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 Bariba and the Fula (or Fulani) (; ) in the northeast; the Betammaribe and the Somba in the Atacora Range; 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. 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 total population of Benin was in , 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.

Total populationPopulation aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%) 19502 255 00035.2577.8 19552 302 00037.056.66.3 19602 420 00038.456.15.5 19652 602 00040.754.35 19702 850 00042.752.74.6 19753 182 00044.251.44.4 19803 611 00045.250.74.0 19854 140 00045.950.43.7 19904 773 00046.250.43.4 19955 651 00045.551.33.1 20006 518 00045.651.43.0 20057 634 00044.652.43.0 20108 850 00043.753.33.0

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% 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 0.57Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 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

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% 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 0.50Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 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. Mid-year populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCBRCDRNCTFRIMRLife expectancy (years)19502,264,000 92,000 72,000 21,00040.631.59.15.75210.234.951951 2,281,000 93,000 72,000 21,00040.831.69.25.78208.035.201952 2,298,000 95,000 72,000 22,00041.131.49.85.83205.435.471953 2,317,000 96,000 72,000 24,00041.531.010.55.88203.035.821954 2,337,000 98,000 72,000 26,00042.030.811.25.94200.436.051955 2,360,000 100,000 72,000 28,00042.430.412.05.99197.736.391956 2,385,000 103,000 71,000 31,00042.929.913.06.05195.036.831957 2,413,000 105,000 72,000 34,00043.529.613.96.11192.237.091958 2,443,000 108,000 71,000 36,00044.029.214.86.17189.437.481959 2,476,000 111,000 71,000 39,00044.628.815.86.23186.537.861960 2,512,000 113,000 72,000 42,00045.128.516.66.28183.638.181961 2,551,000 117,000 72,000 46,00046.028.117.86.40180.538.541962 2,593,000 120,000 72,000 48,00046.327.818.66.46177.538.931963 2,638,000 123,000 72,000 51,00046.727.319.36.51174.439.331964 2,686,000 126,000 72,000 54,00046.926.920.06.57171.339.761965 2,736,000 129,000 72,000 56,00047.026.420.66.61168.240.181966 2,789,000 131,000 72,000 59,00047.025.921.16.64165.040.651967 2,844,000 133,000 72,000 61,00046.825.421.46.65162.041.061968 2,901,000 136,000 72,000 64,00046.824.921.96.68159.141.521969 2,961,000 139,000 73,000 66,00046.724.522.26.71156.341.851970 3,023,000 141,000 73,000 68,00046.724.122.66.74153.742.191971 3,088,000 144,000 73,000 71,00046.723.723.16.79151.242.581972 3,156,000 148,000 73,000 75,00046.723.123.66.82148.243.161973 3,227,000 150,000 73,000 77,00046.522.623.96.83145.343.601974 3,301,000 153,000 73,000 80,00046.422.124.36.84142.444.091975 3,379,000 157,000 73,000 84,00046.421.624.86.85139.544.681976 3,460,000 161,000 72,000 88,00046.320.925.56.86136.545.491977 3,546,000 164,000 72,000 92,00046.320.326.06.85133.546.181978 3,637,000 168,000 71,000 96,00046.119.626.56.84130.746.961979 3,732,000 174,000 72,000 102,00046.519.327.26.91128.147.361980 3,834,000 180,000 73,000 108,00047.018.928.16.99125.747.881981 3,942,000 186,000 73,000 113,00047.318.628.77.05123.348.311982 4,054,000 191,000 74,000 117,00047.218.228.97.05121.248.811983 4,172,000 195,000 74,000 121,00046.817.829.17.03119.149.331984 4,293,000 201,000 75,000 126,00046.817.429.37.02117.149.751985 4,420,000 206,000 75,000 131,00046.617.029.66.99115.250.371986 4,551,000 211,000 75,000 137,00046.416.530.06.95113.151.081987 4,689,000 217,000 75,000 142,00046.316.030.36.90111.051.661988 4,832,000 223,000 75,000 147,00046.015.530.56.85108.852.291989 4,980,000 227,000 76,000 151,00045.515.230.36.80106.852.681990 5,133,000 233,000 76,000 157,00045.414.830.66.73104.653.291991 5,293,000 239,000 77,000 162,00045.114.530.76.67102.653.621992 5,458,000 244,000 77,000 167,00044.714.130.66.60100.354.091993 5,706,000 251,000 77,000 174,00044.613.730.86.5198.154.541994 5,923,000 270,000 80,000 190,00045.313.531.86.4196.054.911995 6,047,000 267,000 80,000 187,00044.013.230.86.3194.155.301996 6,204,000 270,000 80,000 190,00043.512.930.56.2692.355.561997 6,387,000 275,000 80,000 195,00043.012.630.46.2090.555.981998 6,584,000 280,000 81,000 199,00042.612.430.26.1088.656.221999 6,789,000 287,000 82,000 204,00042.212.130.16.0086.856.532000 6,998,000 292,000 84,000 208,00041.712.029.75.8985.056.582001 7,212,000 298,000 85,000 213,00041.411.829.65.8283.356.662002 7,432,000 307,000 87,000 219,00041.311.829.55.7881.656.612003 7,659,000 317,000 89,000 228,00041.411.629.85.7779.956.742004 7,895,000 325,000 91,000 234,00041.211.529.75.7278.156.832005 8,149,000 333,000 92,000 241,00040.911.329.65.6876.557.132006 8,403,000 344,000 94,000 250,00040.911.129.85.6475.057.462007 8,648,000 350,000 95,000 255,00040.411.029.55.5673.657.682008 8,906,000 355,000 96,000 259,00039.910.829.15.4872.257.872009 9,173,000 364,000 98,000 265,00039.610.728.95.4470.957.962010 9,446,000 372,000 99,000 273,00039.310.528.95.3969.658.362011 9,726,000 381,000 101,000 280,00039.210.428.85.3768.258.462012 10,014,000 392,000 102,000 289,00039.110.228.95.3566.958.722013 10,309,000 404,000 104,000 299,00039.110.129.05.3565.658.972014 10,615,000 416,000 106,000 310,00039.210.029.25.3564.359.132015 10,933,000 427,000 108,000 319,00039.09.929.25.3263.159.382016 11,260,000 438,000 110,000 329,00038.99.829.25.3061.959.542017 11,597,000 449,000 111,000 337,00038.79.629.15.2760.659.862018 11,941,000 456,000 113,000 343,00038.29.428.85.2059.360.142019 12,290,000 463,000 114,000 349,00037.79.228.45.1357.960.452020 12,898,000 462,000 120,000 342,00035.39.226.24.8056.260.22021 13,242,000 467,000 125,000 341,00034.89.325.44.7154.959.62022 13,585,000 473,000 123,000 350,00034.48.925.44.6353.760.52023 13,934,000 478,000 124,000 354,00033.98.825.14.5652.360.8 Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022 Fertility Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural) 1996 42.2 6.32 (5.0) 37.8 5.24 (4.0) 44.8 7.02 (5.6) 2001 41.1 5.6 (4.6) 36.0 4.4 (3.6) 43.8 6.4 (53) 2006 41.5 5.7 (4.8) 38.7 4.9 (4.1) 43.0 6.3 (5.3) 2011–12 33.3 4.9 (4.0) 33.1 4.3 (3.6) 33.3 5.4 (4.4) 2017–18 40.5 5.7 (4.9) 39.1 5.2 (4.5) 41.6 6.1 (5.2)

Fertility data as of 2011-2012 (DHS Program):

Department Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49Alibori 5.8 15.0 6.4Atacora 5.8 9.1 6.0Atlantique 5.1 9.2 4.8Borgou 5.2 9.3 5.2Collines 4.7 8.1 5.8Couffo 5.1 11.7 6.0Donga 4.7 11.0 6.0Littoral 3.6 6.3 3.4Mono 4.6 10.8 4.7Ouémé 5.2 10.0 5.1Plateau 5.3 7.3 4.9Zou 5.0 10.2 5.1

Before 1950 Years 1925192619271928192919301931193219331934Total Fertility Rate in Benin5.665.665.675.675.675.685.685.695.695.69 Years 1935193619371938193919401941194219431944Total Fertility Rate in Benin5.705.705.705.715.715.715.725.725.735.73 Years 19451946194719481949Total Fertility Rate in Benin5.735.745.745.745.75

Life expectancy PeriodLife expectancy in years1950–195533.721955–1960 36.131960–1965 38.421965–1970 40.871970–1975 43.481975–1980 46.221980–1985 48.301985–1990 51.921990–1995 55.141995–2000 54.962000–2005 56.182005–2010 58.562010–2015 59.93

Ethnic groups 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 Senegambian by the nomadic Fulani scattered across the northeast 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