Benin Demographics

Population of Benin (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Benin

Benin Population
15,170,420
see live
Yearly Change
+2.40%
Global Share
0.18%
Global Rank
76

Median Age

The median age in Benin is 18.2 years (2026).

Fertility in Benin

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
4.34
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Benin

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
61.3
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
62.8
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
59.8
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Benin


Infant Mortality
50.3
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
75.6
(per 1,000 live births)


Benin Urban Population

Currently, 54.2% of the population of Benin is urban (8,221,652 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Benin is 137 people per km² (355 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 110,622 km² (42,711 sq. miles).

Largest Cities and Towns in Benin

The 30 largest of 66 cities and towns, ranked by population at the census of May 11, 2013 (by National Institute of Statistics, Benin).

RankCity or TownPopulation
1Cotonou679,012
2Porto-Novo264,320
3Parakou255,478
4Godomey253,262
5Abomey-Calavi117,824
6Djougou94,773
7Bohicon93,744
8Ekpé75,313
9Abomey67,885
10Nikki66,109
11Malanville64,639
12Kandi56,043
13Kérou54,276
14Natitingou53,284
15Pobè49,232
16Ouidah47,616
17Lokossa47,246
18Bassila46,569
19Tchaourou43,862
20Sakété43,541
21Comè42,586
22Akpro-Missérété41,657
23Dogbo-Tota41,341
24Kétou39,626
25Savalou38,162
26Banikoara37,571
27Péhunco37,217
28Kalalé35,513
29Sinendé35,267
30Ifangni31,984
See all 66 cities and towns in Benin

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.