Nicaragua is slightly bigger by total area compared to Benin: 46,464 sq mi vs 44,310 sq mi. Without inland water, the land area of Nicaragua is 46,464 sq mi vs 43,537 sq mi for Benin.
- Benin ranks 100/197 by total surface area vs 97/197 for Nicaragua.
- Benin occupies 0.08% of the land mass of all countries, compared with 0.08% for Nicaragua.
- 41.8% of Benin's area is agricultural land vs 42.3% in Nicaragua.
- Benin has 0.1% of the world's agricultural land area — Nicaragua has 0.11%.
- 26.5% of Benin is covered by forests, compared to 25.8% in Nicaragua.
- 0.07% of the world's forests are in Benin, and 0.08% are in Nicaragua.
Total size and land area comparison
Benin
|
Nicaragua
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Total area |
44,310 sq mi |
46,464 sq mi |
| Size difference ratio | 1 | 1.05 |
| Total area rank | 100/197 | 97/197 |
| Share of all countries' surface area | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Land area |
43,537 sq mi |
46,464 sq mi |
| Land area difference ratio | 1 | 1.07 |
| Land area rank | 99/197 | 98/197 |
| Share of all countries' land area | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Population | 14,462,724 | 6,916,140 |
| Population density | 349 ppl/mi² | 152.8 ppl/mi² |
Surface area by type
|
Benin
|
Nicaragua
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Forest area |
11,526 sq mi |
11,998 sq mi |
| Forest area as share of land | 26.5% | 25.8% |
| Forest area rank | 91/196 | 89/196 |
| World's forests share | 0.07% | 0.08% |
Agricultural land area
|
18,211 sq mi |
19,656 sq mi |
| Agricultural land share | 41.8% | 42.3% |
| Agricultural land area rank | 90/194 | 86/194 |
| Share of global agricultural land | 0.1% | 0.11% |
|
Arable land
|
13,691 sq mi |
5,803 sq mi |
| Arable land share | 31.4% | 12.5% |
| Arable land area rank | 63/191 | 91/191 |
|
Permanent cropland
|
2,397 sq mi |
1,143 sq mi |
| Permanent cropland share | 5.51% | 2.46% |
| Permanent cropland area rank | 49/192 | 70/192 |
|
Water area
|
773 sq mi |
0 sq mi |
| Water as share of total area | 1.75% | 0% |
| Water area rank | 95/197 | 184/197 |
| Roads length |
9,942 mi |
14,849 mi |
| Land borders length |
1,319 mi |
779 mi |
| Coastline length |
75.2 mi |
565 mi |
| Share of marine protected waters | 0% | 3.6% |
Benin vs Nicaragua size on the map
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (2026, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/size/benin/nicaragua | CC BY
The map above outlines the borders of Benin and Nicaragua but is not accurate for size comparison because it's a 2d map with Mercator projection that distorts territories near the poles. The farther a country is from the equator, the more magnified it appears. More about country size projections.
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (2023–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
Total agricultural land encompasses all areas used for agriculture: territories under permanent and temporary crops and pastures. It includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit and nut trees, and vineyards, but excludes sites utilized for timber production.
Arable land encompasses fields utilized for temporary crop production, pastures, market or kitchen gardens, and temporarily fallowed land. Land abandoned due to shifting cultivation practices is not included.
Permanent cropland refers to farmland for the long-term cultivation of crops, such as coffee, cocoa, and rubber, which do not require replanting after each harvest. This category encompasses land with permanent crops like flowering shrubs, fruit and nut trees, and vines, but does not include land under trees for timber production.
Inland areas under water, such as large rivers, lakes, and some coastal waterways.
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.