Benin
- Capital:
- Porto-Novo
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Western Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Abomey-calavi, Cotonou, Djougou
- Abbreviation:
- BEN
15,170,419
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
15,170,419
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Benin's population is projected to be 39,074,808 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15,170,419 | 2.49% | 76 |
| 2025 | 14,814,460 | 2.54% | 76 |
| 2020 | 13,070,169 | 2.7% | 76 |
| 2019 | 12,726,755 | 2.77% | 77 |
| 2018 | 12,383,347 | 2.85% | 77 |
| 2017 | 12,039,780 | 2.92% | 77 |
| 2015 | 11,360,681 | 3% | 78 |
| 2010 | 9,797,484 | 3.06% | 87 |
| 2005 | 8,426,144 | 3.13% | 90 |
| 2000 | 7,221,619 | 3.01% | 93 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15,170,419 | 2.49% | 76 |
| 2032 | 17,357,064 | 2.25% | 76 |
| 2037 | 19,264,500 | 2.11% | 73 |
| 2042 | 21,242,981 | 1.98% | 69 |
| 2047 | 23,245,139 | 1.82% | 69 |
| 2052 | 25,220,854 | 1.65% | 67 |
| 2057 | 27,146,959 | 1.48% | 66 |
| 2062 | 29,011,907 | 1.34% | 64 |
| 2067 | 30,825,989 | 1.22% | 63 |
| 2072 | 32,564,726 | 1.1% | 61 |
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Abomey-calavi has a metropolitan area population of 880,892, comprising 5.81%% of Benin's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abomey-calavi | 880,892 | 5.81% |
| 2 | Cotonou | 820,199 | 5.41% |
| 3 | Djougou | 334,084 | 2.2% |
| 4 | Parakou | 326,324 | 2.15% |
| 5 | Banikoara | 319,262 | 2.1% |
| 6 | Porto-Novo | 314,100 | 2.07% |
| 7 | Seme-Kpodji | 294,256 | 1.94% |
| 8 | Tchaourou | 289,877 | 1.91% |
| 9 | Kandi | 224,537 | 1.48% |
| 10 | Kalale | 217,509 | 1.43% |
As of 2026, Benin has a total population of 15,170,419, ranking as the 76th most populous nation in the world.
Benin has a net population change of approximately 981 people per day, driven by 1,353 births, 355 deaths, and net emigration of 17 people.
Benin represents 0.19% of the total global population and 0.96% of Africa's population.
Benin has a population density of 134.5 people per km² (approximately 348.5 per mi²), making it the 93rd most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 82.37% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 8, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Benin is Fon and related (38.4%) , followed by Adja and related (15.1%) .
As of 2026, Muslim is the largest religion in Benin, comprising 27.7% of the population.