Demographics of Benin

The demographics of Benin include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Demographics of Benin
Population pyramid of Benin in 2020
Population	13,754,688 (2022 est.)
Growth rate	3.34% (2022 est.)
Birth rate	41.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate	8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy	62.21 years
• male	60.39 years
• female	64.14 years
Fertility rate	5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate	55.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate	0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years	45.56%
65 and over	2.39%
Sex ratio
Total	0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth	1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15	1.02 male(s)/female
65 and over	0.72 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality	Beninese
Language
Official	French

Demographics of Benin. Data from FAO, 2005. Number of inhabitants in thousands.

The majority of Benin's 13.3 million people live in the south. The population is young, with a life expectancy of 62 years.

About 42 African ethnic groups live in this country; these various groups settled in Benin at different times and have also migrated within the country. Ethnic groups include:

• the Yoruba in the southeast (migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century);
• the Dendi in the north-central area (they came from what is now Mali in the 16th century);
• the Bariba and the Fula (or Fulani) (Fula: Fulɓe; French: Peul) in the northeast;
• the Betammaribe and the Somba in the Atacora Range;
• the Fon in the area around Abomey in the South Central; and
• the Mina, Xweda, and Aja (who came from what is now Togo in the 12th century) on the coast.
• the Ewe people on the coast

French is the official language but is spoken more in urban than in rural areas. The literacy rate is 54% among adult males and 31% among adult females as of 2018; these rates are slowly growing. Recent migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin, including Nigerians, Togolese and Malians. The foreign community also includes many Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce. The personnel of the many European embassies, foreign aid missions, nongovernmental organizations and missionary groups account for much of the 5,500 European population.

Several religions are practiced in Benin. Traditional African religions are widespread (50%), and their practices vary from one ethnic group to the other. Arab merchants introduced Islam in the north and among the Yoruba. European missionaries brought Christianity to the south and central areas of Benin. Muslims account for 20% of the population and Christians for 30%. Many nominal Muslims and Christians continue to practice traditional African religion traditions. It is believed that West African Vodun originated in Benin and was introduced to Brazil and the Caribbean Islands by slaves taken from this particular area of the Slave Coast.

Population

Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population of Benin was 12,996,895 in 2021, compared to only 2,255,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43.7%; 53.3% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3% were of 65 years or older.

	Total population	Population aged 0–14 (%)	Population aged 15–64 (%)	Population aged 65+ (%)
1950	2 255 000	35.2	57	7.8
1955	2 302 000	37.0	56.6	6.3
1960	2 420 000	38.4	56.1	5.5
1965	2 602 000	40.7	54.3	5
1970	2 850 000	42.7	52.7	4.6
1975	3 182 000	44.2	51.4	4.4
1980	3 611 000	45.2	50.7	4.0
1985	4 140 000	45.9	50.4	3.7
1990	4 773 000	46.2	50.4	3.4
1995	5 651 000	45.5	51.3	3.1
2000	6 518 000	45.6	51.4	3.0
2005	7 634 000	44.6	52.4	3.0
2010	8 850 000	43.7	53.3	3.0

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2011) (Data refer to national projections.):

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	4 446 877	4 620 199	9 067 076	100
0–4	828 064	801 448	1 629 512	17.97
5–9	675 912	659 254	1 335 166	14.73
10–14	572 756	564 312	1 137 068	12.54
15–19	553 241	527 958	1 081 199	11.92
20–24	398 920	369 026	767 946	8.47
25–29	291 598	317 891	609 489	6.72
30–34	227 400	310 493	537 893	5.93
35–39	213 385	281 234	494 619	5.46
40–44	175 956	202 155	378 111	4.17
45–49	142 056	166 810	308 866	3.41
50–54	110 074	122 576	232 650	2.57
55–59	82 190	89 780	171 970	1.90
60–64	64 968	70 800	135 768	1.50
65-69	35 915	39 619	75 534	0.83
70-74	36 511	46 229	82 740	0.91
75-79	15 591	20 862	36 453	0.40
80+	22 340	29 752	52 092	0.57
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	2 076 732	2 025 014	4 101 746	45.24
15–64	2 259 788	2 458 723	4 718 511	52.04
65+	110 357	136 462	246 819	2.72

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019) (Projections based on the 2013 Population Census.):

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	5 832 926	6 024 701	11 857 627	100
0–4	940 701	900 981	1 841 682	15.53
5–9	849 322	827 010	1 676 332	14.14
10–14	849 093	828 651	1 677 744	14.15
15–19	700 987	665 779	1 366 766	11.53
20–24	539 908	515 230	1 055 138	8.90
25–29	405 041	468 706	873 747	7.37
30–34	333 366	445 579	778 945	6.57
35–39	298 390	364 433	662 823	5.59
40–44	245 129	279 544	524 673	4.42
45–49	204 983	214 033	419 016	3.53
50–54	136 813	139 819	276 632	2.33
55–59	120 528	130 415	250 943	2.12
60–64	65 462	67 250	132 712	1.12
65-69	62 527	72 418	134 945	1.14
70-74	31 651	37 112	68 763	0.58
75-79	24 810	33 122	57 932	0.49
80+	24 217	34 620	58 837	0.50
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	2 639 116	2 556 642	5 195 758	43.82
15–64	3 050 605	3 290 787	6 341 392	53.48
65+	143 205	177 272	320 477	2.70

Vital statistics

Benin's registration of vital events is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations has prepared the following estimates. Population estimates account for under numeration in population censuses.

	Population (thousands)	Live births (thousands)	Deaths (thousands)	Natural change (thousands)	CBR	CDR	NC	TFR	IMR	Life expectancy (years)
1950	2 264	92	72	21	40.6	31.5	9.1	5.75	210.2	34.95
1951	2 281	93	72	21	40.8	31.6	9.2	5.78	208.0	35.20
1952	2 298	95	72	22	41.1	31.4	9.8	5.83	205.4	35.47
1953	2 317	96	72	24	41.5	31.0	10.5	5.88	203.0	35.82
1954	2 337	98	72	26	42.0	30.8	11.2	5.94	200.4	36.05
1955	2 360	100	72	28	42.4	30.4	12.0	5.99	197.7	36.39
1956	2 385	103	71	31	42.9	29.9	13.0	6.05	195.0	36.83
1957	2 413	105	72	34	43.5	29.6	13.9	6.11	192.2	37.09
1958	2 443	108	71	36	44.0	29.2	14.8	6.17	189.4	37.48
1959	2 476	111	71	39	44.6	28.8	15.8	6.23	186.5	37.86
1960	2 512	113	72	42	45.1	28.5	16.6	6.28	183.6	38.18
1961	2 551	117	72	46	46.0	28.1	17.8	6.40	180.5	38.54
1962	2 593	120	72	48	46.3	27.8	18.6	6.46	177.5	38.93
1963	2 638	123	72	51	46.7	27.3	19.3	6.51	174.4	39.33
1964	2 686	126	72	54	46.9	26.9	20.0	6.57	171.3	39.76
1965	2 736	129	72	56	47.0	26.4	20.6	6.61	168.2	40.18
1966	2 789	131	72	59	47.0	25.9	21.1	6.64	165.0	40.65
1967	2 844	133	72	61	46.8	25.4	21.4	6.65	162.0	41.06
1968	2 901	136	72	64	46.8	24.9	21.9	6.68	159.1	41.52
1969	2 961	139	73	66	46.7	24.5	22.2	6.71	156.3	41.85
1970	3 023	141	73	68	46.7	24.1	22.6	6.74	153.7	42.19
1971	3 088	144	73	71	46.7	23.7	23.1	6.79	151.2	42.58
1972	3 156	148	73	75	46.7	23.1	23.6	6.82	148.2	43.16
1973	3 227	150	73	77	46.5	22.6	23.9	6.83	145.3	43.60
1974	3 301	153	73	80	46.4	22.1	24.3	6.84	142.4	44.09
1975	3 379	157	73	84	46.4	21.6	24.8	6.85	139.5	44.68
1976	3 460	161	72	88	46.3	20.9	25.5	6.86	136.5	45.49
1977	3 546	164	72	92	46.3	20.3	26.0	6.85	133.5	46.18
1978	3 637	168	71	96	46.1	19.6	26.5	6.84	130.7	46.96
1979	3 732	174	72	102	46.5	19.3	27.2	6.91	128.1	47.36
1980	3 834	180	73	108	47.0	18.9	28.1	6.99	125.7	47.88
1981	3 942	186	73	113	47.3	18.6	28.7	7.05	123.3	48.31
1982	4 054	191	74	117	47.2	18.2	28.9	7.05	121.2	48.81
1983	4 172	195	74	121	46.8	17.8	29.1	7.03	119.1	49.33
1984	4 293	201	75	126	46.8	17.4	29.3	7.02	117.1	49.75
1985	4 420	206	75	131	46.6	17.0	29.6	6.99	115.2	50.37
1986	4 551	211	75	137	46.4	16.5	30.0	6.95	113.1	51.08
1987	4 689	217	75	142	46.3	16.0	30.3	6.90	111.0	51.66
1988	4 832	223	75	147	46.0	15.5	30.5	6.85	108.8	52.29
1989	4 980	227	76	151	45.5	15.2	30.3	6.80	106.8	52.68
1990	5 133	233	76	157	45.4	14.8	30.6	6.73	104.6	53.29
1991	5 293	239	77	162	45.1	14.5	30.7	6.67	102.6	53.62
1992	5 458	244	77	167	44.7	14.1	30.6	6.60	100.3	54.09
1993	5 706	251	77	174	44.6	13.7	30.8	6.51	98.1	54.54
1994	5 923	270	80	190	45.3	13.5	31.8	6.41	96.0	54.91
1995	6 047	267	80	187	44.0	13.2	30.8	6.31	94.1	55.30
1996	6 204	270	80	190	43.5	12.9	30.5	6.26	92.3	55.56
1997	6 387	275	80	195	43.0	12.6	30.4	6.20	90.5	55.98
1998	6 584	280	81	199	42.6	12.4	30.2	6.10	88.6	56.22
1999	6 789	287	82	204	42.2	12.1	30.1	6.00	86.8	56.53
2000	6 998	292	84	208	41.7	12.0	29.7	5.89	85.0	56.58
2001	7 212	298	85	213	41.4	11.8	29.6	5.82	83.3	56.66
2002	7 432	307	87	219	41.3	11.8	29.5	5.78	81.6	56.61
2003	7 659	317	89	228	41.4	11.6	29.8	5.77	79.9	56.74
2004	7 895	325	91	234	41.2	11.5	29.7	5.72	78.1	56.83
2005	8 149	333	92	241	40.9	11.3	29.6	5.68	76.5	57.13
2006	8 403	344	94	250	40.9	11.1	29.8	5.64	75.0	57.46
2007	8 648	350	95	255	40.4	11.0	29.5	5.56	73.6	57.68
2008	8 906	355	96	259	39.9	10.8	29.1	5.48	72.2	57.87
2009	9 173	364	98	265	39.6	10.7	28.9	5.44	70.9	57.96
2010	9 446	372	99	273	39.3	10.5	28.9	5.39	69.6	58.36
2011	9 726	381	101	280	39.2	10.4	28.8	5.37	68.2	58.46
2012	10 014	392	102	289	39.1	10.2	28.9	5.35	66.9	58.72
2013	10 309	404	104	299	39.1	10.1	29.0	5.35	65.6	58.97
2014	10 615	416	106	310	39.2	10.0	29.2	5.35	64.3	59.13
2015	10 933	427	108	319	39.0	9.9	29.2	5.32	63.1	59.38
2016	11 260	438	110	329	38.9	9.8	29.2	5.30	61.9	59.54
2017	11 597	449	111	337	38.7	9.6	29.1	5.27	60.6	59.86
2018	11 941	456	113	343	38.2	9.4	28.8	5.20	59.3	60.14
2019	12 290	463	114	349	37.7	9.2	28.4	5.13	57.9	60.45
2020	12 643	469	118	351	37.1	9.4	27.8	5.05	56.5	60.09
2021	12 997	476	123	353	36.6	9.4	27.2	4.97	55.0	59.82

Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):

Year	CBR (Total)	TFR (Total)	CBR (Urban)	TFR (Urban)	CBR (Rural)	TFR (Rural)
1996	42.2	6.32 (5.0)	37.8	5.24 (4.0)	44.8	7.02 (5.6)
2001	41.1	5.6 (4.6)	36.0	4.4 (3.6)	43.8	6.4 (53)
2006	41.5	5.7 (4.8)	38.7	4.9 (4.1)	43.0	6.3 (5.3)
2011–12	33.3	4.9 (4.0)	33.1	4.3 (3.6)	33.3	5.4 (4.4)
2017–18	40.5	5.7 (4.9)	39.1	5.2 (4.5)	41.6	6.1 (5.2)

Fertility data as of 2011-2012 (DHS Program):

Department	Total fertility rate	Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant	Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Alibori	5.8	15.0	6.4
Atacora	5.8	9.1	6.0
Atlantique	5.1	9.2	4.8
Borgou	5.2	9.3	5.2
Collines	4.7	8.1	5.8
Couffo	5.1	11.7	6.0
Donga	4.7	11.0	6.0
Littoral	3.6	6.3	3.4
Mono	4.6	10.8	4.7
Ouémé	5.2	10.0	5.1
Plateau	5.3	7.3	4.9
Zou	5.0	10.2	5.1

Life expectancy

Period	Life expectancy in years
1950–1955	33.72
1955–1960	36.13
1960–1965	38.42
1965–1970	40.87
1970–1975	43.48
1975–1980	46.22
1980–1985	48.30
1985–1990	51.92
1990–1995	55.14
1995–2000	54.96
2000–2005	56.18
2005–2010	58.56
2010–2015	59.93

Ethnic groups

There are several dozen ethnolinguistic groups in Benin, representing three of Africa's language families: Niger–Congo, Nilo-Saharan, and Afroasiatic. The latter is represented by Hausa, living mostly as merchants in the north, while Nilo-Saharan is represented by the Dɛndi people, descending from the Songhai Empire. The Songhay language Dɛndi predominates along the Niger River in the far north, and is used as a lingua franca in Muslim areas throughout the north, in Alibori, Borgou, and Donga provinces. Of the Niger–Congo family, five branches are represented:

Fula woman in Benin.

• Mande by the Boko or Busa, now in the far eastern corner (southern Alibori-northern Borgou), but previously more widely spread before being largely absorbed by the Bariba
• Senegambian by the nomadic Fulani scattered across the northeast
• Benue–Congo by the Yoruba such as those of the old kingdom of Sakete, and the capital city of Porto-Novo, having expanded west from the Yoruba cities of Oyo and Ife in the 12th to 19th centuries
• Gur (Voltaic) languages predominate in the four northern provinces, with the Batɔmbu (Bariba) of the old Borgou (Bariba) Kingdom occupying most of the countryside in its successor provinces of Borgou and Alibori, as well as the provincial capital of Parakou; the Yom throughout much of Donga province and its capital Djougou; and several groups in the Atakora, including the Bɛtamaribɛ of the Otammari country around the provincial capital of Natitingou, the Biali, the Waama of Tanguiéta, and the Gulmàceba.
• Kwa, especially the Gbe languages spoken by the Tado peoples in the southern and central provinces: the Aja who established themselves in Kouffo province from neighboring Togo and gave rise to the other Tado peoples of Benin, except for the Mina of Mono province, who arrived separately from Togo or Ghana: The Fɔn culture centered in Zou province around the old Fɔn capital of Abomey, but also dominant in Cotonou and southern Atlantique areas such as Ouidah; the Maxi in central Collines, especially around Savalou; the Ayizɔ of central Atlantique (Allada); the Xwla and Xueda in the lagoons of the coast; the Tɔfin of Ouémé; and the Gun. Other Kwa languages are spoken by the Anii in southern Donga in the region of Bassila, and the Fooɖo in western Donga near the town of Ouaké.

The largest ethnic group are the Fon, with 1.7 million speakers of the Fon language (2001), followed by the various Yoruba groups (1.2 million), the Aja (600,000), the Bariba (460,000), the Ayizo (330,000), the Fulani (310,000), and the Gun (240,000). Near the ports in the south can be found many people who are descended from returned Brazilian slaves.

Other demographic statistics

Population pyramid of Benin in 2017

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2021.

• One birth every 1 minutes
• One death every 5 minutes
• One net migrant every 288 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 2 minutes

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

13,754,688 (2022 est.)

11,340,504 (July 2018 est.)

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. (July 2017 est.)

Religions

Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.56% (male 2,955,396/female 2,906,079)

15-24 years: 20.36% (male 1,300,453/female 1,318,880)

25-54 years: 28.54% (male 1,735,229/female 1,935,839)

55-64 years: 3.15% (male 193,548/female 211,427)

65 years and over: 2.39% (male 140,513/female 167,270) (2020 est.)

0-14 years: 42.26% (male 2,445,265 / female 2,347,091)

15-24 years: 20.53% (male 1,184,977 / female 1,143,605)

25-54 years: 30.66% (male 1,759,834 / female 1,717,467)

55-64 years: 3.65% (male 184,453 / female 229,945)

65 years and over: 2.89% (male 128,920 / female 198,947) (2018 est.)

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 2,126,973 / female 2,042,340)

15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,443,370 / female 2,461,421)

65 years and over: 2.7% (male 101,640 / female 149,288) (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.39 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 5th

5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 6th

4.67 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 22nd

Median age

Total: 17 years. Country comparison to the world: 218th

Male: 16.4 years

Female: 17.6 years (2020 est.)

Total: 18.4 years. Country comparison to the world: 209th

Male: 18.1 years

Female: 18.7 years (2018 est.)

Total: 18.2 years

Male: 17.9 years

Female: 18.6 years (2017 est.)

Population growth rate

3.34% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 7th

2.68% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 16th

2.71% (2017 est.)

Birth rate

41.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 3rd

34.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 22nd

35 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Death rate

8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 89th

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 99th

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Net migration rate

0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 76th

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 74th

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

20.3 years (2011/12 est.)

Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Contraceptive prevalence rate

17.9% (2014)

Urbanization

urban population: 49.5% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population: 47.3% of total population (2018)

Rate of urbanization: 3.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.70 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.0 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.21 years. Country comparison to the world: 213rd

male: 60.39 years

female: 64.14 years (2022 est.)

Total population: 62.7 years (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 198th

Male: 61.2 years (2018 est.)

Female: 64.2 years (2018 est.)

Total population: 62.3 years

Male: 60.9 years

Female: 63.8 years (2017 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

15.5% (2017/18)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18% (2014)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 1% (2017 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 70,000 (2017 est.)

Deaths: 2,500 (2017 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: very high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations

Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

Animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality

English demonym and adjective:

• Beninese (singular and plural)

French demonym and adjective:

• Béninois (masculine, singular and plural)
• Béninoise (feminine, singular)
• Béninoises (feminine, plural)

Ethnic groups

Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Fulani and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, Other 1.6%, Unspecified 2.9% (2002 est.)

Religions

Islam 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, Other 2.6%, None 5.8%, (2013 est.)

Pew Forum estimated that, in 2010, that Roman Catholics constituted 30% of the country, Protestants 23.2%, and other Christians 0.3%, with all Christians making up 53.4% of the population.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Benin

Over 50 languages are spoken in Benin. The official language is French. Of the many indigenous African languages, Fon and Yoruba are the most important in southern Benin. In the north there are at least six major languages, including Baatonum and Fulani.

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 38.4%

Male: 49.9%

Female: 27.3% (2015 est.)

Education expenditure

4.4% of total GDP

Country comparison to the world: 91

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2009 edition.) and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.