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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Benin was 14,462,724 in 2024 vs 34,427,414 people in Ghana in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Benin's population is 15,272,847 people compared to 35,885,254 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 +2.77% per year vs +2.1% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Benin has increased from 8.69M people to 15.3M (75.7% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 35.9M (55.7% growth).

Benin vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Benin
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Benin Ghana
2100 39,989,767 68,131,252
2099 39,818,651 68,021,644
2098 39,641,581 67,902,002
2097 39,464,242 67,772,694
2096 39,272,978 67,638,801
2095 39,075,428 67,494,855
2094 38,867,372 67,339,471
2093 38,660,011 67,176,337
2092 38,444,222 67,005,259
2091 38,224,975 66,817,473
2090 38,000,359 66,618,611
2089 37,763,731 66,408,323
2088 37,520,135 66,186,701
2087 37,269,361 65,950,524
2086 37,016,296 65,712,980
2085 36,753,367 65,464,770
2084 36,488,045 65,209,090
2083 36,211,897 64,935,455
2082 35,924,760 64,651,183
2081 35,638,090 64,355,091
2080 35,345,991 64,047,069
2079 35,047,534 63,730,285
2078 34,742,657 63,397,338
2077 34,432,036 63,059,578
2076 34,117,234 62,711,928
2075 33,800,615 62,350,445
2074 33,470,800 61,987,133
2073 33,135,539 61,616,792
2072 32,790,810 61,239,369
2071 32,445,869 60,847,204
2070 32,092,820 60,454,501
2069 31,736,135 60,053,700
2068 31,381,779 59,639,035
2067 31,024,548 59,215,226
2066 30,663,928 58,786,613
2065 30,295,913 58,353,059
2064 29,924,160 57,904,896
2063 29,553,482 57,451,482
2062 29,180,287 56,986,329
2061 28,807,049 56,511,652
2060 28,430,337 56,031,122
2059 28,050,530 55,540,726
2058 27,671,195 55,042,478
2057 27,287,039 54,535,407
2056 26,904,721 54,018,018
2055 26,513,228 53,492,136
2054 26,119,305 52,959,604
2053 25,728,099 52,417,582
2052 25,330,792 51,869,801
2051 24,932,463 51,311,110
2050 24,533,080 50,740,453
2049 24,132,387 50,163,262
2048 23,730,545 49,577,819
2047 23,328,567 48,982,219
2046 22,922,898 48,383,052
2045 22,513,616 47,776,375
2044 22,110,933 47,163,926
2043 21,705,986 46,548,210
2042 21,299,816 45,925,724
2041 20,896,770 45,300,725
2040 20,495,080 44,669,515
2039 20,095,504 44,038,043
2038 19,696,033 43,402,009
2037 19,304,390 42,760,604
2036 18,913,667 42,120,700
2035 18,524,132 41,478,927
2034 18,138,864 40,831,962
2033 17,757,920 40,184,070
2032 17,380,954 39,540,131
2031 17,006,572 38,900,194
2030 16,637,754 38,258,832
2029 16,267,838 37,623,609
2028 15,901,575 36,986,250
2027 15,537,274 36,349,705
2026 15,174,802 35,713,042
2025 14,816,644 35,071,292
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 3,575,005 people (a 30.6% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% 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 60.6% to 24,533,080 people with a rank change from 76th to 68th. The population of Ghana will increase by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people and rank change from 46th to 42nd.

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 2.45% 1.87%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Benin grew by 2.49%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.89%.

Live population counters

Benin Ghana
Current population
15272847
35885254
Population rank 76/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.43%
One net population change
1.49 minutes
49.3 seconds
One birth every
1.1 minutes
35.5 seconds
One death every
4.23 minutes
2.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +964 +1,752
Annual growth/decline +351,690 +639,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.49% +1.89%
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 - -7,725 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Benin is from natural causes (a gain of 3,397,218 people) and 0.71% is from migration (a gain of 24,401 people). In Ghana 98.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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