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Population density: Benin vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has a population density of 349 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. Benin has 85,413 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. Benin and Rwanda rank 72nd and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in Benin 77.7% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Benin
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Benin Rwanda
2026 349 1,563
2025 340 1,529
2024 332 1,497
2023 324 1,465
2022 316 1,433
2021 308 1,402
2020 300 1,372
2019 292.3 1,341
2018 284.4 1,311
2017 276.5 1,281
2016 268.7 1,251
2015 260.9 1,222
2014 253.3 1,193
2013 246 1,165
2012 238.8 1,137
2011 231.8 1,110
2010 225 1,083
2009 218.4 1,056
2008 212 1,029
2007 205.7 1,003
2006 199.7 976
2005 193.5 951
2004 187.4 926
2003 181.8 901
2002 176.3 882
2001 171 870
2000 165.9 862
1999 160.8 855
1998 155.9 848
1997 151.2 814
1996 146.8 704
1995 143 596
1994 140 713
1993 134.9 838
1992 129 807
1991 125.1 790
1990 121.3 774
1989 117.6 754
1988 114.1 732
1987 110.7 709
1986 107.4 686
1985 104.2 663
1984 101.2 641
1983 98.3 620
1982 95.5 600
1981 92.8 580
1980 90.2 562
1979 87.7 545
1978 85.4 529
1977 83.2 513
1976 81.1 498
1975 79.1 484
1974 77.2 470
1973 75.4 456
1972 73.7 443
1971 72 430
1970 70.4 418
1969 68.9 405
1968 67.4 393
1967 66 381
1966 64.6 370
1965 63.3 359
1964 62.1 350
1963 60.9 342
1962 59.8 334
1961 58.8 326

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Benin increased by 74.6%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, Benin ranked 97th by population density and is 72nd now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Benin
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Benin Rwanda
2024 52.5% 29.9%
2023 51.7% 28.9%
2022 51% 27.8%
2021 50.2% 26.1%
2020 49.4% 24.5%
2019 48.7% 23%
2018 48% 21.5%
2017 47.3% 20.2%
2016 46.6% 19.1%
2015 45.9% 18.2%
2014 45.3% 17.5%
2013 44.7% 17.1%
2012 44% 16.9%
2011 43.5% 16.9%
2010 42.9% 16.9%
2009 42.3% 16.9%
2008 41.8% 16.9%
2007 41.3% 16.9%
2006 40.8% 16.9%
2005 40.3% 16.9%
2004 39.9% 16.9%
2003 39.4% 16.9%
2002 39% 16.9%
2001 38.6% 16.5%
2000 38.3% 15.8%
1999 38% 14.7%
1998 37.7% 13.3%
1997 37.4% 11.8%
1996 37.1% 10.3%
1995 36.8% 8.82%
1994 36.5% 7.48%
1993 36.2% 6.4%
1992 35.8% 5.66%
1991 35.3% 5.36%
1990 34.8% 5.27%
1989 34.2% 5.2%
1988 33.6% 5.14%
1987 32.9% 5.09%
1986 32.1% 5.05%
1985 31.4% 5.01%
1984 30.6% 4.98%
1983 29.8% 4.95%
1982 28.9% 4.91%
1981 28.1% 4.87%
1980 27.3% 4.82%
1979 26.5% 4.75%
1978 25.7% 4.67%
1977 24.8% 4.55%
1976 23.9% 4.39%
1975 22.9% 4.19%
1974 21.9% 3.97%
1973 20.8% 3.75%
1972 19.8% 3.55%
1971 18.8% 3.37%
1970 17.7% 3.24%
1969 16.7% 3.14%
1968 15.7% 3.06%
1967 14.7% 3%
1966 13.8% 2.94%
1965 13% 2.88%
1964 12.2% 2.83%
1963 11.4% 2.78%
1962 10.8% 2.72%
1961 10.2% 2.67%
1960 9.79% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 39.9% to 52.5% in Benin and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

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/rwanda | 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 (2012–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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