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Population in Benin compared to Ghana: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Benin was 14,814,460 in 2025 vs 35,064,272 people in Ghana in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Benin's population is 15,358,725 people compared to 36,032,857 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 2.35 times bigger than Benin's.
  • Benin is ranked the 76th most populous country in the world, while Ghana is the 46th.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.18% for Benin vs 0.43% for Ghana.
  • For the last 10 years, Benin has had an average growth rate of +2.72% per year vs +2.05% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Benin has increased from 8.69M people to 15.4M (76.7% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 36M (56.4% growth).

Benin vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Benin
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Benin Ghana
2100 39,983,872 68,117,614
2099 39,812,782 68,008,028
2098 39,635,737 67,888,410
2097 39,458,425 67,759,128
2096 39,267,189 67,625,262
2095 39,069,668 67,481,344
2094 38,861,643 67,325,992
2093 38,654,312 67,162,890
2092 38,438,555 66,991,846
2091 38,219,341 66,804,098
2090 37,994,758 66,605,276
2089 37,758,164 66,395,029
2088 37,514,605 66,173,453
2087 37,263,867 65,937,323
2086 37,010,840 65,699,827
2085 36,747,949 65,451,666
2084 36,482,666 65,196,037
2083 36,206,559 64,922,457
2082 35,919,464 64,638,242
2081 35,632,837 64,342,209
2080 35,340,781 64,034,249
2079 35,042,368 63,717,528
2078 34,737,536 63,384,648
2077 34,426,961 63,046,955
2076 34,112,205 62,699,375
2075 33,795,633 62,337,964
2074 33,465,867 61,974,725
2073 33,130,654 61,604,458
2072 32,785,976 61,227,111
2071 32,441,087 60,835,024
2070 32,088,089 60,442,399
2069 31,731,457 60,041,679
2068 31,377,153 59,627,097
2067 31,019,975 59,203,373
2066 30,659,408 58,774,846
2065 30,291,447 58,341,378
2064 29,919,749 57,893,305
2063 29,549,126 57,439,982
2062 29,175,986 56,974,922
2061 28,802,803 56,500,340
2060 28,426,146 56,019,906
2059 28,046,395 55,529,609
2058 27,667,117 55,031,460
2057 27,283,017 54,524,491
2056 26,900,755 54,007,205
2055 26,509,320 53,481,428
2054 26,115,455 52,949,003
2053 25,724,306 52,407,089
2052 25,327,058 51,859,418
2051 24,928,787 51,300,839
2050 24,529,464 50,730,296
2049 24,128,830 50,153,221
2048 23,727,047 49,567,895
2047 23,325,128 48,972,414
2046 22,919,519 48,373,367
2045 22,510,298 47,766,811
2044 22,107,673 47,154,486
2043 21,702,786 46,538,892
2042 21,296,676 45,916,531
2041 20,893,690 45,291,657
2040 20,492,059 44,660,573
2039 20,092,542 44,029,228
2038 19,693,130 43,393,321
2037 19,301,544 42,752,045
2036 18,910,879 42,112,269
2035 18,521,401 41,470,624
2034 18,136,190 40,823,789
2033 17,755,302 40,176,026
2032 17,378,392 39,532,216
2031 17,004,065 38,892,407
2030 16,635,301 38,251,174
2029 16,265,440 37,616,078
2028 15,899,231 36,978,847
2027 15,534,984 36,342,429
2026 15,172,565 35,705,894
2025 14,814,460 35,064,272
2024 14,462,724 34,427,414
2023 14,111,034 33,787,914
2022 13,759,501 33,149,152
2021 13,413,417 32,518,665
2020 13,070,169 31,887,809
2019 12,726,755 31,258,945
2018 12,383,347 30,637,585
2017 12,039,780 30,008,354
2016 11,697,842 29,356,742
2015 11,360,681 28,696,068
2014 11,030,004 28,041,592
2013 10,708,834 27,386,193
2012 10,397,657 26,734,268
2011 10,093,623 26,095,088
2010 9,797,484 25,474,995
2009 9,509,423 24,862,664
2008 9,228,466 24,249,946
2007 8,953,969 23,642,279
2006 8,693,242 23,040,702
2005 8,426,144 22,449,438
2004 8,159,094 21,868,298
2003 7,913,070 21,296,705
2002 7,675,426 20,729,388
2001 7,445,596 20,167,069
2000 7,221,619 19,637,087
1999 7,002,818 19,149,864
1998 6,789,489 18,688,036
1997 6,583,365 18,238,958
1996 6,391,858 17,810,181
1995 6,226,773 17,399,017
1994 6,096,506 16,993,190
1993 5,872,706 16,589,519
1992 5,617,844 16,184,855
1991 5,446,932 15,787,496
1990 5,281,479 15,394,648
1989 5,121,657 15,006,813
1988 4,967,341 14,636,568
1987 4,818,486 14,289,108
1986 4,675,420 13,965,217
1985 4,538,012 13,661,229
1984 4,405,895 13,370,590
1983 4,278,978 13,029,836
1982 4,156,596 12,643,819
1981 4,038,307 12,281,712
1980 3,925,251 11,941,448
1979 3,818,528 11,597,255
1978 3,718,305 11,248,450
1977 3,623,202 10,911,871
1976 3,532,196 10,594,913
1975 3,445,407 10,294,308
1974 3,362,633 10,000,523
1973 3,283,496 9,714,617
1972 3,207,543 9,438,187
1971 3,134,767 9,176,264
1970 3,065,057 8,925,813
1969 2,998,222 8,690,383
1968 2,934,257 8,475,729
1967 2,872,997 8,271,913
1966 2,814,317 8,074,521
1965 2,757,936 7,882,606
1964 2,704,003 7,695,739
1963 2,652,908 7,514,714
1962 2,604,659 7,337,375
1961 2,559,223 7,162,667
1960 2,517,286 6,961,215

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/ghana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Benin increased by 3,004,600 people (a 34.6% growth), while Ghana gained 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Benin gained 3,660,883 people (a 31.3% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth).

Benin was ranked 89th most populous country in 2006 and is 76th in 2026. Ghana was ranked 48th in 2006 and ranked 46th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Benin's population will grow by 59.7% to 24,529,464 people with a rank change from 76th to 68th. The population of Ghana will increase by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people and rank change from 46th to 43rd.

Benin is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 40M people compared to the peak of 68.1M people in 2100 for Ghana.

Population growth rate by year

Benin
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Benin Ghana
2100 0.43% 0.16%
2099 0.45% 0.18%
2098 0.45% 0.19%
2097 0.49% 0.2%
2096 0.51% 0.21%
2095 0.54% 0.23%
2094 0.54% 0.24%
2093 0.56% 0.26%
2092 0.57% 0.28%
2091 0.59% 0.3%
2090 0.63% 0.32%
2089 0.65% 0.33%
2088 0.67% 0.36%
2087 0.68% 0.36%
2086 0.72% 0.38%
2085 0.73% 0.39%
2084 0.76% 0.42%
2083 0.8% 0.44%
2082 0.8% 0.46%
2081 0.83% 0.48%
2080 0.85% 0.5%
2079 0.88% 0.53%
2078 0.9% 0.54%
2077 0.92% 0.55%
2076 0.94% 0.58%
2075 0.99% 0.59%
2074 1.01% 0.6%
2073 1.05% 0.62%
2072 1.06% 0.64%
2071 1.1% 0.65%
2070 1.12% 0.67%
2069 1.13% 0.7%
2068 1.15% 0.72%
2067 1.18% 0.73%
2066 1.21% 0.74%
2065 1.24% 0.77%
2064 1.25% 0.79%
2063 1.28% 0.82%
2062 1.3% 0.84%
2061 1.33% 0.86%
2060 1.35% 0.88%
2059 1.37% 0.91%
2058 1.41% 0.93%
2057 1.42% 0.96%
2056 1.48% 0.98%
2055 1.51% 1.01%
2054 1.52% 1.03%
2053 1.57% 1.06%
2052 1.6% 1.09%
2051 1.63% 1.12%
2050 1.66% 1.15%
2049 1.69% 1.18%
2048 1.72% 1.22%
2047 1.77% 1.24%
2046 1.82% 1.27%
2045 1.82% 1.3%
2044 1.87% 1.32%
2043 1.91% 1.36%
2042 1.93% 1.38%
2041 1.96% 1.41%
2040 1.99% 1.43%
2039 2.03% 1.47%
2038 2.03% 1.5%
2037 2.07% 1.52%
2036 2.1% 1.55%
2035 2.12% 1.58%
2034 2.15% 1.61%
2033 2.17% 1.63%
2032 2.2% 1.65%
2031 2.22% 1.68%
2030 2.27% 1.69%
2029 2.3% 1.72%
2028 2.34% 1.75%
2027 2.39% 1.78%
2026 2.42% 1.83%
2025 2.43% 1.85%
2024 2.49% 1.89%
2023 2.55% 1.93%
2022 2.58% 1.94%
2021 2.63% 1.98%
2020 2.7% 2.01%
2019 2.77% 2.03%
2018 2.85% 2.1%
2017 2.92% 2.22%
2016 2.97% 2.3%
2015 3% 2.33%
2014 3% 2.39%
2013 2.99% 2.44%
2012 3.01% 2.45%
2011 3.02% 2.43%
2010 3.03% 2.46%
2009 3.04% 2.53%
2008 3.07% 2.57%
2007 3% 2.61%
2006 3.17% 2.63%
2005 3.27% 2.66%
2004 3.11% 2.68%
2003 3.1% 2.74%
2002 3.09% 2.79%
2001 3.1% 2.7%
2000 3.12% 2.54%
1999 3.14% 2.47%
1998 3.13% 2.46%
1997 3% 2.41%
1996 2.65% 2.36%
1995 2.14% 2.39%
1994 3.81% 2.43%
1993 4.54% 2.5%
1992 3.14% 2.52%
1991 3.13% 2.55%
1990 3.12% 2.58%
1989 3.11% 2.53%
1988 3.09% 2.43%
1987 3.06% 2.32%
1986 3.03% 2.23%
1985 3% 2.17%
1984 2.97% 2.62%
1983 2.94% 3.05%
1982 2.93% 2.95%
1981 2.88% 2.85%
1980 2.79% 2.97%
1979 2.7% 3.1%
1978 2.62% 3.08%
1977 2.58% 2.99%
1976 2.52% 2.92%
1975 2.46% 2.94%
1974 2.41% 2.94%
1973 2.37% 2.93%
1972 2.32% 2.85%
1971 2.27% 2.81%
1970 2.23% 2.71%
1969 2.18% 2.53%
1968 2.13% 2.46%
1967 2.09% 2.44%
1966 2.04% 2.43%
1965 1.99% 2.43%
1964 1.93% 2.41%
1963 1.85% 2.42%
1962 1.78% 2.44%
1961 1.67% 2.89%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/ghana | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Benin grew by 2.43%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.85%.

Live population counters

Benin Ghana
Current population
15358725
36032857
Population rank 76/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.43%
One net population change
1.5 minutes
49.7 seconds
One birth every
1.09 minutes
35.3 seconds
One death every
4.17 minutes
2.18 minutes
Daily growth/decline +964 +1,745
Annual growth/decline +351,736 +636,858
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.85%
Population growth rate rank 27/197 57/197
One migration net change every
1.12 hours
30.9 minutes
Annual migration change -7,847 -17,079
Net migration rank 127/196 150/196
Foreign-born residents 418,202 532,286
Foreign-born residents rank 88/195 77/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.9% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 118/195 145/195

Natural population change vs migration

Benin
Natural

Migration
Ghana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Benin Ghana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,847 - -17,079
2024 357,359 -7,725 651,057 -13,114
2023 353,933 -192 651,094 -10,003
2022 349,518 -192 646,441 -10,003
2021 341,103 1,729 635,805 -11,259
2020 341,929 1,729 637,469 -291
2019 339,817 3,366 642,403 -21,857
2018 340,270 3,372 641,551 -19,375
2017 339,763 3,716 641,218 -4,913
2016 336,559 3,837 659,910 7,009
2015 330,573 3,369 667,729 -13,306
2014 323,753 3,667 660,829 -6,312
2013 315,804 -887 658,638 -2,377
2012 306,180 1,260 646,595 1,005
2011 296,348 4,283 631,501 -720
2010 287,703 3,947 613,133 -3,726
2009 280,204 4,279 592,825 22,416
2008 274,242 3,198 579,695 30,506
2007 271,305 241 572,332 32,813
2006 265,040 -15,135 569,474 28,536
2005 253,795 30,495 563,234 21,272
2004 245,630 4,173 543,339 34,433
2003 237,962 4,283 536,656 28,768
2002 229,472 3,572 528,620 40,573
2001 222,877 3,732 519,382 36,050
2000 218,013 3,335 508,738 -4,206
1999 213,074 3,177 487,210 -17,304
1998 208,342 2,051 471,313 -17,564
1997 203,182 -1,322 459,822 -15,409
1996 197,643 -16,490 450,259 -37,113
1995 194,481 -45,469 451,748 -42,558
1994 196,637 -85,128 449,589 -47,120
1993 179,858 156,223 454,669 -49,792
1992 173,794 -138 452,156 -47,736
1991 168,174 0 448,159 -57,878
1990 163,055 -333 442,211 -46,789
1989 157,235 -315 432,541 -52,293
1988 153,580 -1,867 425,031 -64,810
1987 147,783 -1,792 419,328 -84,648
1986 142,039 -1,899 411,191 -98,099
1985 136,621 -1,953 401,722 -106,855
1984 131,590 -2,018 392,053 -105,655
1983 126,349 -2,090 379,846 15,276
1982 122,748 -2,253 369,061 7,863
1981 118,634 -2,543 359,572 -12,296
1980 112,969 -2,946 346,816 -13,564
1979 106,782 -3,365 334,848 20,291
1978 100,762 -3,731 324,428 18,041
1977 97,200 -4,022 315,429 15,243
1976 93,141 -4,308 305,769 -2,528
1975 89,350 -4,607 298,267 -292
1974 85,623 -4,814 290,796 -1,197
1973 82,422 -4,960 283,385 -1,168
1972 79,415 -4,970 275,236 -4,589
1971 76,034 -4,921 265,442 -12,238
1970 73,156 -4,851 257,938 -10,233
1969 70,155 -4,792 251,925 -28,752
1968 67,327 -4,756 242,821 -36,683
1967 64,709 -4,756 237,156 -35,666
1966 62,169 -4,764 231,440 -38,143
1965 60,154 -4,793 229,061 -38,519
1964 57,352 -4,839 226,685 -43,480
1963 54,514 -4,847 225,367 -46,516
1962 51,664 -4,844 223,842 -48,017
1961 48,838 -4,791 222,372 -48,777
1960 44,564 -4,722 217,134 12,181

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/ghana | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.6% of the population change in Benin is from natural causes (a gain of 3,430,824 people) and 0.38% is from migration (a gain of 13,009 people). In Ghana 98.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 people).

As of 2024, 418,202 residents or 2.9% of the population were not native-born in Benin, compared to 532,286 people or 1.5% in Ghana.

Biggest cities by population

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Save 31.4K
Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/ghana | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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