View source for Demographics of Benin

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is a legitimate description when the title is already adequate; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox place demographics|place=[[Benin]]|image=File:Benin single age population pyramid 2020.png|image_size=350|caption=Population pyramid of Benin in 2020|size_of_population=13,754,688 (2022 est.)|nation=Beninese|official=French|age_0–14_years=45.56%|age_65_years=2.39%|growth=3.34% (2022 est.)|birth=41.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)|death=8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)|net_migration=0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)|sr_at_birth=1.05 male(s)/female|sr_under_15=1.02 male(s)/female|sr_65_years_over=0.72 male(s)/female|total_mf_ratio=0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)|infant_mortality=55.76 deaths/1,000 live births|life=62.21 years|life_male=60.39 years|life_female=64.14 years|fertility=5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)}}[[Image:Benin-demography.png|thumb|300px|right|Demographics of Benin. Data from [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], 2005. Number of inhabitants in thousands.]]

The demographics of [[Benin]] include [[population density]], [[Ethnic group|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=September 22, 2021|title=Benin|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/benin/|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2021|website=[[The World Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109093606/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/benin |archive-date=2021-01-09 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=December 2001|title=Background Note: Benin|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/6761.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020808174502/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/6761.htm|archive-date=August 8, 2002|publisher=[[U.S. State Department]]}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The population is young, with a life expectancy of 62 years.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

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.<ref name=":1" /> Ethnic groups include:
*the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] in the southeast (migrated from what is now [[Nigeria]] in the 12th century);<ref name=":1" />
*the [[Dendi people|Dendi]] in the north-central area (they came from what is now [[Mali]] in the 16th century);<ref name=":1" />
*the [[Bariba people|Bariba]] and the [[Fula people|Fula (or Fulani)]] ({{langx|ff|Fulɓe}}; {{langx|fr|Peul}}) in the northeast;<ref name=":1" />
*the [[Betammaribe]] and the [[Somba people|Somba]] in the [[Atacora Range]];<ref name=":1" />
*the [[Fon people|Fon]] in the area around [[Abomey]] in the South Central;<ref name=":1" /> and
*the [[Mina people|Mina]], [[Xweda]], and [[Aja (people)|Aja]] (who came from what is now [[Togo]] in the 12th century) on the coast.<ref name=":1" />
*the Ewe people on the coast 

[[French language|French]] is the official language but is spoken more in urban than in rural areas.<ref name=":1" /> The literacy rate is 54% among adult males and 31% among adult females as of 2018;<ref name=":0" /> these rates are slowly growing.{{Fact|date=September 2021}} Recent migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin, including Nigerians, Togolese and Malians.<ref name=":1" /> The foreign community also includes many Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce.<ref name=":1" /> The personnel of the many European embassies, foreign aid missions, nongovernmental organizations and missionary groups account for much of the 5,500 European population.<ref name=":1" />

Several religions are practiced in Benin.<ref name=":1" /> [[Traditional African religions]] are widespread (50%), and their practices vary from one ethnic group to the other.<ref name=":1" /> Arab merchants introduced Islam in the north and among the Yoruba.<ref name=":1" /> European missionaries brought [[Christianity]] to the south and central areas of Benin.<ref name=":1" /> [[Muslim]]s account for 20% of the population and Christians for 30%.<ref name=":1" /> Many nominal Muslims and Christians continue to practice traditional African religion traditions.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":1" />

==Population==
[[File:Benin Population 1950-2021 Forecast 2022-2032 UN World Population Prospects 2022.svg|thumb|350px|[[Population]], [[fertility rate]] and [[net reproduction rate]], United Nations estimates]]
According to {{UN_Population|source}} the total population of Benin was {{UN_Population|Benin}} in {{UN_Population|Year}}, 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.<ref name="WPP 2010">{{cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm|title=Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision|website=Esa.un.org|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref>

{{Chart|definition=Benin Total Population.chart|data=Benin Total Population.tab|Width=450}}
{{Chart|definition=Benin Population Change.chart|data=Benin Population Change.tab|Width=450}}
{{Chart|definition=Benin Infant Mortality.chart|data=Benin Infant Mortality.tab|Width=450}}
{{Chart|definition=Benin TFR.chart|data=Benin TFR.tab|Width=450}}


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
!
! width="80" |Total population
! width="80" |Population aged 0–14 (%)
! width="80" |Population aged 15–64 (%)
! width="80" |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
|}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2011) (Data refer to national projections.): <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/|title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics}}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 4 446 877
| align="right" | 4 620 199
| align="right" | 9 067 076
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 828 064
| align="right" | 801 448
| align="right" | 1 629 512
| align="right" | 17.97
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 675 912
| align="right" | 659 254
| align="right" | 1 335 166
| align="right" | 14.73
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 572 756
| align="right" | 564 312
| align="right" | 1 137 068
| align="right" | 12.54
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 553 241
| align="right" | 527 958
| align="right" | 1 081 199
| align="right" | 11.92
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 398 920
| align="right" | 369 026
| align="right" | 767 946
| align="right" | 8.47
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 291 598
| align="right" | 317 891
| align="right" | 609 489
| align="right" | 6.72
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 227 400
| align="right" | 310 493
| align="right" | 537 893
| align="right" | 5.93
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 213 385
| align="right" | 281 234
| align="right" | 494 619
| align="right" | 5.46
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 175 956
| align="right" | 202 155
| align="right" | 378 111
| align="right" | 4.17
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 142 056
| align="right" | 166 810
| align="right" | 308 866
| align="right" | 3.41
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 110 074
| align="right" | 122 576
| align="right" | 232 650
| align="right" | 2.57
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 82 190
| align="right" | 89 780
| align="right" | 171 970
| align="right" | 1.90
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 64 968
| align="right" | 70 800
| align="right" | 135 768
| align="right" | 1.50
|-
| align="right" | 65-69
| align="right" | 35 915
| align="right" | 39 619
| align="right" | 75 534
| align="right" | 0.83
|-
| align="right" | 70-74
| align="right" | 36 511
| align="right" | 46 229
| align="right" | 82 740
| align="right" | 0.91
|-
| align="right" | 75-79
| align="right" | 15 591
| align="right" | 20 862
| align="right" | 36 453
| align="right" | 0.40
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 22 340
| align="right" | 29 752
| align="right" | 52 092
| align="right" | 0.57
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 2 076 732
| align="right" | 2 025 014
| align="right" | 4 101 746
| align="right" | 45.24
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 2 259 788
| align="right" | 2 458 723
| align="right" | 4 718 511
| align="right" | 52.04
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 110 357
| align="right" | 136 462
| align="right" | 246 819
| align="right" | 2.72
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019) (Projections based on the 2013 Population Census.): <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/|title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics}}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 5 832 926
| align="right" | 6 024 701
| align="right" | 11 857 627
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 940 701
| align="right" | 900 981
| align="right" | 1 841 682
| align="right" | 15.53
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 849 322
| align="right" | 827 010
| align="right" | 1 676 332
| align="right" | 14.14
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 849 093
| align="right" | 828 651
| align="right" | 1 677 744
| align="right" | 14.15
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 700 987
| align="right" | 665 779
| align="right" | 1 366 766
| align="right" | 11.53
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 539 908
| align="right" | 515 230
| align="right" | 1 055 138
| align="right" | 8.90
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 405 041
| align="right" | 468 706
| align="right" | 873 747
| align="right" | 7.37
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 333 366
| align="right" | 445 579
| align="right" | 778 945
| align="right" | 6.57
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 298 390
| align="right" | 364 433
| align="right" | 662 823
| align="right" | 5.59
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 245 129
| align="right" | 279 544
| align="right" | 524 673
| align="right" | 4.42
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 204 983
| align="right" | 214 033
| align="right" | 419 016
| align="right" | 3.53
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 136 813
| align="right" | 139 819
| align="right" | 276 632
| align="right" | 2.33
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 120 528
| align="right" | 130 415
| align="right" | 250 943
| align="right" | 2.12
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 65 462
| align="right" | 67 250
| align="right" | 132 712
| align="right" | 1.12
|-
| align="right" | 65-69
| align="right" | 62 527
| align="right" | 72 418
| align="right" | 134 945
| align="right" | 1.14
|-
| align="right" | 70-74
| align="right" | 31 651
| align="right" | 37 112
| align="right" | 68 763
| align="right" | 0.58
|-
| align="right" | 75-79
| align="right" | 24 810
| align="right" | 33 122
| align="right" | 57 932
| align="right" | 0.49
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 24 217
| align="right" | 34 620
| align="right" | 58 837
| align="right" | 0.50
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 2 639 116
| align="right" | 2 556 642
| align="right" | 5 195 758
| align="right" | 43.82
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 3 050 605
| align="right" | 3 290 787
| align="right" | 6 341 392
| align="right" | 53.48
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 143 205
| align="right" | 177 272
| align="right" | 320 477
| align="right" | 2.70
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

==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.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
!
!Population<br />(thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |Live births <br />(thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |Deaths <br />(thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |Natural change<br />(thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |CBR{{efn-lr|name=h}}
! style="width:80pt;" |CDR{{efn-lr|name=h}}
! style="width:80pt;" |NC{{efn-lr|name=h}}
! style="width:80pt;" |TFR{{efn-lr|name=h}}
! style="width:80pt;" |IMR{{efn-lr|name=h}}
! style="width:80pt;" |Life expectancy <br />(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
|style="color:blue"|47.3
|18.6
|28.7
|7.05
|123.3
|48.31
|-
|1982
|  4 054
|  191
|  74
|  117
|47.2
|18.2
|28.9
|style="color:blue"|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
|style="color:blue"|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
|style="color:blue"|9.2
|28.4
|5.13
|57.9
|60.45
|-
|2020
|  12 898
|  462
|  120
|  342
|35.3
|9.2
|26.2
|4.80
|56.2
|60.2
|-
|2021
|  13 242
|  467
|  125
|  341
|34.8
|9.3
|25.4
|4.71
|54.9
|59.6
|-
|2022
|  13 585
|  473
|  123
|  350
|34.4
|8.9
|25.4
|4.63
|53.7
|60.5
|-
|2023
|  13 934
|  478
|  124
|  354
|33.9
|8.8
|25.1
|4.56
|52.3
|60.8
|-
| colspan="11" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:left" |{{notelist-lr|refs=<ref name="h">'''CBR''' = 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</ref>}}
|}
Source: [[UN DESA]], World Population Prospects, 2022<ref>{{cite UN WPP|2022|rows=4973:5044|cols=M,X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV,AI}}</ref>
===Demographic and Health Surveys===
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR81/FR81.pdf|title=Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 1996|website=Dhsprogram.com|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR133/FR133.pdf|title=Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2001|website=Dhsprogram.com|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR197/FR197.pdf|title=Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2006|website=Dhsprogram.com|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR270/FR270.pdf|title=Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2011-12|website=Dhsprogram.com|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50pt;"| Year
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Total)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Total)
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Urban)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Urban)
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Rural)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Rural)
|-
| 1996
| style="text-align:right;"| 42.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.32 (5.0)
| style="text-align:right;"| 37.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.24 (4.0)
| style="text-align:right;"| 44.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.02 (5.6)
|-
| 2001
| style="text-align:right;"| 41.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.6 (4.6)
| style="text-align:right;"| 36.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.4 (3.6)
| style="text-align:right;"| 43.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.4 (53)
|-
| 2006
| style="text-align:right;"| 41.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.7 (4.8)
| style="text-align:right;"| 38.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.9 (4.1)
| style="text-align:right;"| 43.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.3 (5.3)
|-
| 2011–12
| style="text-align:right;"| 33.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.9 (4.0)
| style="text-align:right;"| 33.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.3 (3.6)
| style="text-align:right;"| 33.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.4 (4.4)
|-
| 2017–18
| style="text-align:right;"| 40.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.7 (4.9)
| style="text-align:right;"| 39.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.2 (4.5)
| style="text-align:right;"| 41.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.1 (5.2)
|-
|}

Fertility data as of 2011-2012 (DHS Program):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR270/FR270.pdf|title=Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2011-12|website=Dhsprogram.com|access-date=2017-08-27}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:100pt;"| Department
! style="width:100pt;"| Total fertility rate
! style="width:100pt;"| Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant
! style="width:100pt;"| Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
|-
|[[Alibori Department|Alibori]]|| 5.8 || 15.0 || 6.4
|-
|[[Atakora Department|Atacora]]|| 5.8 || 9.1 || 6.0
|-
|[[Atlantique Department|Atlantique]]|| 5.1 || 9.2 || 4.8
|-
|[[Borgou Department|Borgou]]|| 5.2 || 9.3 || 5.2
|-
|[[Collines Department|Collines]]|| 4.7 || 8.1 || 5.8
|-
|[[Kouffo Department|Couffo]]|| 5.1 || 11.7 || 6.0
|-
|[[Donga Department|Donga]]|| 4.7 || 11.0 || 6.0
|-
|[[Littoral Department|Littoral]]|| 3.6 || 6.3 || 3.4
|-
|[[Mono Department|Mono]]|| 4.6 || 10.8 || 4.7
|-
|[[Ouémé Department|Ouémé]]|| 5.2 || 10.0 || 5.1
|-
|[[Plateau Department|Plateau]]|| 5.3 || 7.3 || 4.9
|-
|[[Zou Department|Zou]]|| 5.0 || 10.2 || 5.1
|}

=== Life expectancy ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Period
!Life expectancy in <br /> years<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations|website=esa.un.org|access-date=2018-08-26}}</ref>
|-
|1950–1955
|33.72  
|-
|1955–1960
|{{increase}} 36.13  
|-
|1960–1965
|{{increase}} 38.42 
|-
|1965–1970
|{{increase}} 40.87 
|-
|1970–1975
|{{increase}} 43.48  
|-
|1975–1980
|{{increase}} 46.22  
|-
|1980–1985
|{{increase}} 48.30 
|-
|1985–1990
|{{increase}} 51.92  
|-
|1990–1995
|{{increase}} 55.14 
|-
|1995–2000
|{{decrease}} 54.96  
|-
|2000–2005
|{{increase}} 56.18  
|-
|2005–2010
|{{increase}} 58.56 
|-
|2010–2015
|{{increase}} 59.93  
|}

== Ethnic groups ==
There are several dozen '''ethnolinguistic groups''' in Benin, representing three of Africa's language families: [[Niger–Congo languages|Niger–Congo]], [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan]], and [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]]. The latter is represented by [[Hausa people|Hausa]], living mostly as merchants in the north, while Nilo-Saharan is represented by the Dɛndi people, descending from the [[Songhai Empire]]. The [[Songhay languages|Songhay]] language [[Dendi 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:
[[File:Femme et le plaisir d'être belle(Peuhl) du Benin) 04.jpg|thumb|Fula woman in Benin.]]
* [[Mande languages|Mande]] by the [[Boko people|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
* [[Senegambian languages|Senegambian]] by the nomadic [[Fulani]] scattered across the northeast
* [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]] by the [[Yoruba people|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, Nigeria|Oyo]] and [[Ife]] in the 12th to 19th centuries
* [[Gur languages|Gur (Voltaic) languages]] predominate in the four northern provinces, with the [[Bariba people|Batɔmbu (Bariba)]] of the old [[Borgu|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 language|Yom]] throughout much of Donga province and its capital [[Djougou]]; and several groups in the Atakora, including the [[Ditamari|Bɛtamaribɛ]] of the Otammari country around the provincial capital of [[Natitingou]], the Biali, the [[Waama]] of [[Tanguiéta]], and the [[Gurma|Gulmàceba]].
* [[Kwa languages|Kwa]], especially the [[Gbe languages]] spoken by the [[Tado]] peoples in the southern and central provinces: the [[Aja people|Aja]] who established themselves in Kouffo province from neighboring [[Togo]] and gave rise to the other Tado peoples of Benin, except for the [[Mina people|Mina]] of Mono province, who arrived separately from Togo or [[Ghana]]: The [[Fon people|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, Collines|Maxi]] in central Collines, especially around [[Savalou]]; the [[Ayizo|Ayizɔ]] of central Atlantique ([[Allada]]); the [[Xwla]] and [[Xueda]] in the lagoons of the coast; the [[Tofin|Tɔfin]] of Ouémé; and the [[Gun]]. Other Kwa languages are spoken by the [[Anii]] in southern Donga in the region of [[Bassila]], and the [[Foodo|Fooɖo]] in western Donga near the town of [[Ouaké]].

The largest ethnic group are the [[Fon people|Fon]], with 1.7 million speakers of the Fon language (2001), followed by the various [[Beninois Yoruba|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 [[Brazil]]ian slaves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minorityrights.org/country/benin/#:~:text=Although%20Benin's%20many%20political%20parties,the%20formerly%20northern%2Ddominated%20military.|title=Benin - Minority Rights Group}}</ref>

==Languages==
{{Main|Languages of Benin}}
Over 50 languages are spoken in Benin. The official language is [[French language|French]]. Of the many indigenous [[African languages]], [[Fon language|Fon]] and [[Yoruba language|Yoruba]] are the most important in southern Benin. In the north there are at least six major languages, including [[Baatonum language|Baatonum]] and [[Fula language|Fulani]].

==Religion==

{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in Benin (ARDA 2020 est.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=24c|title=Religions in Benin &#124; Arda|website=www.thearda.com|access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Catholic]]
| value1 = 23.54
| color1 = Light Blue
| label2 = [[Protestant]]
| value2 = 8.01
| color2 = Blue
| label3 = [[Christianity|Other Christian]]
| value3 = 12.36
| color3 = Dark Blue
| label4 = [[Islam]]
| value4 = 29.13
| color4 = Green
| label5 = [[African traditional religions|Ethnic Religion]]
| value5 = 26.57
| color5 = Brown
| label6 = [[Irreligion]]
| value6 = .23
| color6 = Black
| label7 = Other
| value7 = .16
| color7 = White
}}

:[[Islam in Benin|Islam]] 27.7%, [[Roman Catholic]] 25.5%, [[Protestant]] 13.5% ([[Celestial Church of Christ|Celestial]] 6.7%, [[Methodist]] 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), [[Vodoun]] 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other [[Traditional African religion|traditional religions]] 2.6%, Other 2.6%, None 5.8%, (2013 est.) 
:Pew Forum estimated that, in 2010, that [[Roman Catholic]]s constituted 30% of the country, [[Protestant]]s 23.2%, and other Christians 0.3%, with all Christians making up 53.4% of the population.

== See also ==

* [[1992 Benin census]]

==References==
{{Commons category|Demographics of Benin}}
{{Reflist}}

{{CIA World Factbook|year=2009}} and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.

{{Ethnic groups in Benin}}
{{Benin topics}}
{{Africa in topic|Demographics of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demographics Of Benin}}
[[Category:Demographics of Benin| ]]
[[Category:Society of Benin]]