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Population in Benin compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Benin was 14,814,460 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Benin's population is 15,358,725 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 4.29 times bigger than Benin's.
  • Benin is ranked the 76th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.98% of the world: 0.18% for Benin vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Benin has had an average growth rate of +2.72% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Benin has increased from 8.69M people to 15.4M (76.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Benin vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Benin
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Benin South Africa
2100 39,983,872 94,734,082
2099 39,812,782 94,523,360
2098 39,635,737 94,316,049
2097 39,458,425 94,125,043
2096 39,267,189 93,927,246
2095 39,069,668 93,719,451
2094 38,861,643 93,494,697
2093 38,654,312 93,267,274
2092 38,438,555 93,041,793
2091 38,219,341 92,793,249
2090 37,994,758 92,561,159
2089 37,758,164 92,322,396
2088 37,514,605 92,080,212
2087 37,263,867 91,833,409
2086 37,010,840 91,581,639
2085 36,747,949 91,352,906
2084 36,482,666 91,106,961
2083 36,206,559 90,845,161
2082 35,919,464 90,583,188
2081 35,632,837 90,313,417
2080 35,340,781 90,039,857
2079 35,042,368 89,770,116
2078 34,737,536 89,494,440
2077 34,426,961 89,217,520
2076 34,112,205 88,954,522
2075 33,795,633 88,681,719
2074 33,465,867 88,397,221
2073 33,130,654 88,118,589
2072 32,785,976 87,835,051
2071 32,441,087 87,509,098
2070 32,088,089 87,178,463
2069 31,731,457 86,870,660
2068 31,377,153 86,558,000
2067 31,019,975 86,237,764
2066 30,659,408 85,904,801
2065 30,291,447 85,573,984
2064 29,919,749 85,214,686
2063 29,549,126 84,845,370
2062 29,175,986 84,473,236
2061 28,802,803 84,103,016
2060 28,426,146 83,719,266
2059 28,046,395 83,325,330
2058 27,667,117 82,918,226
2057 27,283,017 82,508,742
2056 26,900,755 82,098,320
2055 26,509,320 81,669,191
2054 26,115,455 81,227,019
2053 25,724,306 80,789,939
2052 25,327,058 80,338,877
2051 24,928,787 79,858,310
2050 24,529,464 79,383,784
2049 24,128,830 78,897,472
2048 23,727,047 78,409,829
2047 23,325,128 77,894,547
2046 22,919,519 77,369,819
2045 22,510,298 76,852,544
2044 22,107,673 76,330,046
2043 21,702,786 75,800,788
2042 21,296,676 75,264,885
2041 20,893,690 74,721,871
2040 20,492,059 74,179,185
2039 20,092,542 73,636,894
2038 19,693,130 73,079,976
2037 19,301,544 72,506,991
2036 18,910,879 71,930,701
2035 18,521,401 71,337,219
2034 18,136,190 70,737,692
2033 17,755,302 70,128,299
2032 17,378,392 69,502,726
2031 17,004,065 68,865,544
2030 16,635,301 68,221,143
2029 16,265,440 67,549,189
2028 15,899,231 66,860,631
2027 15,534,984 66,166,759
2026 15,172,565 65,473,024
2025 14,814,460 64,747,319
2024 14,462,724 64,007,187
2023 14,111,034 63,212,384
2022 13,759,501 62,378,410
2021 13,413,417 61,502,603
2020 13,070,169 60,562,381
2019 12,726,755 59,587,885
2018 12,383,347 58,613,001
2017 12,039,780 57,635,162
2016 11,697,842 57,259,551
2015 11,360,681 56,723,537
2014 11,030,004 55,594,838
2013 10,708,834 54,678,791
2012 10,397,657 53,782,567
2011 10,093,623 52,995,205
2010 9,797,484 52,344,051
2009 9,509,423 51,728,516
2008 9,228,466 51,114,599
2007 8,953,969 50,528,584
2006 8,693,242 49,998,277
2005 8,426,144 49,490,033
2004 8,159,094 48,991,421
2003 7,913,070 48,500,348
2002 7,675,426 48,019,415
2001 7,445,596 47,566,800
2000 7,221,619 47,159,719
1999 7,002,818 46,730,335
1998 6,789,489 46,223,880
1997 6,583,365 45,666,838
1996 6,391,858 45,123,018
1995 6,226,773 44,541,554
1994 6,096,506 44,004,139
1993 5,872,706 43,297,156
1992 5,617,844 42,443,509
1991 5,446,932 41,687,898
1990 5,281,479 40,746,268
1989 5,121,657 39,628,575
1988 4,967,341 38,480,649
1987 4,818,486 37,326,190
1986 4,675,420 36,180,515
1985 4,538,012 35,042,093
1984 4,405,895 33,892,788
1983 4,278,978 32,739,304
1982 4,156,596 31,615,339
1981 4,038,307 30,541,044
1980 3,925,251 29,518,857
1979 3,818,528 28,634,162
1978 3,718,305 27,869,507
1977 3,623,202 27,118,952
1976 3,532,196 26,395,450
1975 3,445,407 25,690,940
1974 3,362,633 24,989,108
1973 3,283,496 24,294,263
1972 3,207,543 23,609,456
1971 3,134,767 22,942,143
1970 3,065,057 22,279,984
1969 2,998,222 21,614,676
1968 2,934,257 20,957,287
1967 2,872,997 20,314,066
1966 2,814,317 19,690,087
1965 2,757,936 19,089,380
1964 2,704,003 18,511,361
1963 2,652,908 17,954,564
1962 2,604,659 17,418,522
1961 2,559,223 16,908,035
1960 2,517,286 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Benin increased by 3,004,600 people (a 34.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Benin gained 3,660,883 people (a 31.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Benin was ranked 89th most populous country in 2006 and is 76th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Benin is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 40M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Benin
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Benin South Africa
2100 0.43% 0.22%
2099 0.45% 0.22%
2098 0.45% 0.2%
2097 0.49% 0.21%
2096 0.51% 0.22%
2095 0.54% 0.24%
2094 0.54% 0.24%
2093 0.56% 0.24%
2092 0.57% 0.27%
2091 0.59% 0.25%
2090 0.63% 0.26%
2089 0.65% 0.26%
2088 0.67% 0.27%
2087 0.68% 0.27%
2086 0.72% 0.25%
2085 0.73% 0.27%
2084 0.76% 0.29%
2083 0.8% 0.29%
2082 0.8% 0.3%
2081 0.83% 0.3%
2080 0.85% 0.3%
2079 0.88% 0.31%
2078 0.9% 0.31%
2077 0.92% 0.3%
2076 0.94% 0.31%
2075 0.99% 0.32%
2074 1.01% 0.32%
2073 1.05% 0.32%
2072 1.06% 0.37%
2071 1.1% 0.38%
2070 1.12% 0.35%
2069 1.13% 0.36%
2068 1.15% 0.37%
2067 1.18% 0.39%
2066 1.21% 0.39%
2065 1.24% 0.42%
2064 1.25% 0.44%
2063 1.28% 0.44%
2062 1.3% 0.44%
2061 1.33% 0.46%
2060 1.35% 0.47%
2059 1.37% 0.49%
2058 1.41% 0.5%
2057 1.42% 0.5%
2056 1.48% 0.53%
2055 1.51% 0.54%
2054 1.52% 0.54%
2053 1.57% 0.56%
2052 1.6% 0.6%
2051 1.63% 0.6%
2050 1.66% 0.62%
2049 1.69% 0.62%
2048 1.72% 0.66%
2047 1.77% 0.68%
2046 1.82% 0.67%
2045 1.82% 0.68%
2044 1.87% 0.7%
2043 1.91% 0.71%
2042 1.93% 0.73%
2041 1.96% 0.73%
2040 1.99% 0.74%
2039 2.03% 0.76%
2038 2.03% 0.79%
2037 2.07% 0.8%
2036 2.1% 0.83%
2035 2.12% 0.85%
2034 2.15% 0.87%
2033 2.17% 0.9%
2032 2.2% 0.93%
2031 2.22% 0.94%
2030 2.27% 0.99%
2029 2.3% 1.03%
2028 2.34% 1.05%
2027 2.39% 1.06%
2026 2.42% 1.12%
2025 2.43% 1.16%
2024 2.49% 1.26%
2023 2.55% 1.34%
2022 2.58% 1.42%
2021 2.63% 1.55%
2020 2.7% 1.64%
2019 2.77% 1.66%
2018 2.85% 1.7%
2017 2.92% 0.66%
2016 2.97% 0.94%
2015 3% 2.03%
2014 3% 1.68%
2013 2.99% 1.67%
2012 3.01% 1.49%
2011 3.02% 1.24%
2010 3.03% 1.19%
2009 3.04% 1.2%
2008 3.07% 1.16%
2007 3% 1.06%
2006 3.17% 1.03%
2005 3.27% 1.02%
2004 3.11% 1.01%
2003 3.1% 1%
2002 3.09% 0.95%
2001 3.1% 0.86%
2000 3.12% 0.92%
1999 3.14% 1.1%
1998 3.13% 1.22%
1997 3% 1.21%
1996 2.65% 1.31%
1995 2.14% 1.22%
1994 3.81% 1.63%
1993 4.54% 2.01%
1992 3.14% 1.81%
1991 3.13% 2.31%
1990 3.12% 2.82%
1989 3.11% 2.98%
1988 3.09% 3.09%
1987 3.06% 3.17%
1986 3.03% 3.25%
1985 3% 3.39%
1984 2.97% 3.52%
1983 2.94% 3.56%
1982 2.93% 3.52%
1981 2.88% 3.46%
1980 2.79% 3.09%
1979 2.7% 2.74%
1978 2.62% 2.77%
1977 2.58% 2.74%
1976 2.52% 2.74%
1975 2.46% 2.81%
1974 2.41% 2.86%
1973 2.37% 2.9%
1972 2.32% 2.91%
1971 2.27% 2.97%
1970 2.23% 3.08%
1969 2.18% 3.14%
1968 2.13% 3.17%
1967 2.09% 3.17%
1966 2.04% 3.15%
1965 1.99% 3.12%
1964 1.93% 3.1%
1963 1.85% 3.08%
1962 1.78% 3.02%
1961 1.67% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Benin grew by 2.43%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Benin South Africa
Current population
15358725
65829368
Population rank 76/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.79%
One net population change
1.5 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
1.09 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
4.17 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +964 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +351,736 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 27/197 91/197
One migration net change every
1.12 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -7,847 +146,370
Net migration rank 127/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 418,202 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 88/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.9% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 118/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Benin
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Benin South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,847 - 146,370
2024 357,359 -7,725 591,618 166,972
2023 353,933 -192 602,793 228,222
2022 349,518 -192 603,636 233,284
2021 341,103 1,729 456,411 458,246
2020 341,929 1,729 595,873 369,901
2019 339,817 3,366 652,130 331,124
2018 340,270 3,372 648,319 318,260
2017 339,763 3,716 645,975 343,146
2016 336,559 3,837 641,365 -879,235
2015 330,573 3,369 668,771 641,150
2014 323,753 3,667 674,754 272,697
2013 315,804 -887 652,427 232,230
2012 306,180 1,260 643,723 264,091
2011 296,348 4,283 601,708 65,166
2010 287,703 3,947 566,834 68,563
2009 280,204 4,279 554,115 41,528
2008 274,242 3,198 595,332 36,869
2007 271,305 241 503,567 36,339
2006 265,040 -15,135 487,584 33,159
2005 253,795 30,495 464,464 31,286
2004 245,630 4,173 442,540 58,924
2003 237,962 4,283 415,018 65,604
2002 229,472 3,572 430,926 50,313
2001 222,877 3,732 484,801 -60,793
2000 218,013 3,335 526,963 -136,794
1999 213,074 3,177 594,643 -126,011
1998 208,342 2,051 627,027 -82,722
1997 203,182 -1,322 667,969 -98,181
1996 197,643 -16,490 710,868 -193,007
1995 194,481 -45,469 743,488 -98,403
1994 196,637 -85,128 698,609 -268,849
1993 179,858 156,223 789,220 194,977
1992 173,794 -138 794,415 -71,342
1991 168,174 0 827,296 -39,131
1990 163,055 -333 835,421 259,718
1989 157,235 -315 884,629 255,605
1988 153,580 -1,867 909,221 246,382
1987 147,783 -1,792 922,330 231,009
1986 142,039 -1,899 903,644 234,378
1985 136,621 -1,953 893,889 244,940
1984 131,590 -2,018 869,011 290,789
1983 126,349 -2,090 837,013 310,172
1982 122,748 -2,253 807,550 293,195
1981 118,634 -2,543 767,833 279,985
1980 112,969 -2,946 738,415 258,127
1979 106,782 -3,365 716,541 56,323
1978 100,762 -3,731 694,341 62,121
1977 97,200 -4,022 680,929 63,739
1976 93,141 -4,308 675,011 27,333
1975 89,350 -4,607 667,862 38,809
1974 85,623 -4,814 658,438 38,518
1973 82,422 -4,960 651,596 41,125
1972 79,415 -4,970 638,754 38,163
1971 76,034 -4,921 624,761 32,961
1970 73,156 -4,851 605,102 61,514
1969 70,155 -4,792 590,794 73,225
1968 67,327 -4,756 571,841 78,932
1967 64,709 -4,756 553,741 81,932
1966 62,169 -4,764 534,862 77,417
1965 60,154 -4,793 506,632 82,514
1964 57,352 -4,839 490,606 76,298
1963 54,514 -4,847 473,821 72,844
1962 51,664 -4,844 455,634 69,771
1961 48,838 -4,791 437,851 57,728
1960 44,564 -4,722 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/benin/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 418,202 residents or 2.9% of the population were not native-born in Benin, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Save 31.4K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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