Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin
Benin: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 7.91 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
7.91 million people
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
77th
of 236 countries
All-time high
7.91 million people
in 2025
All-time low
150,640 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin is 7.91 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 51.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin peaked at 7.91 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 150,640 people, in 1950.
That places Benin 77th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 150,640 people | — |
| 1951 | 154,965 people | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 160,604 people | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 167,477 people | +4.3% |
| 1954 | 175,540 people | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 184,746 people | +5.2% |
| 1956 | 195,050 people | +5.6% |
| 1957 | 206,420 people | +5.8% |
| 1958 | 218,818 people | +6.0% |
| 1959 | 232,196 people | +6.1% |
| 1960 | 246,433 people | +6.1% |
| 1961 | 262,307 people | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 281,348 people | +7.3% |
| 1963 | 303,643 people | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 329,127 people | +8.4% |
| 1965 | 357,725 people | +8.7% |
| 1966 | 389,303 people | +8.8% |
| 1967 | 423,738 people | +8.8% |
| 1968 | 460,955 people | +8.8% |
| 1969 | 500,847 people | +8.7% |
| 1970 | 543,302 people | +8.5% |
| 1971 | 588,162 people | +8.3% |
| 1972 | 635,286 people | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 684,496 people | +7.7% |
| 1974 | 735,569 people | +7.5% |
| 1975 | 788,352 people | +7.2% |
| 1976 | 842,656 people | +6.9% |
| 1977 | 898,226 people | +6.6% |
| 1978 | 954,685 people | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 1.01 million people | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 1.07 million people | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 1.14 million people | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 1.20 million people | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 1.27 million people | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 1.35 million people | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 1.42 million people | +5.7% |
| 1986 | 1.50 million people | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 1.58 million people | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 1.67 million people | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 1.75 million people | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.84 million people | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 1.92 million people | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 2.01 million people | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 2.12 million people | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 2.23 million people | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 2.29 million people | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 2.37 million people | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 2.46 million people | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 2.56 million people | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 2.66 million people | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 2.76 million people | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 2.88 million people | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 2.99 million people | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 3.12 million people | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 3.25 million people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 3.40 million people | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 3.55 million people | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 3.70 million people | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 3.86 million people | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 4.03 million people | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 4.20 million people | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 4.39 million people | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 4.58 million people | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 4.78 million people | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 5.00 million people | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 5.22 million people | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 5.45 million people | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 5.69 million people | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 5.94 million people | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 6.20 million people | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 6.46 million people | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 6.73 million people | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 7.01 million people | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 7.30 million people | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 7.60 million people | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 7.91 million people | +4.0% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 7.91 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 7.91 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 184,646 people | 150,640 people | 232,196 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 355,543 people | 246,433 people | 500,847 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 768,264 people | 543,302 people | 1.01 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.40 million people | 1.07 million people | 1.75 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.25 million people | 1.84 million people | 2.66 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.35 million people | 2.76 million people | 4.03 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.15 million people | 4.20 million people | 6.20 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.17 million people | 6.46 million people | 7.91 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Benin was 7.91 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 7.91 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 150,640 people in 1950.
- How does Benin rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Benin ranks 77th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.