Today, Demographics of Benin is a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide variety of people. From its origin and evolution to its impact on today's society, Demographics of Benin has become a point of interest and debate in different areas. Throughout history, Demographics of Benin has played a fundamental role in people's lives, influencing the way they think, act and relate. In this article, we will explore the different aspects related to Demographics of Benin, analyzing its importance and relevance today.
The demographics of Benin include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The majority of Benin's 13.3 million people live in the south. The population is young, with a life expectancy of 62 years.
About 42 African ethnic groups live in this country; these various groups settled in Benin at different times and have also migrated within the country. Ethnic groups include:
the Yoruba in the southeast (migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century);
the Dendi in the north-central area (they came from what is now Mali in the 16th century);
the Fon in the area around Abomey in the South Central; and
the Mina, Xweda, and Aja (who came from what is now Togo in the 12th century) on the coast.
the Ewe people on the coast
French is the official language but is spoken more in urban than in rural areas. The literacy rate is 54% among adult males and 31% among adult females as of 2018; these rates are slowly growing.[citation needed] Recent migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin, including Nigerians, Togolese and Malians. The foreign community also includes many Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce. The personnel of the many European embassies, foreign aid missions, nongovernmental organizations and missionary groups account for much of the 5,500 European population.
Several religions are practiced in Benin.Traditional African religions are widespread (50%), and their practices vary from one ethnic group to the other. Arab merchants introduced Islam in the north and among the Yoruba. European missionaries brought Christianity to the south and central areas of Benin.Muslims account for 20% of the population and Christians for 30%. Many nominal Muslims and Christians continue to practice traditional African religion traditions. It is believed that West African Vodun originated in Benin and was introduced to Brazil and the Caribbean Islands by slaves taken from this particular area of the Slave Coast.
Population
According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population of Benin was 12,996,895 in 2021, compared to only 2,255,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43.7%; 53.3% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3% were of 65 years or older.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Total population
Population aged 0–14 (%)
Population aged 15–64 (%)
Population aged 65+ (%)
1950
2 255 000
35.2
57
7.8
1955
2 302 000
37.0
56.6
6.3
1960
2 420 000
38.4
56.1
5.5
1965
2 602 000
40.7
54.3
5
1970
2 850 000
42.7
52.7
4.6
1975
3 182 000
44.2
51.4
4.4
1980
3 611 000
45.2
50.7
4.0
1985
4 140 000
45.9
50.4
3.7
1990
4 773 000
46.2
50.4
3.4
1995
5 651 000
45.5
51.3
3.1
2000
6 518 000
45.6
51.4
3.0
2005
7 634 000
44.6
52.4
3.0
2010
8 850 000
43.7
53.3
3.0
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2011) (Data refer to national projections.):
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
%
Total
4 446 877
4 620 199
9 067 076
100
0–4
828 064
801 448
1 629 512
17.97
5–9
675 912
659 254
1 335 166
14.73
10–14
572 756
564 312
1 137 068
12.54
15–19
553 241
527 958
1 081 199
11.92
20–24
398 920
369 026
767 946
8.47
25–29
291 598
317 891
609 489
6.72
30–34
227 400
310 493
537 893
5.93
35–39
213 385
281 234
494 619
5.46
40–44
175 956
202 155
378 111
4.17
45–49
142 056
166 810
308 866
3.41
50–54
110 074
122 576
232 650
2.57
55–59
82 190
89 780
171 970
1.90
60–64
64 968
70 800
135 768
1.50
65-69
35 915
39 619
75 534
0.83
70-74
36 511
46 229
82 740
0.91
75-79
15 591
20 862
36 453
0.40
80+
22 340
29 752
52 092
0.57
Age group
Male
Female
Total
Percent
0–14
2 076 732
2 025 014
4 101 746
45.24
15–64
2 259 788
2 458 723
4 718 511
52.04
65+
110 357
136 462
246 819
2.72
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019) (Projections based on the 2013 Population Census.):
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
%
Total
5 832 926
6 024 701
11 857 627
100
0–4
940 701
900 981
1 841 682
15.53
5–9
849 322
827 010
1 676 332
14.14
10–14
849 093
828 651
1 677 744
14.15
15–19
700 987
665 779
1 366 766
11.53
20–24
539 908
515 230
1 055 138
8.90
25–29
405 041
468 706
873 747
7.37
30–34
333 366
445 579
778 945
6.57
35–39
298 390
364 433
662 823
5.59
40–44
245 129
279 544
524 673
4.42
45–49
204 983
214 033
419 016
3.53
50–54
136 813
139 819
276 632
2.33
55–59
120 528
130 415
250 943
2.12
60–64
65 462
67 250
132 712
1.12
65-69
62 527
72 418
134 945
1.14
70-74
31 651
37 112
68 763
0.58
75-79
24 810
33 122
57 932
0.49
80+
24 217
34 620
58 837
0.50
Age group
Male
Female
Total
Percent
0–14
2 639 116
2 556 642
5 195 758
43.82
15–64
3 050 605
3 290 787
6 341 392
53.48
65+
143 205
177 272
320 477
2.70
Vital statistics
Benin's registration of vital events is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations has prepared the following estimates. Population estimates account for under numeration in population censuses.
Population (thousands)
Live births (thousands)
Deaths (thousands)
Natural change (thousands)
CBR
CDR
NC
TFR
IMR
Life expectancy (years)
1950
2 264
92
72
21
40.6
31.5
9.1
5.75
210.2
34.95
1951
2 281
93
72
21
40.8
31.6
9.2
5.78
208.0
35.20
1952
2 298
95
72
22
41.1
31.4
9.8
5.83
205.4
35.47
1953
2 317
96
72
24
41.5
31.0
10.5
5.88
203.0
35.82
1954
2 337
98
72
26
42.0
30.8
11.2
5.94
200.4
36.05
1955
2 360
100
72
28
42.4
30.4
12.0
5.99
197.7
36.39
1956
2 385
103
71
31
42.9
29.9
13.0
6.05
195.0
36.83
1957
2 413
105
72
34
43.5
29.6
13.9
6.11
192.2
37.09
1958
2 443
108
71
36
44.0
29.2
14.8
6.17
189.4
37.48
1959
2 476
111
71
39
44.6
28.8
15.8
6.23
186.5
37.86
1960
2 512
113
72
42
45.1
28.5
16.6
6.28
183.6
38.18
1961
2 551
117
72
46
46.0
28.1
17.8
6.40
180.5
38.54
1962
2 593
120
72
48
46.3
27.8
18.6
6.46
177.5
38.93
1963
2 638
123
72
51
46.7
27.3
19.3
6.51
174.4
39.33
1964
2 686
126
72
54
46.9
26.9
20.0
6.57
171.3
39.76
1965
2 736
129
72
56
47.0
26.4
20.6
6.61
168.2
40.18
1966
2 789
131
72
59
47.0
25.9
21.1
6.64
165.0
40.65
1967
2 844
133
72
61
46.8
25.4
21.4
6.65
162.0
41.06
1968
2 901
136
72
64
46.8
24.9
21.9
6.68
159.1
41.52
1969
2 961
139
73
66
46.7
24.5
22.2
6.71
156.3
41.85
1970
3 023
141
73
68
46.7
24.1
22.6
6.74
153.7
42.19
1971
3 088
144
73
71
46.7
23.7
23.1
6.79
151.2
42.58
1972
3 156
148
73
75
46.7
23.1
23.6
6.82
148.2
43.16
1973
3 227
150
73
77
46.5
22.6
23.9
6.83
145.3
43.60
1974
3 301
153
73
80
46.4
22.1
24.3
6.84
142.4
44.09
1975
3 379
157
73
84
46.4
21.6
24.8
6.85
139.5
44.68
1976
3 460
161
72
88
46.3
20.9
25.5
6.86
136.5
45.49
1977
3 546
164
72
92
46.3
20.3
26.0
6.85
133.5
46.18
1978
3 637
168
71
96
46.1
19.6
26.5
6.84
130.7
46.96
1979
3 732
174
72
102
46.5
19.3
27.2
6.91
128.1
47.36
1980
3 834
180
73
108
47.0
18.9
28.1
6.99
125.7
47.88
1981
3 942
186
73
113
47.3
18.6
28.7
7.05
123.3
48.31
1982
4 054
191
74
117
47.2
18.2
28.9
7.05
121.2
48.81
1983
4 172
195
74
121
46.8
17.8
29.1
7.03
119.1
49.33
1984
4 293
201
75
126
46.8
17.4
29.3
7.02
117.1
49.75
1985
4 420
206
75
131
46.6
17.0
29.6
6.99
115.2
50.37
1986
4 551
211
75
137
46.4
16.5
30.0
6.95
113.1
51.08
1987
4 689
217
75
142
46.3
16.0
30.3
6.90
111.0
51.66
1988
4 832
223
75
147
46.0
15.5
30.5
6.85
108.8
52.29
1989
4 980
227
76
151
45.5
15.2
30.3
6.80
106.8
52.68
1990
5 133
233
76
157
45.4
14.8
30.6
6.73
104.6
53.29
1991
5 293
239
77
162
45.1
14.5
30.7
6.67
102.6
53.62
1992
5 458
244
77
167
44.7
14.1
30.6
6.60
100.3
54.09
1993
5 706
251
77
174
44.6
13.7
30.8
6.51
98.1
54.54
1994
5 923
270
80
190
45.3
13.5
31.8
6.41
96.0
54.91
1995
6 047
267
80
187
44.0
13.2
30.8
6.31
94.1
55.30
1996
6 204
270
80
190
43.5
12.9
30.5
6.26
92.3
55.56
1997
6 387
275
80
195
43.0
12.6
30.4
6.20
90.5
55.98
1998
6 584
280
81
199
42.6
12.4
30.2
6.10
88.6
56.22
1999
6 789
287
82
204
42.2
12.1
30.1
6.00
86.8
56.53
2000
6 998
292
84
208
41.7
12.0
29.7
5.89
85.0
56.58
2001
7 212
298
85
213
41.4
11.8
29.6
5.82
83.3
56.66
2002
7 432
307
87
219
41.3
11.8
29.5
5.78
81.6
56.61
2003
7 659
317
89
228
41.4
11.6
29.8
5.77
79.9
56.74
2004
7 895
325
91
234
41.2
11.5
29.7
5.72
78.1
56.83
2005
8 149
333
92
241
40.9
11.3
29.6
5.68
76.5
57.13
2006
8 403
344
94
250
40.9
11.1
29.8
5.64
75.0
57.46
2007
8 648
350
95
255
40.4
11.0
29.5
5.56
73.6
57.68
2008
8 906
355
96
259
39.9
10.8
29.1
5.48
72.2
57.87
2009
9 173
364
98
265
39.6
10.7
28.9
5.44
70.9
57.96
2010
9 446
372
99
273
39.3
10.5
28.9
5.39
69.6
58.36
2011
9 726
381
101
280
39.2
10.4
28.8
5.37
68.2
58.46
2012
10 014
392
102
289
39.1
10.2
28.9
5.35
66.9
58.72
2013
10 309
404
104
299
39.1
10.1
29.0
5.35
65.6
58.97
2014
10 615
416
106
310
39.2
10.0
29.2
5.35
64.3
59.13
2015
10 933
427
108
319
39.0
9.9
29.2
5.32
63.1
59.38
2016
11 260
438
110
329
38.9
9.8
29.2
5.30
61.9
59.54
2017
11 597
449
111
337
38.7
9.6
29.1
5.27
60.6
59.86
2018
11 941
456
113
343
38.2
9.4
28.8
5.20
59.3
60.14
2019
12 290
463
114
349
37.7
9.2
28.4
5.13
57.9
60.45
2020
12 643
469
118
351
37.1
9.4
27.8
5.05
56.5
60.09
2021
12 997
476
123
353
36.6
9.4
27.2
4.97
55.0
59.82
^ abcdeCBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births
There are several dozen ethnolinguistic groups in Benin, representing three of Africa's language families: Niger–Congo, Nilo-Saharan, and Afroasiatic. The latter is represented by Hausa, living mostly as merchants in the north, while Nilo-Saharan is represented by the Dɛndi people, descending from the Songhai Empire. The Songhay language Dɛndi predominates along the Niger River in the far north, and is used as a lingua franca in Muslim areas throughout the north, in Alibori, Borgou, and Donga provinces. Of the Niger–Congo family, five branches are represented:
Mande by the Boko or Busa, now in the far eastern corner (southern Alibori-northern Borgou), but previously more widely spread before being largely absorbed by the Bariba
Benue–Congo by the Yoruba such as those of the old kingdom of Sakete, and the capital city of Porto-Novo, having expanded west from the Yoruba cities of Oyo and Ife in the 12th to 19th centuries
Gur (Voltaic) languages predominate in the four northern provinces, with the Batɔmbu (Bariba) of the old Borgou (Bariba) Kingdom occupying most of the countryside in its successor provinces of Borgou and Alibori, as well as the provincial capital of Parakou; the Yom throughout much of Donga province and its capital Djougou; and several groups in the Atakora, including the Bɛtamaribɛ of the Otammari country around the provincial capital of Natitingou, the Biali, the Waama of Tanguiéta, and the Gulmàceba.
Kwa, especially the Gbe languages spoken by the Tado peoples in the southern and central provinces: the Aja who established themselves in Kouffo province from neighboring Togo and gave rise to the other Tado peoples of Benin, except for the Mina of Mono province, who arrived separately from Togo or Ghana: The Fɔn culture centered in Zou province around the old Fɔn capital of Abomey, but also dominant in Cotonou and southern Atlantique areas such as Ouidah; the Maxi in central Collines, especially around Savalou; the Ayizɔ of central Atlantique (Allada); the Xwla and Xueda in the lagoons of the coast; the Tɔfin of Ouémé; and the Gun. Other Kwa languages are spoken by the Anii in southern Donga in the region of Bassila, and the Fooɖo in western Donga near the town of Ouaké.
The largest ethnic group are the Fon, with 1.7 million speakers of the Fon language (2001), followed by the various Yoruba groups (1.2 million), the Aja (600,000), the Bariba (460,000), the Ayizo (330,000), the Fulani (310,000), and the Gun (240,000). Near the ports in the south can be found many people who are descended from returned Brazilian slaves. There are also small numbers of Europeans, principally French, and people from the western Asia, mainly Lebanese, and East Asia, chiefly Indians.
White Beninese
White Beninese people are people who are of French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Italian, German, Latin American, Russian, and Scandinavian descent.
Notable Europeans include:
Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2021.
One birth every 1 minutes
One death every 5 minutes
One net migrant every 288 minutes
Net gain of one person every 2 minutes
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.
Population
13,754,688 (2022 est.)
11,340,504 (July 2018 est.)
Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. (July 2017 est.)
Religions
Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)
Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Fulani and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, Other 1.6%, Unspecified 2.9% (2002 est.)
Pew Forum estimated that, in 2010, that Roman Catholics constituted 30% of the country, Protestants 23.2%, and other Christians 0.3%, with all Christians making up 53.4% of the population.
Over 50 languages are spoken in Benin. The official language is French. Of the many indigenous African languages, Fon and Yoruba are the most important in southern Benin. In the north there are at least six major languages, including Baatonum and Fulani.