Benin birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Benin has a birth rate of 33.9 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 4.56 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Benin was 6.28 children per woman — 1.38 times higher than in 2023.

Benin birth rate statistics:

Benin is ranked 14/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 75/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Benin is 20.5 — it was 20.3 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29, a change from 30 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 152.2 in 1960 to 77.8 in 2023.
23.9% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.7% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Benin by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	4.56	14
2022	4.63	13
2021	4.71	13
2020	4.8	13
2019	4.9	12
2018	5.03	12
2017	5.16	12
2016	5.25	12
2015	5.32	12
2014	5.37	13
2013	5.41	14
2012	5.43	15
2011	5.44	15
2010	5.45	15
2009	5.49	16
2008	5.55	20
2007	5.63	19
2006	5.67	20
2005	5.69	20
2004	5.72	19
2003	5.76	19
2002	5.79	19
2001	5.85	19
2000	5.94	18
1999	6.03	18
1998	6.14	17
1997	6.23	17
1996	6.28	17
1995	6.33	17
1994	6.42	16
1993	6.51	16
1992	6.59	16
1991	6.67	15
1990	6.74	15
1989	6.82	15
1988	6.87	17
1987	6.92	17
1986	6.96	17
1985	7	19
1984	7.03	18
1983	7.05	21
1982	7.06	22
1981	7.06	25
1980	6.99	29
1979	6.91	31
1978	6.82	35
1977	6.83	35
1976	6.83	35
1975	6.83	38
1974	6.82	38
1973	6.81	42
1972	6.8	44
1971	6.77	44
1970	6.74	47
1969	6.71	48
1968	6.67	53
1967	6.64	56
1966	6.63	61
1965	6.61	64
1964	6.57	68
1963	6.51	72
1962	6.46	77
1961	6.4	78
1960	6.28	90

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Benin is 4.56, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 6.51 — a 30% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	353,933	478,067	124,134
2022	349,518	472,638	123,120
2021	341,103	466,505	125,402
2020	341,929	461,782	119,853
2019	339,817	458,621	118,804
2018	340,270	457,626	117,356
2017	339,763	455,585	115,822
2016	336,559	450,998	114,439
2015	330,573	443,021	112,448
2014	323,753	433,942	110,189
2013	315,804	423,877	108,073
2012	306,180	412,849	106,669
2011	296,348	400,625	104,277
2010	287,703	389,645	101,942
2009	280,204	380,205	100,001
2008	274,242	372,562	98,320
2007	271,305	366,763	95,458
2006	265,040	359,387	94,347
2005	253,795	346,204	92,409
2004	245,630	337,207	91,577
2003	237,962	328,194	90,232
2002	229,472	318,376	88,904
2001	222,877	310,444	87,567
2000	218,013	303,878	85,865
1999	213,074	297,955	84,881
1998	208,342	291,995	83,653
1997	203,182	285,592	82,410
1996	197,643	279,567	81,924
1995	194,481	276,157	81,676
1994	196,637	278,604	81,967
1993	179,858	258,810	78,952
1992	173,794	252,376	78,582
1991	168,174	247,078	78,904
1990	163,055	241,432	78,377
1989	157,235	235,534	78,299
1988	153,580	231,438	77,858
1987	147,783	225,991	78,208
1986	142,039	220,174	78,135
1985	136,621	214,865	78,244
1984	131,590	209,561	77,971
1983	126,349	204,085	77,736
1982	122,748	199,707	76,959
1981	118,634	194,731	76,097
1980	112,969	188,098	75,129
1979	106,782	181,002	74,220
1978	100,762	174,362	73,600
1977	97,200	170,410	73,210
1976	93,141	166,285	73,144
1975	89,350	162,433	73,083
1974	85,623	158,652	73,029
1973	82,422	155,217	72,795
1972	79,415	152,165	72,750
1971	76,034	148,785	72,751
1970	73,156	145,531	72,375
1969	70,155	142,355	72,200
1968	67,327	139,318	71,991
1967	64,709	136,585	71,876
1966	62,169	134,105	71,936
1965	60,154	131,636	71,482
1964	57,352	128,764	71,412
1963	54,514	125,726	71,212
1962	51,664	122,713	71,049
1961	48,838	119,610	70,772
1960	44,564	115,188	70,624

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Benin (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.72% annually. On average, 339,721 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.51% — 353,933 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Benin ranks 49/196 for absolute natural population change and 20/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Benin compared to other countries

	Benin	Rank
Fertility rate	4.56	14/196
Birth rate	33.9	14/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+353,933	49/196
Natural population change rate	+2.51%	20/196
Population growth	+2.49%	27/197
Age at first childbirth	20.5 years	105/137
Average age at childbearing	29 years	105/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	74.6	34/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	216.3	8/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	68.7	15/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	23.9%	117/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	16.9%	157/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	78.1%	156/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.52%	8/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.8%	18/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	4.64%	16/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	7.79%	10/192
Life expectancy	61.3 years	189/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	65.2	74.6	216.3	68.7
2025	66.1	76.2	219.2	70.4
2024	66.8	77.5	221.2	71.7
2023	67.7	79	224.6	73.1
2022	68.6	80.1	227.8	74.8
2021	69.4	81.1	230.5	76.4
2020	70.5	82.3	234.1	78.3
2019	71.9	85	238.1	80.3
2018	73.7	89.1	242.9	82.6
2017	75.4	92.9	247.2	84.9
2016	76.8	96.4	250.4	86.7
2015	77.6	97.5	252.4	88
2014	78.2	97.3	254.8	89
2013	78.6	97.4	255.2	90
2012	78.7	96.5	256.1	90.2
2011	78.6	96.9	255.1	90.4
2010	78.6	99.6	254.4	90.3
2009	78.9	100.8	256.2	90.7
2008	79.5	103.8	257.7	91.6
2007	80.5	107.5	260.4	92.8
2006	81.2	109	260.5	94.2
2005	80.6	111.8	259.2	94.5
2004	80.9	116.9	259.1	94.3
2003	81.1	118	259.6	95.1
2002	80.9	118.3	259.1	95.8
2001	81.1	121.1	259	96.6
2000	81.8	120.1	262.2	98.6
1999	82.6	122.4	264.2	100.3
1998	83.4	124.2	264.5	102.7
1997	84.2	121	267.2	105.3
1996	84.8	122.2	266.6	106.6
1995	85.9	123.6	266.1	108
1994	88.5	125.6	269.2	109.7
1993	85.2	126.2	271.4	109.2
1992	86.8	124.6	271.7	111.3
1991	87.5	127.3	274.9	111.1
1990	88	128.6	277	111.7
1989	88.5	127.9	279.1	112.7
1988	89.5	135.7	283.3	111.4
1987	90.1	135.9	287.4	111.2
1986	90.4	131.8	291.7	111.7
1985	90.8	132.8	293.7	111.9
1984	91.2	134.1	296.9	111.4
1983	91.4	132.2	303	110.3
1982	91.9	141.4	304	108.5
1981	92.1	144.6	307	107
1980	91.5	146.7	307	104.6
1979	90.4	145.6	304	102.8
1978	89.4	142.1	304	100.5
1977	89.7	144.5	307	99.3
1976	89.6	144.7	306	98.6
1975	89.7	144.9	306	97.5
1974	89.8	145.2	306	96.1
1973	89.8	145.8	305	94.9
1972	90	148.8	304	93.6
1971	89.9	151.3	301	92
1970	89.8	152	299.4	90.5
1969	89.7	152.9	297.7	89.1
1968	89.7	154.1	297.2	87.4
1967	89.7	156.6	295.9	86
1966	89.8	158.5	296.2	84.7
1965	89.9	161.6	295.5	83.4
1964	89.5	162.4	294	82
1963	88.9	162.5	293.4	80
1962	88.2	161.4	292.7	78
1961	87.4	160	292.4	76.3
1960	85.4	154.2	288.2	74.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Benin by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 11.9% will be to women under age 20, 54.6% to women ages 20-29, and 33.5% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 14.6%, 48.6%, and 36.8%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Benin	World
2100	22.4%	16.5%
2099	22.5%	16.6%
2098	22.7%	16.6%
2097	22.8%	16.7%
2096	23%	16.8%
2095	23.1%	16.8%
2094	23.3%	16.9%
2093	23.4%	17%
2092	23.6%	17%
2091	23.8%	17.1%
2090	23.9%	17.2%
2089	24.1%	17.2%
2088	24.3%	17.3%
2087	24.5%	17.4%
2086	24.7%	17.4%
2085	24.8%	17.5%
2084	25%	17.5%
2083	25.2%	17.6%
2082	25.4%	17.7%
2081	25.6%	17.7%
2080	25.8%	17.8%
2079	26%	17.8%
2078	26.2%	17.9%
2077	26.4%	17.9%
2076	26.6%	18%
2075	26.8%	18%
2074	27%	18.1%
2073	27.2%	18.2%
2072	27.4%	18.2%
2071	27.6%	18.3%
2070	27.8%	18.3%
2069	28%	18.4%
2068	28.2%	18.5%
2067	28.4%	18.6%
2066	28.7%	18.6%
2065	28.9%	18.7%
2064	29.2%	18.8%
2063	29.4%	18.9%
2062	29.7%	19.1%
2061	30%	19.2%
2060	30.3%	19.3%
2059	30.6%	19.4%
2058	30.9%	19.5%
2057	31.2%	19.6%
2056	31.5%	19.8%
2055	31.8%	19.9%
2054	32.1%	20%
2053	32.4%	20.1%
2052	32.7%	20.2%
2051	33%	20.3%
2050	33.3%	20.4%
2049	33.5%	20.5%
2048	33.8%	20.6%
2047	34.1%	20.7%
2046	34.3%	20.8%
2045	34.6%	20.9%
2044	34.9%	20.9%
2043	35.2%	21%
2042	35.4%	21.1%
2041	35.7%	21.2%
2040	36%	21.2%
2039	36.3%	21.3%
2038	36.7%	21.4%
2037	37%	21.5%
2036	37.3%	21.6%
2035	37.6%	21.8%
2034	38%	22%
2033	38.4%	22.2%
2032	38.8%	22.4%
2031	39.2%	22.7%
2030	39.6%	23%
2029	40%	23.3%
2028	40.4%	23.6%
2027	40.8%	23.9%
2026	41.1%	24.2%
2025	41.4%	24.6%
2024	41.6%	24.7%
2023	41.8%	25%
2022	42.1%	25.3%
2021	42.4%	25.6%
2020	42.7%	25.8%
2019	42.9%	26%
2018	43.1%	26.2%
2017	43.2%	26.4%
2016	43.3%	26.5%
2015	43.4%	26.6%
2014	43.5%	26.8%
2013	43.6%	26.9%
2012	43.7%	27%
2011	43.8%	27.1%
2010	43.9%	27.3%
2009	44.1%	27.5%
2008	44.3%	27.6%
2007	44.4%	27.9%
2006	44.4%	28.1%
2005	44.6%	28.5%
2004	44.8%	28.8%
2003	44.9%	29.2%
2002	45.1%	29.6%
2001	45.3%	30%
2000	45.4%	30.4%
1999	45.6%	30.8%
1998	45.8%	31.1%
1997	45.9%	31.5%
1996	46%	31.8%
1995	45.9%	32.1%
1994	45.5%	32.3%
1993	45.7%	32.5%
1992	46.2%	32.7%
1991	46.2%	32.9%
1990	46.1%	33%
1989	46.1%	33.2%
1988	46.1%	33.4%
1987	46%	33.6%
1986	45.9%	33.8%
1985	45.8%	34%
1984	45.7%	34.3%
1983	45.6%	34.6%
1982	45.5%	34.9%
1981	45.3%	35.2%
1980	45.2%	35.5%
1979	45.1%	35.9%
1978	45%	36.3%
1977	44.8%	36.7%
1976	44.7%	36.9%
1975	44.5%	37.1%
1974	44.3%	37.2%
1973	44.1%	37.3%
1972	43.8%	37.5%
1971	43.5%	37.6%
1970	43.2%	37.7%
1969	42.8%	37.8%
1968	42.5%	37.9%
1967	42.1%	38%
1966	41.6%	38%
1965	41.2%	38%
1964	40.8%	38%
1963	40.3%	37.8%
1962	39.9%	37.6%
1961	39.5%	37.5%
1960	39.1%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Benin was 39.1% in 1960, 46.2% in 1992, and 41.6% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Benin.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Benin	World
2023	518	197
2022	547	203
2021	584	242
2020	578	211
2019	572	207
2018	585	211
2017	592	215
2016	604	220
2015	606	228
2014	605	231
2013	607	235
2012	618	239
2011	613	247
2010	607	253
2009	598	258
2008	563	264
2007	501	269
2006	509	276
2005	514	283
2004	531	291
2003	532	301
2002	534	311
2001	532	321
2000	529	328
1999	536	340
1998	547	360
1997	556	358
1996	576	366
1995	586	371
1994	605	382
1993	591	389
1992	625	395
1991	666	395
1990	692	391
1989	732	401
1988	765	414
1987	817	429
1986	858	438
1985	910	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Benin was 518 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.52% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 2.08% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Benin	World
2023	7.79%	2.49%
2022	8.04%	2.59%
2021	8.31%	2.66%
2020	8.55%	2.75%
2019	8.8%	2.86%
2018	9.05%	2.97%
2017	9.27%	3.11%
2016	9.5%	3.22%
2015	9.71%	3.35%
2014	9.93%	3.48%
2013	10.2%	3.61%
2012	10.4%	3.77%
2011	10.6%	3.97%
2010	10.8%	4.11%
2009	11.1%	4.31%
2008	11.3%	4.5%
2007	11.5%	4.7%
2006	11.8%	4.92%
2005	12.1%	5.16%
2004	12.4%	5.43%
2003	12.7%	5.65%
2002	13%	5.94%
2001	13.3%	6.21%
2000	13.6%	6.48%
1999	13.9%	6.75%
1998	14.3%	7.05%
1997	14.6%	7.28%
1996	14.9%	7.52%
1995	15.2%	7.76%
1994	15.6%	7.98%
1993	16%	8.19%
1992	16.4%	8.46%
1991	16.8%	8.66%
1990	17.2%	8.81%
1989	17.6%	9.02%
1988	18%	9.31%
1987	18.4%	9.47%
1986	18.8%	9.81%
1985	19.2%	10.1%
1984	19.6%	10.4%
1983	20%	10.6%
1982	20.4%	10.8%
1981	20.8%	11%
1980	21.2%	11.4%
1979	21.6%	11.7%
1978	22.1%	12.2%
1977	22.6%	12.6%
1976	23.1%	13%
1975	23.7%	13.4%
1974	24.2%	13.8%
1973	24.7%	14.1%
1972	25.2%	14.5%
1971	25.7%	15.1%
1970	26.1%	15.2%
1969	26.6%	15.4%
1968	27%	15.6%
1967	27.5%	15.9%
1966	28%	16.1%
1965	28.5%	16.4%
1964	29.1%	16.6%
1963	29.6%	16.5%
1962	30.2%	16.7%
1961	30.7%	17%
1960	31.2%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Benin was 77.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 7.79% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 136.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.