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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Benin was 14,462,724 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Benin's population is 15,272,847 people compared to 243,824,469 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 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Benin has had an average growth rate of +2.77% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Benin has increased from 8.69M people to 15.3M (75.7% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Benin vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Benin
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Benin Nigeria
2100 39,989,767 481,678,166
2099 39,818,651 481,494,914
2098 39,641,581 481,219,866
2097 39,464,242 480,876,108
2096 39,272,978 480,460,381
2095 39,075,428 479,976,454
2094 38,867,372 479,432,855
2093 38,660,011 478,807,152
2092 38,444,222 478,097,591
2091 38,224,975 477,274,569
2090 38,000,359 476,367,086
2089 37,763,731 475,363,859
2088 37,520,135 474,268,867
2087 37,269,361 473,072,894
2086 37,016,296 471,769,229
2085 36,753,367 470,365,292
2084 36,488,045 468,843,169
2083 36,211,897 467,224,322
2082 35,924,760 465,509,151
2081 35,638,090 463,679,779
2080 35,345,991 461,741,930
2079 35,047,534 459,680,797
2078 34,742,657 457,513,367
2077 34,432,036 455,254,796
2076 34,117,234 452,885,729
2075 33,800,615 450,402,898
2074 33,470,800 447,825,224
2073 33,135,539 445,152,156
2072 32,790,810 442,375,349
2071 32,445,869 439,499,004
2070 32,092,820 436,539,777
2069 31,736,135 433,472,204
2068 31,381,779 430,320,190
2067 31,024,548 427,066,199
2066 30,663,928 423,736,078
2065 30,295,913 420,318,527
2064 29,924,160 416,811,285
2063 29,553,482 413,231,409
2062 29,180,287 409,583,480
2061 28,807,049 405,859,509
2060 28,430,337 402,073,494
2059 28,050,530 398,228,736
2058 27,671,195 394,315,883
2057 27,287,039 390,341,867
2056 26,904,721 386,298,064
2055 26,513,228 382,193,151
2054 26,119,305 378,030,342
2053 25,728,099 373,799,276
2052 25,330,792 369,501,634
2051 24,932,463 365,149,555
2050 24,533,080 360,734,783
2049 24,132,387 356,271,401
2048 23,730,545 351,752,501
2047 23,328,567 347,169,674
2046 22,922,898 342,532,578
2045 22,513,616 337,834,528
2044 22,110,933 333,076,416
2043 21,705,986 328,256,555
2042 21,299,816 323,388,886
2041 20,896,770 318,469,120
2040 20,495,080 313,492,800
2039 20,095,504 308,474,350
2038 19,696,033 303,423,786
2037 19,304,390 298,351,344
2036 18,913,667 293,250,795
2035 18,524,132 288,138,368
2034 18,138,864 283,018,151
2033 17,757,920 277,897,810
2032 17,380,954 272,769,123
2031 17,006,572 267,666,779
2030 16,637,754 262,583,487
2029 16,267,838 257,504,936
2028 15,901,575 252,465,743
2027 15,537,274 247,457,208
2026 15,174,802 242,477,499
2025 14,816,644 237,546,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 3,575,005 people (a 30.6% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% 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 60.6% to 24,533,080 people with a rank change from 76th to 68th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 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 2.45% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Benin grew by 2.49%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Benin Nigeria
Current population
15272847
243824469
Population rank 76/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 2.94%
One net population change
1.49 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
1.1 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
4.23 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +964 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +351,690 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.49% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 27/197 48/197
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 - -7,725 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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