Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Benin
Benin: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 39.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Benin, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Benin recorded 39.9% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Benin peaked at 39.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1950.
Benin ranks 98th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.0% | — |
| 1955 | 8.3% | +37.8% |
| 1960 | 10.4% | +25.1% |
| 1965 | 12.4% | +18.8% |
| 1970 | 14.1% | +13.7% |
| 1975 | 15.9% | +12.6% |
| 1980 | 18.3% | +15.5% |
| 1985 | 21.5% | +17.6% |
| 1990 | 23.3% | +8.3% |
| 1995 | 25.1% | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 27.7% | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 31.1% | +12.2% |
| 2010 | 33.7% | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 38.6% | +14.6% |
| 2020 | 39.9% | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.2% | 6.0% | 8.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 11.4% | 10.4% | 12.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.0% | 14.1% | 15.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 19.9% | 18.3% | 21.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 24.2% | 23.3% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.4% | 27.7% | 31.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.1% | 33.7% | 38.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.9% | 39.9% | 39.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 95 Philippines 41.5% compare
- 96 Suriname 40.2% compare
- 97 Azerbaijan 39.9% compare
- 99 Afghanistan 39.7% compare
- 100 Honduras 39.6% compare
- 101 Cape Verde 39.5% compare
More population data for Benin
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6566 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.95 million people (2100)
- Population density 351.08 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1997 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.48 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Benin?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Benin was 39.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1950.
- How does Benin rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Benin ranks 98th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.