Total population (thousands) in Benin
Benin: Total population (thousands) was 14,638 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
14,638 thousands
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
75th
of 233 countries
All-time high
14,638 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
3,031 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Benin, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Benin stood at 14,638 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Benin peaked at 14,638 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,031 thousands, in 1970.
Benin ranks 75th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Benin, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,031 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 3,099 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 3,170 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 3,245 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 3,322 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 3,403 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 3,488 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 3,577 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 3,670 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 3,767 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 3,870 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 3,980 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 4,096 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 4,217 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 4,341 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 4,471 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 4,605 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 4,745 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 4,891 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 5,043 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 5,200 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 5,363 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 5,531 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 5,705 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 6,041 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 6,152 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 6,301 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 6,482 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 6,684 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 6,895 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 7,111 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 7,332 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 7,559 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 7,792 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 8,034 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 8,284 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 8,568 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 8,818 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 9,090 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 9,367 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 9,652 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 9,943 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 10,244 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 10,551 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 10,866 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 11,194 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 11,528 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 11,868 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 12,212 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 12,555 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 12,898 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 13,242 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 13,585 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 13,934 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 14,288 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 14,638 thousands | +2.4% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 14,638 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 14,638 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,377 thousands | 3,031 thousands | 3,767 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,426 thousands | 3,870 thousands | 5,043 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,035 thousands | 5,200 thousands | 6,895 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,196 thousands | 7,111 thousands | 9,367 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,061 thousands | 9,652 thousands | 12,555 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,764 thousands | 12,898 thousands | 14,638 thousands | 6 |
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 population in Benin?
- Total population in Benin was 14,638 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 14,638 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,031 thousands in 1970.
- How does Benin rank for total population?
- Benin ranks 75th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release