# 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.
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

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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 12 898 | 462 | 120 | 342 | 35.3 | 9.2 | 26.2 | 4.80 | 56.2 | 60.2 |
| 2021 | 13 242 | 467 | 125 | 341 | 34.8 | 9.3 | 25.4 | 4.71 | 54.9 | 59.6 |
| 2022 | 13 585 | 473 | 123 | 350 | 34.4 | 8.9 | 25.4 | 4.63 | 53.7 | 60.5 |
| 2023 | 13 934 | 478 | 124 | 354 | 33.9 | 8.8 | 25.1 | 4.56 | 52.3 | 60.8 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |||||||||||
Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022

### Demographic and Health Surveys

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:
* 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.

## Languages

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.

## Religion

    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.