Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Benin
Benin: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 4.48 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.48 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
14th
of 215 countries
All-time high
7.06 births per woman
in 1981
All-time low
4.48 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Benin, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
Benin recorded 4.48 births per woman for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Benin peaked at 7.06 births per woman in 1981 and was at its lowest, 4.48 births per woman, in 2024.
That places Benin 14th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Benin, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.28 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 6.4 births per woman | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 6.46 births per woman | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 6.51 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 6.57 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 6.61 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 6.62 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 6.64 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 6.67 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 6.71 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 6.74 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 6.77 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 6.81 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 6.82 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 6.83 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 6.83 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 6.83 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 6.82 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 6.91 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 6.99 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 7.06 births per woman | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 7.05 births per woman | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 7.04 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 7.03 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 7 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 6.96 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 6.92 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 6.87 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 6.82 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 6.74 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 6.67 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 6.59 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 6.51 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 6.42 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 6.33 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 6.28 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 6.23 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 6.14 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 6.03 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 5.94 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 5.85 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 5.79 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 5.76 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 5.72 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 5.69 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 5.67 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 5.63 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 5.55 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 5.49 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 5.45 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 5.44 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 5.43 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 5.41 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 5.37 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 5.32 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 5.25 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.16 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 5.03 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 4.9 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 4.79 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 4.71 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 4.63 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 4.56 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 4.48 births per woman | -1.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 4.48 births per woman is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.12 births per woman, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 4.48 births per woman is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.91 births per woman, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.55 births per woman | 6.28 births per woman | 6.71 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.82 births per woman | 6.74 births per woman | 6.91 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.97 births per woman | 6.82 births per woman | 7.06 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.39 births per woman | 6.03 births per woman | 6.74 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.71 births per woman | 5.49 births per woman | 5.94 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.28 births per woman | 4.9 births per woman | 5.45 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.63 births per woman | 4.48 births per woman | 4.79 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More population data for Benin
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6566 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 25,264 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.48 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1997 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 351.08 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.95 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Benin?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Benin was 4.48 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 7.06 births per woman in 1981.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.48 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Benin rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Benin ranks 14th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.