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Population density: Benin vs France compared

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has a population density of 349 people per square mile compared to 330 people in France. Benin has 85,413 sq ft of land per person vs 101,089 sq ft in France. Benin and France rank 72nd and 75th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Benin has 0.18% of the world's population and 0.08% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.84% of the population and 0.36% of the land area for France, making the population density in Benin 5.48% higher than in France.

Population density by year

Benin
France

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Benin France
2026 349 330
2025 340 330
2024 332 329
2023 324 329
2022 316 328
2021 308 326
2020 300 325
2019 292.3 324
2018 284.4 323
2017 276.5 322
2016 268.7 321
2015 260.9 320
2014 253.3 319
2013 246 317
2012 238.8 316
2011 231.8 314
2010 225 312
2009 218.4 311
2008 212 309
2007 205.7 308
2006 199.7 306
2005 193.5 304
2004 187.4 301
2003 181.8 299.1
2002 176.3 297
2001 171 294.9
2000 165.9 292.8
1999 160.8 290.7
1998 155.9 289.3
1997 151.2 288.2
1996 146.8 287.2
1995 143 286.1
1994 140 285.1
1993 134.9 284
1992 129 282.8
1991 125.1 281.4
1990 121.3 280
1989 117.6 278.5
1988 114.1 276.8
1987 110.7 275.2
1986 107.4 273.7
1985 104.2 272.3
1984 101.2 271
1983 98.3 269.6
1982 95.5 268.2
1981 92.8 267.2
1980 90.2 265.6
1979 87.7 264.2
1978 85.4 263
1977 83.2 261.8
1976 81.1 260.6
1975 79.1 259.5
1974 77.2 258.3
1973 75.4 256.6
1972 73.7 254.5
1971 72 252.3
1970 70.4 249.9
1969 68.9 247.7
1968 67.4 245.6
1967 66 243.8
1966 64.6 241.8
1965 63.3 239.7
1964 62.1 237.4
1963 60.9 234.9
1962 59.8 232.5
1961 58.8 230.2

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/benin/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Benin increased by 74.6%, compared to a 8.08% growth in France.

In 2006, Benin ranked 97th by population density and is 72nd now. France was 67th in 2006 and ranks 75th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Benin
France
1x
Year Urban population
Benin France
2024 52.5% 78.8%
2023 51.7% 78.8%
2022 51% 78.8%
2021 50.2% 78.7%
2020 49.4% 78.7%
2019 48.7% 78.7%
2018 48% 78.7%
2017 47.3% 78.6%
2016 46.6% 78.6%
2015 45.9% 77.8%
2014 45.3% 77.4%
2013 44.7% 77.2%
2012 44% 77.2%
2011 43.5% 77.1%
2010 42.9% 77.1%
2009 42.3% 77.1%
2008 41.8% 77.2%
2007 41.3% 77.2%
2006 40.8% 77.3%
2005 40.3% 77.4%
2004 39.9% 77.5%
2003 39.4% 77.5%
2002 39% 77.3%
2001 38.6% 76.9%
2000 38.3% 76.5%
1999 38% 76.2%
1998 37.7% 75.9%
1997 37.4% 75.6%
1996 37.1% 75.4%
1995 36.8% 75.1%
1994 36.5% 74.8%
1993 36.2% 74.6%
1992 35.8% 74.4%
1991 35.3% 74.2%
1990 34.8% 74.1%
1989 34.2% 73.9%
1988 33.6% 73.8%
1987 32.9% 73.7%
1986 32.1% 73.6%
1985 31.4% 73.6%
1984 30.6% 73.5%
1983 29.8% 73.4%
1982 28.9% 73.4%
1981 28.1% 73.3%
1980 27.3% 73.2%
1979 26.5% 73.2%
1978 25.7% 73.2%
1977 24.8% 73.1%
1976 23.9% 73.1%
1975 22.9% 73%
1974 21.9% 72.9%
1973 20.8% 72.7%
1972 19.8% 72.3%
1971 18.8% 71.9%
1970 17.7% 71.4%
1969 16.7% 70.8%
1968 15.7% 70.2%
1967 14.7% 69.5%
1966 13.8% 68.4%
1965 13% 67.2%
1964 12.2% 65.9%
1963 11.4% 64.6%
1962 10.8% 63.5%
1961 10.2% 62.5%
1960 9.79% 61.7%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/benin/france | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 39.9% to 52.5% in Benin and from 77.5% to 78.8% in France.

Densely populated cities

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
France
City Population
Paris 2.11M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/benin/france | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2022–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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