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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Benin was 14,814,460 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Benin's population is 15,358,725 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 16 times bigger than Benin's.
  • Benin is ranked the 76th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.13% of the world: 0.18% for Benin vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Benin has had an average growth rate of +2.72% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Benin has increased from 8.69M people to 15.4M (76.7% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Benin vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Benin
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Benin Nigeria
2100 39,983,872 481,640,156
2099 39,812,782 481,456,918
2098 39,635,737 481,181,892
2097 39,458,425 480,838,161
2096 39,267,189 480,422,467
2095 39,069,668 479,938,579
2094 38,861,643 479,395,022
2093 38,654,312 478,769,369
2092 38,438,555 478,059,864
2091 38,219,341 477,236,907
2090 37,994,758 476,329,495
2089 37,758,164 475,326,347
2088 37,514,605 474,231,442
2087 37,263,867 473,035,563
2086 37,010,840 471,732,001
2085 36,747,949 470,328,175
2084 36,482,666 468,806,172
2083 36,206,559 467,187,453
2082 35,919,464 465,472,417
2081 35,632,837 463,643,190
2080 35,340,781 461,705,493
2079 35,042,368 459,644,523
2078 34,737,536 457,477,264
2077 34,426,961 455,218,871
2076 34,112,205 452,849,991
2075 33,795,633 450,367,356
2074 33,465,867 447,789,885
2073 33,130,654 445,117,028
2072 32,785,976 442,340,440
2071 32,441,087 439,464,323
2070 32,088,089 436,505,329
2069 31,731,457 433,437,998
2068 31,377,153 430,286,232
2067 31,019,975 427,032,499
2066 30,659,408 423,702,640
2065 30,291,447 420,285,359
2064 29,919,749 416,778,394
2063 29,549,126 413,198,800
2062 29,175,986 409,551,159
2061 28,802,803 405,827,482
2060 28,426,146 402,041,765
2059 28,046,395 398,197,311
2058 27,667,117 394,284,767
2057 27,283,017 390,311,065
2056 26,900,755 386,267,580
2055 26,509,320 382,162,992
2054 26,115,455 378,000,511
2053 25,724,306 373,769,779
2052 25,327,058 369,472,476
2051 24,928,787 365,120,741
2050 24,529,464 360,706,317
2049 24,128,830 356,243,287
2048 23,727,047 351,724,743
2047 23,325,128 347,142,279
2046 22,919,519 342,505,549
2045 22,510,298 337,807,869
2044 22,107,673 333,050,132
2043 21,702,786 328,230,652
2042 21,296,676 323,363,366
2041 20,893,690 318,443,989
2040 20,492,059 313,468,061
2039 20,092,542 308,450,008
2038 19,693,130 303,399,842
2037 19,301,544 298,327,800
2036 18,910,879 293,227,654
2035 18,521,401 288,115,630
2034 18,136,190 282,995,818
2033 17,755,302 277,875,880
2032 17,378,392 272,747,599
2031 17,004,065 267,645,657
2030 16,635,301 262,562,767
2029 16,265,440 257,484,616
2028 15,899,231 252,445,821
2027 15,534,984 247,437,680
2026 15,172,565 242,458,365
2025 14,814,460 237,527,782
2024 14,462,724 232,679,478
2023 14,111,034 227,882,945
2022 13,759,501 223,150,896
2021 13,413,417 218,529,286
2020 13,070,169 213,996,181
2019 12,726,755 209,485,641
2018 12,383,347 204,938,755
2017 12,039,780 200,254,579
2016 11,697,842 195,443,700
2015 11,360,681 190,671,878
2014 11,030,004 185,896,915
2013 10,708,834 181,049,443
2012 10,397,657 176,200,625
2011 10,093,623 171,379,598
2010 9,797,484 166,642,886
2009 9,509,423 162,049,464
2008 9,228,466 157,595,014
2007 8,953,969 153,267,261
2006 8,693,242 149,077,334
2005 8,426,144 145,017,253
2004 8,159,094 141,057,045
2003 7,913,070 137,202,644
2002 7,675,426 133,471,989
2001 7,445,596 129,862,595
2000 7,221,619 126,382,494
1999 7,002,818 123,047,320
1998 6,789,489 119,846,254
1997 6,583,365 116,754,792
1996 6,391,858 113,754,779
1995 6,226,773 110,819,428
1994 6,096,506 107,935,714
1993 5,872,706 105,122,069
1992 5,617,844 102,372,770
1991 5,446,932 99,720,162
1990 5,281,479 97,120,925
1989 5,121,657 94,531,014
1988 4,967,341 92,020,090
1987 4,818,486 89,591,716
1986 4,675,420 87,235,953
1985 4,538,012 84,897,973
1984 4,405,895 82,526,443
1983 4,278,978 80,438,260
1982 4,156,596 78,378,701
1981 4,038,307 76,068,103
1980 3,925,251 73,764,641
1979 3,818,528 71,498,242
1978 3,718,305 69,326,532
1977 3,623,202 67,234,590
1976 3,532,196 65,258,009
1975 3,445,407 63,410,815
1974 3,362,633 61,679,144
1973 3,283,496 60,082,139
1972 3,207,543 58,601,748
1971 3,134,767 57,214,684
1970 3,065,057 55,893,838
1969 2,998,222 54,631,914
1968 2,934,257 53,432,783
1967 2,872,997 52,293,065
1966 2,814,317 51,188,234
1965 2,757,936 50,086,764
1964 2,704,003 49,012,016
1963 2,652,908 47,973,575
1962 2,604,659 46,965,292
1961 2,559,223 45,989,310
1960 2,517,286 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Benin increased by 3,004,600 people (a 34.6% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Benin gained 3,660,883 people (a 31.3% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Benin was ranked 89th most populous country in 2006 and is 76th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Benin is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 40M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Benin
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Benin Nigeria
2100 0.43% 0.04%
2099 0.45% 0.06%
2098 0.45% 0.07%
2097 0.49% 0.09%
2096 0.51% 0.1%
2095 0.54% 0.11%
2094 0.54% 0.13%
2093 0.56% 0.15%
2092 0.57% 0.17%
2091 0.59% 0.19%
2090 0.63% 0.21%
2089 0.65% 0.23%
2088 0.67% 0.25%
2087 0.68% 0.28%
2086 0.72% 0.3%
2085 0.73% 0.32%
2084 0.76% 0.35%
2083 0.8% 0.37%
2082 0.8% 0.39%
2081 0.83% 0.42%
2080 0.85% 0.45%
2079 0.88% 0.47%
2078 0.9% 0.5%
2077 0.92% 0.52%
2076 0.94% 0.55%
2075 0.99% 0.58%
2074 1.01% 0.6%
2073 1.05% 0.63%
2072 1.06% 0.65%
2071 1.1% 0.68%
2070 1.12% 0.71%
2069 1.13% 0.73%
2068 1.15% 0.76%
2067 1.18% 0.79%
2066 1.21% 0.81%
2065 1.24% 0.84%
2064 1.25% 0.87%
2063 1.28% 0.89%
2062 1.3% 0.92%
2061 1.33% 0.94%
2060 1.35% 0.97%
2059 1.37% 0.99%
2058 1.41% 1.02%
2057 1.42% 1.05%
2056 1.48% 1.07%
2055 1.51% 1.1%
2054 1.52% 1.13%
2053 1.57% 1.16%
2052 1.6% 1.19%
2051 1.63% 1.22%
2050 1.66% 1.25%
2049 1.69% 1.28%
2048 1.72% 1.32%
2047 1.77% 1.35%
2046 1.82% 1.39%
2045 1.82% 1.43%
2044 1.87% 1.47%
2043 1.91% 1.51%
2042 1.93% 1.54%
2041 1.96% 1.59%
2040 1.99% 1.63%
2039 2.03% 1.66%
2038 2.03% 1.7%
2037 2.07% 1.74%
2036 2.1% 1.77%
2035 2.12% 1.81%
2034 2.15% 1.84%
2033 2.17% 1.88%
2032 2.2% 1.91%
2031 2.22% 1.94%
2030 2.27% 1.97%
2029 2.3% 2%
2028 2.34% 2.02%
2027 2.39% 2.05%
2026 2.42% 2.08%
2025 2.43% 2.08%
2024 2.49% 2.1%
2023 2.55% 2.12%
2022 2.58% 2.11%
2021 2.63% 2.12%
2020 2.7% 2.15%
2019 2.77% 2.22%
2018 2.85% 2.34%
2017 2.92% 2.46%
2016 2.97% 2.5%
2015 3% 2.57%
2014 3% 2.68%
2013 2.99% 2.75%
2012 3.01% 2.81%
2011 3.02% 2.84%
2010 3.03% 2.83%
2009 3.04% 2.83%
2008 3.07% 2.82%
2007 3% 2.81%
2006 3.17% 2.8%
2005 3.27% 2.81%
2004 3.11% 2.81%
2003 3.1% 2.8%
2002 3.09% 2.78%
2001 3.1% 2.75%
2000 3.12% 2.71%
1999 3.14% 2.67%
1998 3.13% 2.65%
1997 3% 2.64%
1996 2.65% 2.65%
1995 2.14% 2.67%
1994 3.81% 2.68%
1993 4.54% 2.69%
1992 3.14% 2.66%
1991 3.13% 2.68%
1990 3.12% 2.74%
1989 3.11% 2.73%
1988 3.09% 2.71%
1987 3.06% 2.7%
1986 3.03% 2.75%
1985 3% 2.87%
1984 2.97% 2.6%
1983 2.94% 2.63%
1982 2.93% 3.04%
1981 2.88% 3.12%
1980 2.79% 3.17%
1979 2.7% 3.13%
1978 2.62% 3.11%
1977 2.58% 3.03%
1976 2.52% 2.91%
1975 2.46% 2.81%
1974 2.41% 2.66%
1973 2.37% 2.53%
1972 2.32% 2.42%
1971 2.27% 2.36%
1970 2.23% 2.31%
1969 2.18% 2.24%
1968 2.13% 2.18%
1967 2.09% 2.16%
1966 2.04% 2.2%
1965 1.99% 2.19%
1964 1.93% 2.16%
1963 1.85% 2.15%
1962 1.78% 2.12%
1961 1.67% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Benin grew by 2.43%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Benin Nigeria
Current population
15358725
245016045
Population rank 76/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 2.95%
One net population change
1.5 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
1.09 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
4.17 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +964 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +351,736 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 27/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.12 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -7,847 -15,258
Net migration rank 127/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 418,202 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 88/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 118/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Benin
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Benin Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,847 - -15,258
2024 357,359 -7,725 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 353,933 -192 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 349,518 -192 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 341,103 1,729 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 341,929 1,729 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 339,817 3,366 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 340,270 3,372 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 339,763 3,716 4,706,183 78,685
2016 336,559 3,837 4,761,594 75,265
2015 330,573 3,369 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 323,753 3,667 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 315,804 -887 4,811,751 40,201
2012 306,180 1,260 4,774,508 71,138
2011 296,348 4,283 4,728,363 67,808
2010 287,703 3,947 4,629,173 47,966
2009 280,204 4,279 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 274,242 3,198 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 271,305 241 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 265,040 -15,135 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 253,795 30,495 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 245,630 4,173 3,877,376 46,370
2003 237,962 4,283 3,751,120 33,857
2002 229,472 3,572 3,606,814 69,594
2001 222,877 3,732 3,478,370 64,163
2000 218,013 3,335 3,343,196 74,535
1999 213,074 3,177 3,155,425 97,195
1998 208,342 2,051 3,003,946 145,575
1997 203,182 -1,322 2,936,500 96,885
1996 197,643 -16,490 2,882,205 84,448
1995 194,481 -45,469 2,830,771 73,243
1994 196,637 -85,128 2,735,198 128,134
1993 179,858 156,223 2,673,675 90,200
1992 173,794 -138 2,596,173 138,412
1991 168,174 0 2,527,807 42,760
1990 163,055 -333 2,491,928 135,959
1989 157,235 -315 2,452,324 99,588
1988 153,580 -1,867 2,376,419 93,510
1987 147,783 -1,792 2,322,397 64,418
1986 142,039 -1,899 2,295,003 29,682
1985 136,621 -1,953 2,289,784 61,514
1984 131,590 -2,018 2,278,060 113,758
1983 126,349 -2,090 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 122,748 -2,253 2,233,401 101,116
1981 118,634 -2,543 2,179,884 106,723
1980 112,969 -2,946 2,121,618 198,672
1979 106,782 -3,365 2,074,807 137,721
1978 100,762 -3,731 2,019,621 111,258
1977 97,200 -4,022 1,923,917 129,075
1976 93,141 -4,308 1,827,289 72,889
1975 89,350 -4,607 1,718,623 75,603
1974 85,623 -4,814 1,624,813 44,281
1973 82,422 -4,960 1,525,485 -618
1972 79,415 -4,970 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 76,034 -4,921 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 73,156 -4,851 1,295,507 7,953
1969 70,155 -4,792 1,213,484 6,912
1968 67,327 -4,756 1,168,254 9,615
1967 64,709 -4,756 1,082,884 18,683
1966 62,169 -4,764 1,095,582 12,513
1965 60,154 -4,793 1,061,840 32,988
1964 57,352 -4,839 1,028,272 26,411
1963 54,514 -4,847 995,116 27,115
1962 51,664 -4,844 966,452 27,906
1961 48,838 -4,791 932,111 25,515
1960 44,564 -4,722 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/benin/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 418,202 residents or 2.9% of the population were not native-born in Benin, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Save 31.4K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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