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Benin vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has a population of 14.5M (ranked 76/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Benin's land area is 43,537 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 99th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Benin ranks 126/197 ($21.5B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Benin ranks 162/197 ($1,485), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Benin South Africa
Population
15272847
65683993
Population rank 76/197 24/197
GDP
$21.5B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 126/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$1,485
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 162/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,435
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$11.5B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
53.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$794
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 151/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,091
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 43,537 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
349 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.56
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
19 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
61.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Benin and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Benin and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Benin

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Benin South Africa
2024 $21,482,643,706 $401,144,998,374
2023 $19,673,291,004 $381,440,724,491
2022 $17,425,405,091 $407,596,043,068
2021 $17,687,623,530 $419,986,284,375
2020 $15,686,741,884 $337,974,655,408
2019 $14,391,686,313 $389,330,032,224
2018 $14,262,408,090 $405,260,723,893
2017 $12,701,655,837 $381,448,814,653
2016 $11,821,065,853 $323,585,509,674
2015 $11,388,160,997 $346,709,790,459
2014 $13,284,527,847 $381,198,869,776
2013 $12,517,845,124 $400,886,013,596
2012 $11,141,358,116 $434,400,545,086
2011 $10,693,321,364 $458,199,494,831
2010 $9,535,345,016 $417,363,822,802
2009 $9,738,626,517 $329,754,060,647
2008 $9,787,734,526 $316,131,258,616
2007 $8,169,048,383 $333,077,117,254
2006 $7,034,111,315 $303,858,675,364
2005 $6,567,654,954 $288,867,217,197
2004 $6,190,270,380 $255,806,908,595
2003 $5,349,258,094 $197,018,965,309
2002 $4,194,342,686 $129,087,556,612
2001 $3,666,222,635 $135,429,905,923
2000 $3,519,991,440 $151,752,757,215
1999 $3,677,393,999 $151,516,957,079
1998 $2,455,092,686 $152,982,984,557
1997 $2,268,301,646 $168,978,057,328
1996 $2,361,116,449 $163,234,925,381
1995 $2,169,627,138 $171,735,933,897
1994 $1,598,075,944 $153,512,712,382
1993 $2,274,558,083 $147,194,747,566
1992 $1,695,315,306 $146,956,150,987
1991 $1,986,437,797 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,959,965,330 $126,048,140,142
1989 $1,502,294,416 $108,055,624,082
1988 $1,620,246,084 $103,976,831,871
1987 $1,562,412,228 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,336,102,025 $73,354,771,399
1985 $1,045,712,789 $64,459,376,087
1984 $1,051,134,009 $84,870,163,366
1983 $1,095,348,199 $96,204,110,942
1982 $1,267,778,670 $85,904,057,409
1981 $1,291,120,188 $93,141,472,164
1980 $1,405,251,847 $89,411,864,402
1979 $1,186,231,020 $63,038,658,089
1978 $928,843,469 $51,607,412,902
1977 $750,049,779 $45,328,411,332
1976 $698,408,262 $41,150,460,288
1975 $676,870,140 $42,906,905,672
1974 $554,654,861 $41,389,186,095
1973 $504,376,074 $33,262,772,008
1972 $410,331,857 $24,515,919,217
1971 $335,073,028 $23,411,076,638
1970 $333,627,713 $21,218,391,513
1969 $330,748,245 $19,256,992,297
1968 $326,323,105 $17,124,793,150
1967 $306,221,953 $15,821,393,671
1966 $302,925,235 $14,211,394,315
1965 $289,908,680 $13,068,994,772
1964 $269,819,006 $11,955,995,218
1963 $253,927,697 $10,854,195,658
1962 $236,434,954 $9,813,996,074
1961 $235,668,221 $9,225,996,310
1960 $226,195,578 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/benin/south-africa | CC BY

Benin and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Benin

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Benin South Africa
2024 $1,485 $6,267
2023 $1,394 $6,034
2022 $1,266 $6,534
2021 $1,319 $6,829
2020 $1,200 $5,581
2019 $1,131 $6,534
2018 $1,152 $6,914
2017 $1,055 $6,618
2016 $1,011 $5,651
2015 $1,002 $6,112
2014 $1,204 $6,857
2013 $1,169 $7,332
2012 $1,072 $8,077
2011 $1,059 $8,646
2010 $973 $7,973
2009 $1,024 $6,375
2008 $1,061 $6,185
2007 $912 $6,592
2006 $809 $6,077
2005 $779 $5,837
2004 $759 $5,221
2003 $676 $4,062
2002 $546 $2,688
2001 $492 $2,847
2000 $487 $3,218
1999 $525 $3,242
1998 $362 $3,310
1997 $345 $3,700
1996 $369 $3,618
1995 $348 $3,856
1994 $262.1 $3,489
1993 $387 $3,400
1992 $302 $3,462
1991 $365 $3,243
1990 $371 $3,093
1989 $293.3 $2,727
1988 $326 $2,702
1987 $324 $2,586
1986 $285.8 $2,027
1985 $230.4 $1,839
1984 $238.6 $2,504
1983 $256 $2,938
1982 $305 $2,717
1981 $320 $3,050
1980 $358 $3,029
1979 $311 $2,202
1978 $249.8 $1,852
1977 $207 $1,671
1976 $197.7 $1,559
1975 $196.5 $1,670
1974 $164.9 $1,656
1973 $153.6 $1,369
1972 $127.9 $1,038
1971 $106.9 $1,020
1970 $108.8 $952
1969 $110.3 $891
1968 $111.2 $817
1967 $106.6 $779
1966 $107.6 $722
1965 $105.1 $685
1964 $99.8 $646
1963 $95.7 $605
1962 $90.8 $563
1961 $92.1 $546
1960 $89.9 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/benin/south-africa | CC BY

Benin vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Benin

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Benin South Africa
2026 61.3 66.7
2025 61.1 66.5
2024 61 66.3
2023 60.8 66.1
2022 60.5 65.5
2021 59.6 62
2020 60.2 65.2
2019 59.9 66.1
2018 59.7 65.7
2017 59.5 65.4
2016 59.3 64.7
2015 59.1 64.1
2014 59 63.2
2013 58.9 62.4
2012 58.6 61.7
2011 58.5 60.6
2010 58.4 58.9
2009 58.3 57.4
2008 58.1 56
2007 58.2 54.9
2006 58 54.2
2005 57.7 53.9
2004 57.3 54
2003 57.1 54.2
2002 56.9 55.6
2001 56.7 57.2
2000 56.6 58.4
1999 56.3 59.2
1998 56.2 59.9
1997 56 60.5
1996 55.6 61.1
1995 55.4 61.6
1994 55 62.1
1993 54.6 62.6
1992 54.1 62.8
1991 53.4 63
1990 53 62.9
1989 52.5 63
1988 52 62.9
1987 51.3 62.7
1986 50.6 62.4
1985 50 62.2
1984 49.4 61.8
1983 48.8 61.4
1982 48.5 60.9
1981 48.1 60.4
1980 47.7 60
1979 47.4 59.5
1978 46.9 59
1977 46.5 58.5
1976 46 58
1975 45.4 57.6
1974 44.9 57.1
1973 44.4 56.7
1972 43.9 56.4
1971 43.4 56
1970 43 55.7
1969 42.6 55.4
1968 42.2 55.2
1967 41.8 55
1966 41.3 54.7
1965 41 54.4
1964 40.5 54.2
1963 40.1 53.9
1962 39.6 53.6
1961 39.2 53.1
1960 38.8 52.6
1959 38.4 51.9
1958 38 51.1
1957 37.6 50.2
1956 37.3 49.2
1955 37 48.2
1954 36.7 47.1
1953 36.3 46.1
1952 36 45
1951 35.7 44.1
1950 35.4 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/benin/south-africa | CC BY

Benin and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Benin

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Benin South Africa
2024 14,462,724 64,007,187
2023 14,111,034 63,212,384
2022 13,759,501 62,378,410
2021 13,413,417 61,502,603
2020 13,070,169 60,562,381
2019 12,726,755 59,587,885
2018 12,383,347 58,613,001
2017 12,039,780 57,635,162
2016 11,697,842 57,259,551
2015 11,360,681 56,723,537
2014 11,030,004 55,594,838
2013 10,708,834 54,678,791
2012 10,397,657 53,782,567
2011 10,093,623 52,995,205
2010 9,797,484 52,344,051
2009 9,509,423 51,728,516
2008 9,228,466 51,114,599
2007 8,953,969 50,528,584
2006 8,693,242 49,998,277
2005 8,426,144 49,490,033
2004 8,159,094 48,991,421
2003 7,913,070 48,500,348
2002 7,675,426 48,019,415
2001 7,445,596 47,566,800
2000 7,221,619 47,159,719
1999 7,002,818 46,730,335
1998 6,789,489 46,223,880
1997 6,583,365 45,666,838
1996 6,391,858 45,123,018
1995 6,226,773 44,541,554
1994 6,096,506 44,004,139
1993 5,872,706 43,297,156
1992 5,617,844 42,443,509
1991 5,446,932 41,687,898
1990 5,281,479 40,746,268
1989 5,121,657 39,628,575
1988 4,967,341 38,480,649
1987 4,818,486 37,326,190
1986 4,675,420 36,180,515
1985 4,538,012 35,042,093
1984 4,405,895 33,892,788
1983 4,278,978 32,739,304
1982 4,156,596 31,615,339
1981 4,038,307 30,541,044
1980 3,925,251 29,518,857
1979 3,818,528 28,634,162
1978 3,718,305 27,869,507
1977 3,623,202 27,118,952
1976 3,532,196 26,395,450
1975 3,445,407 25,690,940
1974 3,362,633 24,989,108
1973 3,283,496 24,294,263
1972 3,207,543 23,609,456
1971 3,134,767 22,942,143
1970 3,065,057 22,279,984
1969 2,998,222 21,614,676
1968 2,934,257 20,957,287
1967 2,872,997 20,314,066
1966 2,814,317 19,690,087
1965 2,757,936 19,089,380
1964 2,704,003 18,511,361
1963 2,652,908 17,954,564
1962 2,604,659 17,418,522
1961 2,559,223 16,908,035
1960 2,517,286 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/benin/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Benin and South Africa

Fertility rate
Benin

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Benin South Africa
2023 4.56 2.22
2022 4.63 2.23
2021 4.71 2.25
2020 4.8 2.26
2019 4.9 2.26
2018 5.03 2.27
2017 5.16 2.28
2016 5.25 2.26
2015 5.32 2.36
2014 5.37 2.42
2013 5.41 2.43
2012 5.43 2.45
2011 5.44 2.44
2010 5.45 2.44
2009 5.49 2.5
2008 5.55 2.68
2007 5.63 2.55
2006 5.67 2.55
2005 5.69 2.51
2004 5.72 2.44
2003 5.76 2.36
2002 5.79 2.32
2001 5.85 2.37
2000 5.94 2.41
1999 6.03 2.56
1998 6.14 2.63
1997 6.23 2.73
1996 6.28 2.99
1995 6.33 3.17
1994 6.42 3.26
1993 6.51 3.37
1992 6.59 3.48
1991 6.67 3.62
1990 6.74 3.72
1989 6.82 3.98
1988 6.87 4.18
1987 6.92 4.35
1986 6.96 4.41
1985 7 4.5
1984 7.03 4.57
1983 7.05 4.63
1982 7.06 4.7
1981 7.06 4.71
1980 6.99 4.78
1979 6.91 4.82
1978 6.82 4.85
1977 6.83 4.94
1976 6.83 5.07
1975 6.83 5.19
1974 6.82 5.3
1973 6.81 5.41
1972 6.8 5.49
1971 6.77 5.57
1970 6.74 5.63
1969 6.71 5.72
1968 6.67 5.78
1967 6.64 5.85
1966 6.63 5.91
1965 6.61 5.89
1964 6.57 5.96
1963 6.51 6.01
1962 6.46 6.05
1961 6.4 6.08
1960 6.28 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/benin/south-africa | CC BY

Benin and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Benin

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Benin South Africa
2024 19 29.5
2023 18.8 29.2
2022 18.7 28.9
2021 18.6 28.6
2020 18.5 28.3
2019 18.4 27.9
2018 18.3 27.5
2017 18.3 27
2016 18.2 26.7
2015 18.1 26.4
2014 18.1 26
2013 18 25.7
2012 18 25.3
2011 17.9 25
2010 17.8 24.6
2009 17.8 24.3
2008 17.7 24
2007 17.6 23.8
2006 17.6 23.5
2005 17.5 23.3
2004 17.4 23.1
2003 17.4 22.8
2002 17.3 22.4
2001 17.2 22.2
2000 17.1 21.9
1999 17.1 21.6
1998 17 21.4
1997 17 21.2
1996 16.9 21.2
1995 17 21.5
1994 17.2 22
1993 17.1 21.9
1992 16.9 21.5
1991 16.9 21.5
1990 16.9 21.3
1989 16.9 21.1
1988 16.9 20.9
1987 16.9 20.7
1986 17 20.5
1985 17 20.4
1984 17.1 20.2
1983 17.1 20
1982 17.2 19.8
1981 17.3 19.6
1980 17.3 19.4
1979 17.4 19.3
1978 17.5 19.2
1977 17.6 19.1
1976 17.7 19
1975 17.8 18.9
1974 17.9 18.9
1973 18.1 18.8
1972 18.3 18.8
1971 18.4 18.8
1970 18.6 18.8
1969 18.8 18.8
1968 19 18.8
1967 19.3 18.8
1966 19.5 18.8
1965 19.7 18.8
1964 19.9 18.9
1963 20.1 18.9
1962 20.3 18.9
1961 20.6 19
1960 20.8 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/benin/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Benin and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Benin South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$20.6B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.23%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.72%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
12,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.06%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.69%
2022
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
48.9%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.4%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
60
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.2%
2021
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2021
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$236M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
337,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
6.72%
2019
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
51.8%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Benin South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
376 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.2
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
7.05 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.49 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
39.6%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
54.5%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.05%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
40.9%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
105.3 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
0.26%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0.006%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
57%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Benin South Africa
% of world population
0.18%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-7,847
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
52.5%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.1:49.9
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.52 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
23.3
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
45
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
36
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.1
2017
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
26.8
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
68
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
51.4%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
1%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
32.2%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Benin South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$46.5
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$19.7
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
61.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
38.4%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.22
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
20.5 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
518
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
77.9
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
11.5%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
8.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
17
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
6.3%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
8.83 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Benin South Africa
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
3,010 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
18,211 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
11,526 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2006
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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