Benin Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age history and projection chart in
Benin vs World

Table

Year	Median age
	Benin	World
1960	20.8	22.5
1961	20.6	22.5
1962	20.3	22.4
1963	20.1	22.2
1964	19.9	22
1965	19.7	21.8
1966	19.5	21.7
1967	19.3	21.6
1968	19	21.5
1969	18.8	21.5
1970	18.6	21.4
1971	18.4	21.4
1972	18.3	21.5
1973	18.1	21.5
1974	17.9	21.6
1975	17.8	21.7
1976	17.7	21.9
1977	17.6	22
1978	17.5	22.2
1979	17.4	22.3
1980	17.3	22.5
1981	17.3	22.6
1982	17.2	22.7
1983	17.1	22.9
1984	17.1	23
1985	17	23.2
1986	17	23.3
1987	16.9	23.4
1988	16.9	23.6
1989	16.9	23.8
1990	16.9	23.9
1991	16.9	24.1
1992	16.9	24.3
1993	17.1	24.5
1994	17.2	24.7
1995	17	25
1996	16.9	25.2
1997	17	25.4
1998	17	25.7
1999	17.1	25.9
2000	17.1	26.1
2001	17.2	26.3
2002	17.3	26.5
2003	17.4	26.7
2004	17.4	27
2005	17.5	27.2
2006	17.6	27.4
2007	17.6	27.6
2008	17.7	27.8
2009	17.8	28
2010	17.8	28.2
2011	17.9	28.4
2012	18	28.6
2013	18	28.9
2014	18.1	29.1
2015	18.1	29.3
2016	18.2	29.5
2017	18.3	29.8
2018	18.3	30
2019	18.4	30.3
2020	18.5	30.6
2021	18.6	30.8
2022	18.7	31
2023	18.8	31.3
2024	19	31.6
2025	19	31.9
2026	19.2	32.1
2027	19.4	32.3
2028	19.5	32.6
2029	19.7	32.8
2030	19.9	33
2031	20	33.2
2032	20.2	33.4
2033	20.4	33.6
2034	20.6	33.8
2035	20.9	34
2036	21.1	34.2
2037	21.3	34.4
2038	21.5	34.6
2039	21.7	34.8
2040	21.9	35
2041	22.2	35.2
2042	22.4	35.4
2043	22.6	35.6
2044	22.8	35.8
2045	23	36
2046	23.2	36.2
2047	23.4	36.4
2048	23.6	36.6
2049	23.8	36.8
2050	24	37.1

In 1960, the median age in Benin was 20.8 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had decreased to 19 years compared to the world's average of 31.6 years. Ranked 76th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Benin ranks 179th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Benin is expected to increase to around 24 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Benin demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Table

Age range	Share of population
	Benin
	Male	Female
0-4	7.72%	7.5%
5-9	7.1%	6.92%
10-14	6.24%	6.07%
15-19	5.39%	5.24%
20-24	4.57%	4.44%
25-29	3.95%	3.85%
30-34	3.34%	3.29%
35-39	2.8%	2.81%
40-44	2.3%	2.35%
45-49	1.81%	1.88%
50-54	1.47%	1.55%
55-59	1.17%	1.26%
60-64	0.88%	0.98%
65-69	0.61%	0.7%
70-74	0.4%	0.47%
75-79	0.24%	0.31%
80+	0.16%	0.24%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Benin has high demographic potential with 75.6% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 23/196).

Age dependency chart

Table

Year	Age dependency ratio
	Benin			World
	Total	Young	Old	Total	Young	Old
1960	82.3%	71.3%	10.9%	73.5%	64.9%	8.62%
1961	83.1%	72.3%	10.8%	73.8%	65.1%	8.67%
1962	84.1%	73.5%	10.6%	74.1%	65.4%	8.73%
1963	85.2%	74.7%	10.5%	74.9%	66.1%	8.79%
1964	86.4%	76%	10.4%	75.5%	66.6%	8.85%
1965	87.6%	77.3%	10.3%	75.8%	66.8%	8.93%
1966	88.8%	78.6%	10.2%	75.9%	66.9%	9%
1967	90%	79.9%	10.1%	75.9%	66.8%	9.07%
1968	91.2%	81.2%	10%	75.8%	66.6%	9.14%
1969	92.2%	82.3%	9.91%	75.7%	66.5%	9.2%
1970	93.3%	83.5%	9.81%	75.5%	66.2%	9.26%
1971	94.2%	84.5%	9.72%	75.2%	65.9%	9.33%
1972	95.1%	85.5%	9.62%	74.9%	65.6%	9.39%
1973	95.9%	86.4%	9.52%	74.6%	65.1%	9.46%
1974	96.6%	87.1%	9.41%	74.4%	64.9%	9.54%
1975	97.1%	87.8%	9.29%	74.2%	64.6%	9.64%
1976	97.5%	88.3%	9.16%	74%	64.3%	9.72%
1977	97.7%	88.7%	9.02%	73.5%	63.7%	9.79%
1978	97.8%	88.9%	8.88%	72.4%	62.5%	9.84%
1979	97.9%	89.2%	8.73%	71.3%	61.4%	9.88%
1980	98.1%	89.5%	8.58%	70.4%	60.5%	9.89%
1981	98.3%	89.9%	8.43%	69.5%	59.6%	9.85%
1982	98.5%	90.3%	8.27%	68.7%	58.9%	9.79%
1983	98.7%	90.6%	8.12%	67.9%	58.1%	9.72%
1984	98.9%	90.9%	7.97%	67%	57.3%	9.68%
1985	99%	91.2%	7.83%	66.3%	56.6%	9.68%
1986	99.1%	91.4%	7.69%	65.7%	55.9%	9.71%
1987	99.2%	91.6%	7.55%	65.2%	55.4%	9.75%
1988	99.2%	91.8%	7.42%	64.8%	54.9%	9.81%
1989	99.1%	91.8%	7.29%	64.4%	54.5%	9.89%
1990	99%	91.8%	7.17%	64.2%	54.3%	9.97%
1991	98.8%	91.8%	7.05%	64%	53.9%	10.1%
1992	98.6%	91.7%	6.93%	63.7%	53.6%	10.2%
1993	96.5%	89.8%	6.73%	63.5%	53.2%	10.3%
1994	95.6%	89%	6.59%	63.1%	52.7%	10.4%
1995	96.9%	90.3%	6.55%	62.7%	52.2%	10.5%
1996	97.1%	90.6%	6.49%	62.1%	51.5%	10.6%
1997	96.6%	90.2%	6.4%	61.5%	50.8%	10.7%
1998	96%	89.7%	6.32%	60.7%	50%	10.7%
1999	95.3%	89.1%	6.23%	60%	49.2%	10.8%
2000	94.6%	88.4%	6.15%	59.3%	48.4%	10.9%
2001	93.8%	87.7%	6.08%	58.5%	47.6%	11%
2002	93%	87%	6.01%	57.8%	46.7%	11.1%
2003	92.3%	86.4%	5.95%	57%	45.9%	11.1%
2004	91.7%	85.8%	5.9%	56.3%	45.1%	11.2%
2005	91%	85.1%	5.85%	55.6%	44.3%	11.3%
2006	90.5%	84.6%	5.82%	55%	43.6%	11.4%
2007	90.2%	84.4%	5.81%	54.5%	43.1%	11.4%
2008	89.8%	84%	5.8%	54.1%	42.6%	11.5%
2009	89.2%	83.4%	5.79%	53.8%	42.2%	11.6%
2010	88.5%	82.8%	5.78%	53.5%	41.9%	11.6%
2011	88.1%	82.3%	5.76%	53.4%	41.6%	11.8%
2012	87.7%	81.9%	5.74%	53.3%	41.4%	11.9%
2013	87.3%	81.6%	5.72%	53.4%	41.2%	12.1%
2014	87%	81.3%	5.7%	53.5%	41.1%	12.4%
2015	86.7%	81%	5.67%	53.6%	40.9%	12.7%
2016	86.4%	80.7%	5.65%	53.7%	40.7%	13%
2017	86%	80.4%	5.63%	53.9%	40.6%	13.3%
2018	85.5%	79.9%	5.62%	54.1%	40.4%	13.7%
2019	84.9%	79.3%	5.61%	54.2%	40.1%	14%
2020	84.1%	78.5%	5.6%	54.2%	39.8%	14.4%
2021	83.3%	77.7%	5.59%	54.2%	39.5%	14.7%
2022	82.4%	76.8%	5.59%	54%	39%	15%
2023	81.6%	76%	5.61%	53.9%	38.5%	15.4%
2024	80.7%	75.1%	5.64%	53.7%	38%	15.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Benin decreased from 91.7% to 80.7% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Benin working age demographic chart

Table

Year	Working age population share
	Benin	World
1960	54.9%	57.6%
1961	54.6%	57.5%
1962	54.3%	57.4%
1963	54%	57.2%
1964	53.7%	57%
1965	53.3%	56.9%
1966	53%	56.8%
1967	52.6%	56.9%
1968	52.3%	56.9%
1969	52%	56.9%
1970	51.7%	57%
1971	51.5%	57.1%
1972	51.2%	57.2%
1973	51%	57.3%
1974	50.9%	57.3%
1975	50.7%	57.4%
1976	50.6%	57.5%
1977	50.6%	57.7%
1978	50.6%	58%
1979	50.5%	58.4%
1980	50.5%	58.7%
1981	50.4%	59%
1982	50.4%	59.3%
1983	50.3%	59.6%
1984	50.3%	59.9%
1985	50.2%	60.1%
1986	50.2%	60.4%
1987	50.2%	60.5%
1988	50.2%	60.7%
1989	50.2%	60.8%
1990	50.3%	60.9%
1991	50.3%	61%
1992	50.3%	61.1%
1993	50.9%	61.2%
1994	51.1%	61.3%
1995	50.8%	61.5%
1996	50.7%	61.7%
1997	50.9%	61.9%
1998	51%	62.2%
1999	51.2%	62.5%
2000	51.4%	62.8%
2001	51.6%	63.1%
2002	51.8%	63.4%
2003	52%	63.7%
2004	52.2%	64%
2005	52.4%	64.3%
2006	52.5%	64.5%
2007	52.6%	64.7%
2008	52.7%	64.9%
2009	52.9%	65%
2010	53%	65.1%
2011	53.2%	65.2%
2012	53.3%	65.2%
2013	53.4%	65.2%
2014	53.5%	65.2%
2015	53.6%	65.1%
2016	53.7%	65.1%
2017	53.8%	65%
2018	53.9%	64.9%
2019	54.1%	64.9%
2020	54.3%	64.8%
2021	54.6%	64.9%
2022	54.8%	64.9%
2023	55.1%	65%
2024	55.3%	65.1%
2025	55.6%	65.2%
2026	55.9%	65.3%
2027	56.2%	65.4%
2028	56.5%	65.4%
2029	56.8%	65.4%
2030	57.2%	65.4%
2031	57.6%	65.4%
2032	57.9%	65.4%
2033	58.3%	65.4%
2034	58.6%	65.3%
2035	58.9%	65.2%
2036	59.1%	65%
2037	59.4%	64.9%
2038	59.6%	64.7%
2039	59.9%	64.6%
2040	60.1%	64.5%
2041	60.4%	64.4%
2042	60.6%	64.3%
2043	60.8%	64.2%
2044	61%	64.1%
2045	61.2%	63.9%
2046	61.4%	63.8%
2047	61.6%	63.7%
2048	61.7%	63.6%
2049	61.9%	63.4%
2050	62.1%	63.3%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Benin changed from 52.2% to 55.3% between 2004 and 2024.

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Table

Year	Share of population 0-14 years old
	Benin	World
1960	39.1%	37.4%
1961	39.5%	37.5%
1962	39.9%	37.6%
1963	40.3%	37.8%
1964	40.8%	38%
1965	41.2%	38%
1966	41.6%	38%
1967	42.1%	38%
1968	42.5%	37.9%
1969	42.8%	37.8%
1970	43.2%	37.7%
1971	43.5%	37.6%
1972	43.8%	37.5%
1973	44.1%	37.3%
1974	44.3%	37.2%
1975	44.5%	37.1%
1976	44.7%	36.9%
1977	44.8%	36.7%
1978	45%	36.3%
1979	45.1%	35.9%
1980	45.2%	35.5%
1981	45.3%	35.2%
1982	45.5%	34.9%
1983	45.6%	34.6%
1984	45.7%	34.3%
1985	45.8%	34%
1986	45.9%	33.8%
1987	46%	33.6%
1988	46.1%	33.4%
1989	46.1%	33.2%
1990	46.1%	33%
1991	46.2%	32.9%
1992	46.2%	32.7%
1993	45.7%	32.5%
1994	45.5%	32.3%
1995	45.9%	32.1%
1996	46%	31.8%
1997	45.9%	31.5%
1998	45.8%	31.1%
1999	45.6%	30.8%
2000	45.4%	30.4%
2001	45.3%	30%
2002	45.1%	29.6%
2003	44.9%	29.2%
2004	44.8%	28.8%
2005	44.6%	28.5%
2006	44.4%	28.1%
2007	44.4%	27.9%
2008	44.3%	27.6%
2009	44.1%	27.5%
2010	43.9%	27.3%
2011	43.8%	27.1%
2012	43.7%	27%
2013	43.6%	26.9%
2014	43.5%	26.8%
2015	43.4%	26.6%
2016	43.3%	26.5%
2017	43.2%	26.4%
2018	43.1%	26.2%
2019	42.9%	26%
2020	42.7%	25.8%
2021	42.4%	25.6%
2022	42.1%	25.3%
2023	41.8%	25%
2024	41.6%	24.7%
2025	41.3%	24.4%
2026	40.9%	24.1%
2027	40.6%	23.8%
2028	40.2%	23.4%
2029	39.8%	23.1%
2030	39.4%	22.8%
2031	39%	22.6%
2032	38.6%	22.3%
2033	38.2%	22.1%
2034	37.8%	21.9%
2035	37.5%	21.7%
2036	37.1%	21.6%
2037	36.8%	21.5%
2038	36.5%	21.4%
2039	36.2%	21.3%
2040	35.9%	21.2%
2041	35.6%	21.1%
2042	35.3%	21%
2043	35%	21%
2044	34.8%	20.9%
2045	34.5%	20.8%
2046	34.2%	20.7%
2047	33.9%	20.7%
2048	33.7%	20.6%
2049	33.4%	20.5%
2050	33.1%	20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Benin decreased from 44.8% to 41.6% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+)

Table

Year	Share of population 65+ years old
	Benin	World
1960	6%	4.97%
1961	5.88%	4.99%
1962	5.77%	5.01%
1963	5.67%	5.02%
1964	5.58%	5.04%
1965	5.49%	5.08%
1966	5.4%	5.12%
1967	5.31%	5.16%
1968	5.23%	5.2%
1969	5.15%	5.24%
1970	5.08%	5.28%
1971	5%	5.32%
1972	4.93%	5.37%
1973	4.86%	5.42%
1974	4.79%	5.47%
1975	4.71%	5.53%
1976	4.64%	5.59%
1977	4.56%	5.65%
1978	4.49%	5.71%
1979	4.41%	5.77%
1980	4.33%	5.81%
1981	4.25%	5.81%
1982	4.17%	5.8%
1983	4.09%	5.79%
1984	4.01%	5.8%
1985	3.93%	5.82%
1986	3.86%	5.86%
1987	3.79%	5.91%
1988	3.73%	5.95%
1989	3.66%	6.01%
1990	3.6%	6.07%
1991	3.55%	6.14%
1992	3.49%	6.21%
1993	3.42%	6.29%
1994	3.37%	6.37%
1995	3.33%	6.45%
1996	3.29%	6.53%
1997	3.26%	6.61%
1998	3.22%	6.68%
1999	3.19%	6.76%
2000	3.16%	6.84%
2001	3.14%	6.92%
2002	3.11%	7.01%
2003	3.09%	7.1%
2004	3.08%	7.18%
2005	3.07%	7.26%
2006	3.06%	7.34%
2007	3.06%	7.41%
2008	3.06%	7.47%
2009	3.06%	7.52%
2010	3.06%	7.58%
2011	3.06%	7.66%
2012	3.06%	7.78%
2013	3.05%	7.92%
2014	3.05%	8.08%
2015	3.04%	8.26%
2016	3.03%	8.45%
2017	3.03%	8.65%
2018	3.03%	8.88%
2019	3.03%	9.1%
2020	3.04%	9.33%
2021	3.05%	9.53%
2022	3.06%	9.74%
2023	3.09%	9.98%
2024	3.12%	10.2%
2025	3.15%	10.4%
2026	3.19%	10.6%
2027	3.24%	10.8%
2028	3.29%	11.1%
2029	3.34%	11.5%
2030	3.4%	11.7%
2031	3.45%	12%
2032	3.51%	12.3%
2033	3.57%	12.6%
2034	3.63%	12.8%
2035	3.68%	13.1%
2036	3.74%	13.4%
2037	3.8%	13.7%
2038	3.86%	13.9%
2039	3.92%	14.1%
2040	3.98%	14.3%
2041	4.04%	14.5%
2042	4.11%	14.7%
2043	4.17%	14.9%
2044	4.24%	15%
2045	4.32%	15.2%
2046	4.41%	15.4%
2047	4.5%	15.7%
2048	4.59%	15.9%
2049	4.69%	16.1%
2050	4.79%	16.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Benin increased from 3.08% to 3.12% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in life expectancy.