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Population density: Benin vs Sri Lanka compared

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has a population density of 349 people per square mile compared to 928 people in Sri Lanka. Benin has 85,413 sq ft of land per person vs 32,224 sq ft in Sri Lanka. Benin and Sri Lanka rank 72nd and 25th 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 0.27% of the population and 0.04% of the land area for Sri Lanka, making the population density in Benin 62.4% lower than in Sri Lanka.

Population density by year

Benin
Sri Lanka

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Benin Sri Lanka
2026 349 928
2025 340 923
2024 332 918
2023 324 923
2022 316 929
2021 308 928
2020 300 918
2019 292.3 913
2018 284.4 907
2017 276.5 898
2016 268.7 888
2015 260.9 878
2014 253.3 858
2013 246 850
2012 238.8 874
2011 231.8 868
2010 225 862
2009 218.4 857
2008 212 852
2007 205.7 846
2006 199.7 841
2005 193.5 835
2004 187.4 830
2003 181.8 824
2002 176.3 818
2001 171 810
2000 165.9 797
1999 160.8 782
1998 155.9 768
1997 151.2 754
1996 146.8 739
1995 143 725
1994 140 714
1993 134.9 703
1992 129 691
1991 125.1 680
1990 121.3 675
1989 117.6 671
1988 114.1 664
1987 110.7 657
1986 107.4 650
1985 104.2 642
1984 101.2 638
1983 98.3 636
1982 95.5 631
1981 92.8 624
1980 90.2 613
1979 87.7 602
1978 85.4 591
1977 83.2 580
1976 81.1 570
1975 79.1 560
1974 77.2 550
1973 75.4 539
1972 73.7 529
1971 72 518
1970 70.4 507
1969 68.9 496
1968 67.4 485
1967 66 473
1966 64.6 462
1965 63.3 451
1964 62.1 440
1963 60.9 429
1962 59.8 419
1961 58.8 409

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Benin increased by 74.6%, compared to a 10.4% growth in Sri Lanka.

In 2006, Benin ranked 97th by population density and is 72nd now. Sri Lanka was 25th in 2006 and still ranks 25th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Benin
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Urban population
Benin Sri Lanka
2024 52.5% 20.3%
2023 51.7% 20.1%
2022 51% 20%
2021 50.2% 19.8%
2020 49.4% 19.7%
2019 48.7% 19.5%
2018 48% 19.3%
2017 47.3% 19.2%
2016 46.6% 19%
2015 45.9% 18.8%
2014 45.3% 18.6%
2013 44.7% 18.4%
2012 44% 18.3%
2011 43.5% 17.8%
2010 42.9% 17.2%
2009 42.3% 16.7%
2008 41.8% 16.3%
2007 41.3% 15.9%
2006 40.8% 15.5%
2005 40.3% 15.2%
2004 39.9% 14.9%
2003 39.4% 14.7%
2002 39% 14.6%
2001 38.6% 14.6%
2000 38.3% 14.6%
1999 38% 14.7%
1998 37.7% 14.9%
1997 37.4% 15.2%
1996 37.1% 15.5%
1995 36.8% 15.9%
1994 36.5% 16.3%
1993 36.2% 16.7%
1992 35.8% 17.1%
1991 35.3% 17.6%
1990 34.8% 18.1%
1989 34.2% 18.6%
1988 33.6% 19%
1987 32.9% 19.5%
1986 32.1% 19.9%
1985 31.4% 20.3%
1984 30.6% 20.7%
1983 29.8% 21%
1982 28.9% 21.3%
1981 28.1% 21.5%
1980 27.3% 21.6%
1979 26.5% 21.8%
1978 25.7% 21.9%
1977 24.8% 22%
1976 23.9% 22.1%
1975 22.9% 22.2%
1974 21.9% 22.3%
1973 20.8% 22.4%
1972 19.8% 22.4%
1971 18.8% 22.4%
1970 17.7% 22.3%
1969 16.7% 22%
1968 15.7% 21.5%
1967 14.7% 21%
1966 13.8% 20.4%
1965 13% 19.8%
1964 12.2% 19.3%
1963 11.4% 18.9%
1962 10.8% 18.5%
1961 10.2% 18%
1960 9.79% 17.6%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/benin/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 39.9% to 52.5% in Benin and from 14.9% to 20.3% in Sri Lanka.

Densely populated cities

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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 (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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