Benin is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 14.5M people. The capital is Porto-Novo, while the largest city is Cotonou, with 679K residents. Benin shares land borders with Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Benin ranks 125/197 by GDP ($21.5B) and 162/197 by GDP per capita ($1,485). The top export category is textiles & consumer goods, while the top import is raw agricultural goods.
Main facts and rankings
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
15100397
|
76/197 |
| GDP |
$21.5B
2024 |
125/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,485
2024 |
162/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$4,435
2024 |
162/197 |
| Government debt |
$11.6B
2024 |
123/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
52.5%
2025 |
103/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$803
2024 |
149/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,059
2025 |
194/197 |
| Land area | 43,537 sq mi | 99/197 |
| Population density | 332 ppl/mi² | 74/197 |
| Fertility rate | 4.56 | 14/196 |
| Median age | 19 years | 179/196 |
| Life expectancy | 61.1 years | 189/197 |
Benin trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 1960 | $226,195,578 |
| 1961 | $235,668,221 |
| 1962 | $236,434,954 |
| 1963 | $253,927,697 |
| 1964 | $269,819,006 |
| 1965 | $289,908,680 |
| 1966 | $302,925,235 |
| 1967 | $306,221,953 |
| 1968 | $326,323,105 |
| 1969 | $330,748,245 |
| 1970 | $333,627,713 |
| 1971 | $335,073,028 |
| 1972 | $410,331,857 |
| 1973 | $504,376,074 |
| 1974 | $554,654,861 |
| 1975 | $676,870,140 |
| 1976 | $698,408,262 |
| 1977 | $750,049,779 |
| 1978 | $928,843,469 |
| 1979 | $1,186,231,020 |
| 1980 | $1,405,251,847 |
| 1981 | $1,291,120,188 |
| 1982 | $1,267,778,670 |
| 1983 | $1,095,348,199 |
| 1984 | $1,051,134,009 |
| 1985 | $1,045,712,789 |
| 1986 | $1,336,102,025 |
| 1987 | $1,562,412,228 |
| 1988 | $1,620,246,084 |
| 1989 | $1,502,294,416 |
| 1990 | $1,959,965,330 |
| 1991 | $1,986,437,797 |
| 1992 | $1,695,315,306 |
| 1993 | $2,274,558,083 |
| 1994 | $1,598,075,944 |
| 1995 | $2,169,627,138 |
| 1996 | $2,361,116,449 |
| 1997 | $2,268,301,646 |
| 1998 | $2,455,092,686 |
| 1999 | $3,677,393,999 |
| 2000 | $3,519,991,440 |
| 2001 | $3,666,222,635 |
| 2002 | $4,194,342,686 |
| 2003 | $5,349,258,094 |
| 2004 | $6,190,270,380 |
| 2005 | $6,567,654,954 |
| 2006 | $7,034,111,315 |
| 2007 | $8,169,048,383 |
| 2008 | $9,787,734,526 |
| 2009 | $9,738,626,517 |
| 2010 | $9,535,345,016 |
| 2011 | $10,693,321,364 |
| 2012 | $11,141,358,116 |
| 2013 | $12,517,845,124 |
| 2014 | $13,284,527,847 |
| 2015 | $11,388,160,997 |
| 2016 | $11,821,065,853 |
| 2017 | $12,701,655,837 |
| 2018 | $14,262,408,090 |
| 2019 | $14,391,686,313 |
| 2020 | $15,686,741,894 |
| 2021 | $17,687,623,535 |
| 2022 | $17,425,405,084 |
| 2023 | $19,673,290,996 |
| 2024 | $21,482,643,720 |
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 1960 | $89.9 |
| 1961 | $92.1 |
| 1962 | $90.8 |
| 1963 | $95.7 |
| 1964 | $99.8 |
| 1965 | $105.1 |
| 1966 | $107.6 |
| 1967 | $106.6 |
| 1968 | $111.2 |
| 1969 | $110.3 |
| 1970 | $108.8 |
| 1971 | $106.9 |
| 1972 | $127.9 |
| 1973 | $153.6 |
| 1974 | $164.9 |
| 1975 | $196.5 |
| 1976 | $197.7 |
| 1977 | $207 |
| 1978 | $249.8 |
| 1979 | $311 |
| 1980 | $358 |
| 1981 | $320 |
| 1982 | $305 |
| 1983 | $256 |
| 1984 | $238.6 |
| 1985 | $230.4 |
| 1986 | $285.8 |
| 1987 | $324 |
| 1988 | $326 |
| 1989 | $293.3 |
| 1990 | $371 |
| 1991 | $365 |
| 1992 | $302 |
| 1993 | $387 |
| 1994 | $262.1 |
| 1995 | $348 |
| 1996 | $369 |
| 1997 | $345 |
| 1998 | $362 |
| 1999 | $525 |
| 2000 | $487 |
| 2001 | $492 |
| 2002 | $546 |
| 2003 | $676 |
| 2004 | $759 |
| 2005 | $779 |
| 2006 | $809 |
| 2007 | $912 |
| 2008 | $1,061 |
| 2009 | $1,024 |
| 2010 | $973 |
| 2011 | $1,059 |
| 2012 | $1,072 |
| 2013 | $1,169 |
| 2014 | $1,204 |
| 2015 | $1,002 |
| 2016 | $1,011 |
| 2017 | $1,055 |
| 2018 | $1,152 |
| 2019 | $1,131 |
| 2020 | $1,200 |
| 2021 | $1,319 |
| 2022 | $1,266 |
| 2023 | $1,394 |
| 2024 | $1,485 |
Benin's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 35.4 |
| 1951 | 35.7 |
| 1952 | 36 |
| 1953 | 36.3 |
| 1954 | 36.7 |
| 1955 | 37 |
| 1956 | 37.3 |
| 1957 | 37.6 |
| 1958 | 38 |
| 1959 | 38.4 |
| 1960 | 38.8 |
| 1961 | 39.2 |
| 1962 | 39.6 |
| 1963 | 40.1 |
| 1964 | 40.5 |
| 1965 | 41 |
| 1966 | 41.3 |
| 1967 | 41.8 |
| 1968 | 42.2 |
| 1969 | 42.6 |
| 1970 | 43 |
| 1971 | 43.4 |
| 1972 | 43.9 |
| 1973 | 44.4 |
| 1974 | 44.9 |
| 1975 | 45.4 |
| 1976 | 46 |
| 1977 | 46.5 |
| 1978 | 46.9 |
| 1979 | 47.4 |
| 1980 | 47.7 |
| 1981 | 48.1 |
| 1982 | 48.5 |
| 1983 | 48.8 |
| 1984 | 49.4 |
| 1985 | 50 |
| 1986 | 50.6 |
| 1987 | 51.3 |
| 1988 | 52 |
| 1989 | 52.5 |
| 1990 | 53 |
| 1991 | 53.4 |
| 1992 | 54.1 |
| 1993 | 54.6 |
| 1994 | 55 |
| 1995 | 55.4 |
| 1996 | 55.6 |
| 1997 | 56 |
| 1998 | 56.2 |
| 1999 | 56.3 |
| 2000 | 56.6 |
| 2001 | 56.7 |
| 2002 | 56.9 |
| 2003 | 57.1 |
| 2004 | 57.3 |
| 2005 | 57.7 |
| 2006 | 58 |
| 2007 | 58.2 |
| 2008 | 58.1 |
| 2009 | 58.3 |
| 2010 | 58.4 |
| 2011 | 58.5 |
| 2012 | 58.6 |
| 2013 | 58.9 |
| 2014 | 59 |
| 2015 | 59.1 |
| 2016 | 59.3 |
| 2017 | 59.5 |
| 2018 | 59.7 |
| 2019 | 59.9 |
| 2020 | 60.2 |
| 2021 | 59.6 |
| 2022 | 60.5 |
| 2023 | 60.8 |
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2025 | 61.1 |
Benin's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,517,286 |
| 1961 | 2,559,223 |
| 1962 | 2,604,659 |
| 1963 | 2,652,908 |
| 1964 | 2,704,003 |
| 1965 | 2,757,936 |
| 1966 | 2,814,317 |
| 1967 | 2,872,997 |
| 1968 | 2,934,257 |
| 1969 | 2,998,222 |
| 1970 | 3,065,057 |
| 1971 | 3,134,767 |
| 1972 | 3,207,543 |
| 1973 | 3,283,496 |
| 1974 | 3,362,633 |
| 1975 | 3,445,407 |
| 1976 | 3,532,196 |
| 1977 | 3,623,202 |
| 1978 | 3,718,305 |
| 1979 | 3,818,528 |
| 1980 | 3,925,251 |
| 1981 | 4,038,307 |
| 1982 | 4,156,596 |
| 1983 | 4,278,978 |
| 1984 | 4,405,895 |
| 1985 | 4,538,012 |
| 1986 | 4,675,420 |
| 1987 | 4,818,486 |
| 1988 | 4,967,341 |
| 1989 | 5,121,657 |
| 1990 | 5,281,479 |
| 1991 | 5,446,932 |
| 1992 | 5,617,844 |
| 1993 | 5,872,706 |
| 1994 | 6,096,506 |
| 1995 | 6,226,773 |
| 1996 | 6,391,858 |
| 1997 | 6,583,365 |
| 1998 | 6,789,489 |
| 1999 | 7,002,818 |
| 2000 | 7,221,619 |
| 2001 | 7,445,596 |
| 2002 | 7,675,426 |
| 2003 | 7,913,070 |
| 2004 | 8,159,094 |
| 2005 | 8,426,144 |
| 2006 | 8,693,242 |
| 2007 | 8,953,969 |
| 2008 | 9,228,466 |
| 2009 | 9,509,423 |
| 2010 | 9,797,484 |
| 2011 | 10,093,623 |
| 2012 | 10,397,657 |
| 2013 | 10,708,834 |
| 2014 | 11,030,004 |
| 2015 | 11,360,681 |
| 2016 | 11,697,842 |
| 2017 | 12,039,780 |
| 2018 | 12,383,347 |
| 2019 | 12,726,755 |
| 2020 | 13,070,169 |
| 2021 | 13,413,417 |
| 2022 | 13,759,501 |
| 2023 | 14,111,034 |
| 2024 | 14,462,724 |
Benin's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.28 |
| 1961 | 6.4 |
| 1962 | 6.46 |
| 1963 | 6.51 |
| 1964 | 6.57 |
| 1965 | 6.61 |
| 1966 | 6.63 |
| 1967 | 6.64 |
| 1968 | 6.67 |
| 1969 | 6.71 |
| 1970 | 6.74 |
| 1971 | 6.77 |
| 1972 | 6.8 |
| 1973 | 6.81 |
| 1974 | 6.82 |
| 1975 | 6.83 |
| 1976 | 6.83 |
| 1977 | 6.83 |
| 1978 | 6.82 |
| 1979 | 6.91 |
| 1980 | 6.99 |
| 1981 | 7.06 |
| 1982 | 7.06 |
| 1983 | 7.05 |
| 1984 | 7.03 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1986 | 6.96 |
| 1987 | 6.92 |
| 1988 | 6.87 |
| 1989 | 6.82 |
| 1990 | 6.74 |
| 1991 | 6.67 |
| 1992 | 6.59 |
| 1993 | 6.51 |
| 1994 | 6.42 |
| 1995 | 6.33 |
| 1996 | 6.28 |
| 1997 | 6.23 |
| 1998 | 6.14 |
| 1999 | 6.03 |
| 2000 | 5.94 |
| 2001 | 5.85 |
| 2002 | 5.79 |
| 2003 | 5.76 |
| 2004 | 5.72 |
| 2005 | 5.69 |
| 2006 | 5.67 |
| 2007 | 5.63 |
| 2008 | 5.55 |
| 2009 | 5.49 |
| 2010 | 5.45 |
| 2011 | 5.44 |
| 2012 | 5.43 |
| 2013 | 5.41 |
| 2014 | 5.37 |
| 2015 | 5.32 |
| 2016 | 5.25 |
| 2017 | 5.16 |
| 2018 | 5.03 |
| 2019 | 4.9 |
| 2020 | 4.8 |
| 2021 | 4.71 |
| 2022 | 4.63 |
| 2023 | 4.56 |
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 20.8 |
| 1961 | 20.6 |
| 1962 | 20.3 |
| 1963 | 20.1 |
| 1964 | 19.9 |
| 1965 | 19.7 |
| 1966 | 19.5 |
| 1967 | 19.3 |
| 1968 | 19 |
| 1969 | 18.8 |
| 1970 | 18.6 |
| 1971 | 18.4 |
| 1972 | 18.3 |
| 1973 | 18.1 |
| 1974 | 17.9 |
| 1975 | 17.8 |
| 1976 | 17.7 |
| 1977 | 17.6 |
| 1978 | 17.5 |
| 1979 | 17.4 |
| 1980 | 17.3 |
| 1981 | 17.3 |
| 1982 | 17.2 |
| 1983 | 17.1 |
| 1984 | 17.1 |
| 1985 | 17 |
| 1986 | 17 |
| 1987 | 16.9 |
| 1988 | 16.9 |
| 1989 | 16.9 |
| 1990 | 16.9 |
| 1991 | 16.9 |
| 1992 | 16.9 |
| 1993 | 17.1 |
| 1994 | 17.2 |
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1996 | 16.9 |
| 1997 | 17 |
| 1998 | 17 |
| 1999 | 17.1 |
| 2000 | 17.1 |
| 2001 | 17.2 |
| 2002 | 17.3 |
| 2003 | 17.4 |
| 2004 | 17.4 |
| 2005 | 17.5 |
| 2006 | 17.6 |
| 2007 | 17.6 |
| 2008 | 17.7 |
| 2009 | 17.8 |
| 2010 | 17.8 |
| 2011 | 17.9 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 18.1 |
| 2015 | 18.1 |
| 2016 | 18.2 |
| 2017 | 18.3 |
| 2018 | 18.3 |
| 2019 | 18.4 |
| 2020 | 18.5 |
| 2021 | 18.6 |
| 2022 | 18.7 |
| 2023 | 18.8 |
| 2024 | 19 |
Benin vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Benin with other countries.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
Benin: National Statistics
Finance
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$20.6B
2024 |
121/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.7%
2025 |
164/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
3.23%
2023 |
133/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.71%
2023 |
140/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
12,000
2020 |
124/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-2.9%
2025 |
90/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
1.69%
2022 |
178/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
48.9%
2024 |
139/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
17.4%
2024 |
149/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
58.5
2025 |
105/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
27.2%
2021 |
89/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3.1%
2021 |
49/169 |
| Personal remittances received |
$236M
2024 |
135/190 |
| International tourist arrivals |
337,000
2019 |
138/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
6.72%
2019 |
83/184 |
| Banked people share |
51.8%
2024 |
111/158 |
Energy
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
376 kg
2022 |
149/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$10.2
2022 |
128/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
6.44 megatons
2023 |
128/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.46 tons
2023 |
153/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
39.6%
2022 |
118/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
54.5%
2021 |
44/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
0.05%
2022 |
140/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
40.9%
2022 |
58/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
105.3 kWh
2022 |
137/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
0.26%
2021 |
184/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0.006%
2021 |
147/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
47/192 |
| Electricity access |
57%
2023 |
168/195 |
Society
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.18%
2024 |
76/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-7,725
2024 |
129/196 |
| Urban population |
50.7%
2024 |
132/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.52 ft
2025 |
150/190 |
| Average female height |
5.2 ft
2025 |
137/190 |
| Quality of life index |
20.8
2025 |
176/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
45
2024 |
84/197 |
| Higher education index |
37
2025 |
118/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
1.1
2017 |
145/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
26.8
2019 |
40/197 |
| Visa free countries |
69
2025 |
143/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
51.4%
2022 |
184/196 |
| English speaking |
1%
2025 |
171/197 |
| People using the Internet |
32.2%
2023 |
169/195 |
Health
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$33.9
2022 |
181/191 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$14.4
2022 |
166/191 |
| Life expectancy |
61.1 years
2025 |
189/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
32%
2022 |
21/178 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.2
2022 |
158/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
20.5 years
2025 |
105/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
518
2023 |
8/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
77.9
2023 |
10/192 |
| Obesity rate |
11.5%
2022 |
153/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
8.1%
2024 |
101/195 |
| Air quality index |
17
2025 |
165/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
6.3%
2022 |
159/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
8.83 liters
2020 |
42/186 |
Territory
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2025 |
99/197 |
| Land area per capita |
3,010 sq mi
2024 |
124/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
18,211 sq mi
2025 |
90/194 |
| Forest area |
11,526 sq mi
2025 |
91/196 |
| Roads length |
9,942 mi
2006 |
104/175 |
Compare Benin with other countries
Relevant pages:
Benin topic pages:
Facts comparisons
