Population of Benin

As of April 2025, the population of Benin is 14.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 377 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.66%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17.2 years in 2015 to 17.8 years in 2025. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 61.6 years and population density is 128.2 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Benin peaked in 1993, reaching around 5.78% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.61% in 2025. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 376.69 thousand in 2025.

Life Expectancy

In Benin, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 57.1 years in 2005 to 61.6 years in 2025, representing an increase of more than 4 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Benin

The cities of Benin are mostly small, but 6 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Cotonou, Littoral, with approximately 679 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Abomey-Calavi, Atlantique with 385.8 thousand and Porto-Novo, Ouémé with 264.3 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Benin: