com/brief/benin/#sources. SuperTruth built this index and sells health data verification products; no one paid to be included. Research tool, not legal advice. Our scores and our own words are CC BY 4.0; quoted law and source titles stay with their owners.
