Population in largest city in Benin
Benin: Population in largest city was 1.38 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.38 million
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
110th
of 153 countries
All-time high
1.38 million
in 2025
All-time low
73,080
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Benin, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Benin stood at 1.38 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 81.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Benin peaked at 1.38 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 73,080, in 1960.
That places Benin 110th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Benin, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 73,080 | — |
| 1961 | 77,928 | +6.6% |
| 1962 | 85,036 | +9.1% |
| 1963 | 92,962 | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 101,640 | +9.3% |
| 1965 | 111,100 | +9.3% |
| 1966 | 120,007 | +8.0% |
| 1967 | 129,628 | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 140,036 | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 151,247 | +8.0% |
| 1970 | 163,372 | +8.0% |
| 1971 | 176,470 | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 190,638 | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 205,900 | +8.0% |
| 1974 | 222,408 | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 240,239 | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 259,527 | +8.0% |
| 1977 | 280,304 | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 302,776 | +8.0% |
| 1979 | 323,820 | +7.0% |
| 1980 | 337,106 | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 350,898 | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 365,275 | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 380,240 | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 395,841 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 412,036 | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 428,918 | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 446,491 | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 464,809 | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 483,826 | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 503,649 | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 524,284 | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 541,575 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 553,242 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 565,177 | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 577,370 | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 589,843 | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 602,550 | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 615,549 | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 628,829 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 642,413 | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 656,253 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 665,557 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 666,784 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 668,016 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 669,246 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 670,480 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 671,716 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 672,957 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 674,196 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 675,440 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 676,685 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 677,935 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 679,183 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 708,578 | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 757,922 | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 810,702 | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 867,158 | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 927,545 | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 991,000 | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 1.06 million | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 1.12 million | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 1.19 million | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 1.25 million | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 1.31 million | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 1.38 million | +4.6% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 1.38 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 53% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Benin's 1.38 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 63% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 108,266 | 73,080 | 151,247 | 10 |
| 1970s | 236,545 | 163,372 | 323,820 | 10 |
| 1980s | 406,544 | 337,106 | 483,826 | 10 |
| 1990s | 570,207 | 503,649 | 628,829 | 10 |
| 2000s | 665,762 | 642,413 | 674,196 | 10 |
| 2010s | 777,215 | 675,440 | 991,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.22 million | 1.06 million | 1.38 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More urban development data for Benin
- Population in the largest city 17.4% (2025)
- Population density 125.14 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 39.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 49.08 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 8.36 million current US$ (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Benin?
- Population in largest city in Benin was 1.38 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 1.38 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 73,080 in 1960.
- How does Benin rank for population in largest city?
- Benin ranks 110th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.