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Population density: Benin vs Iraq compared

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has a population density of 349 people per square mile compared to 286.5 people in Iraq. Benin has 85,413 sq ft of land per person vs 102,181 sq ft in Iraq. Benin and Iraq rank 72nd and 86th 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 0.57% of the population and 0.29% of the land area for Iraq, making the population density in Benin 21.7% higher than in Iraq.

Population density by year

Benin
Iraq

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Benin Iraq
2026 349 286.5
2025 340 280.5
2024 332 274.7
2023 324 268.9
2022 316 262.9
2021 308 257
2020 300 251.3
2019 292.3 245.7
2018 284.4 240.2
2017 276.5 234.7
2016 268.7 229.5
2015 260.9 224.1
2014 253.3 218.1
2013 246 210.5
2012 238.8 200.7
2011 231.8 191.8
2010 225 185.1
2009 218.4 179.2
2008 212 171.6
2007 205.7 168.1
2006 199.7 169.5
2005 193.5 168.2
2004 187.4 163.3
2003 181.8 158.7
2002 176.3 154
2001 171 149.2
2000 165.9 144.6
1999 160.8 140
1998 155.9 135.5
1997 151.2 131.3
1996 146.8 127.3
1995 143 123.3
1994 140 119.3
1993 134.9 113.7
1992 129 108.4
1991 125.1 105.2
1990 121.3 104.1
1989 117.6 102.8
1988 114.1 100.1
1987 110.7 97.8
1986 107.4 95.2
1985 104.2 92.9
1984 101.2 90.7
1983 98.3 87.9
1982 95.5 85.3
1981 92.8 82.9
1980 90.2 80.5
1979 87.7 78
1978 85.4 75.5
1977 83.2 73
1976 81.1 70.6
1975 79.1 68.4
1974 77.2 66.1
1973 75.4 63.9
1972 73.7 61.8
1971 72 59.7
1970 70.4 57.7
1969 68.9 55.7
1968 67.4 53.8
1967 66 52
1966 64.6 50.2
1965 63.3 48.6
1964 62.1 47
1963 60.9 45.4
1962 59.8 43.9
1961 58.8 42.6

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Benin increased by 74.6%, compared to a 69.1% growth in Iraq.

In 2006, Benin ranked 97th by population density and is 72nd now. Iraq was 110th in 2006 and ranks 86th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Benin
Iraq
1x
Year Urban population
Benin Iraq
2024 52.5% 69.9%
2023 51.7% 69.9%
2022 51% 69.9%
2021 50.2% 69.9%
2020 49.4% 69.9%
2019 48.7% 69.9%
2018 48% 69.9%
2017 47.3% 69.9%
2016 46.6% 69.9%
2015 45.9% 69.9%
2014 45.3% 69.7%
2013 44.7% 69.4%
2012 44% 69.2%
2011 43.5% 69.1%
2010 42.9% 69.1%
2009 42.3% 69%
2008 41.8% 68.9%
2007 41.3% 68.7%
2006 40.8% 68.6%
2005 40.3% 68.4%
2004 39.9% 68.2%
2003 39.4% 68.1%
2002 39% 67.9%
2001 38.6% 67.8%
2000 38.3% 67.6%
1999 38% 67.5%
1998 37.7% 67.5%
1997 37.4% 67.5%
1996 37.1% 67.6%
1995 36.8% 67.8%
1994 36.5% 68.2%
1993 36.2% 68.6%
1992 35.8% 69%
1991 35.3% 69.4%
1990 34.8% 69.7%
1989 34.2% 70%
1988 33.6% 70.2%
1987 32.9% 70.2%
1986 32.1% 70%
1985 31.4% 69.7%
1984 30.6% 69.1%
1983 29.8% 68.5%
1982 28.9% 67.7%
1981 28.1% 66.9%
1980 27.3% 66%
1979 26.5% 65.1%
1978 25.7% 64.3%
1977 24.8% 63.5%
1976 23.9% 62.7%
1975 22.9% 61.8%
1974 21.9% 60.9%
1973 20.8% 60%
1972 19.8% 59%
1971 18.8% 58%
1970 17.7% 57%
1969 16.7% 55.9%
1968 15.7% 54.8%
1967 14.7% 53.7%
1966 13.8% 52.5%
1965 13% 51.4%
1964 12.2% 50%
1963 11.4% 48.6%
1962 10.8% 47%
1961 10.2% 45.5%
1960 9.79% 44%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 39.9% to 52.5% in Benin and from 68.2% to 69.9% in Iraq.

Densely populated cities

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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 (2005–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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