Demographics of Benin

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Benin population pyramid in 2020
Demographics of Benin. Data from FAO, 2005. Number of inhabitants in thousands.

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.[1][2] The population is young, with a life expectancy of 62 years.[1][2]

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.[2] Ethnic groups include:

  • the Yoruba in the southeast (migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century);[2]
  • the Dendi in the north-central area (they came from what is now Mali in the 16th century);[2]
  • the Bariba and the Fula (or Fulani) (Fula: Fulɓe; French: Peul) in the northeast;[2]
  • the Betammaribe and the Somba in the ;[2]
  • the Fon in the area around Abomey in the South Central;[2] and
  • the , , and Aja (who came from what is now Togo in the 12th century) on the coast.[2]

French is the official language but is spoken more in urban than in rural areas.[2] The literacy rate is 54% among adult males and 31% among adult females as of 2018;[1] these rates are slowly growing.[citation needed] Recent migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin, including Nigerians, Togolese and Malians.[2] The foreign community also includes many Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce.[2] The personnel of the many European embassies, foreign aid missions, nongovernmental organizations and missionary groups account for much of the 5,500 European population.[2]

Several religions are practiced in Benin.[2] Traditional African religions are widespread (50%), and their practices vary from one ethnic group to the other.[2] Arab merchants introduced Islam in the north and among the Yoruba.[2] European missionaries brought Christianity to the south and central areas of Benin.[2] Muslims account for 20% of the population and Christians for 30%.[2] Many nominal Muslims and Christians continue to practice traditional African religion traditions.[2] 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.[2]

Population[]

According to the 2019 revision of the World Population Prospects[3][4] the total population of Benin was 11,485,044 in 2018, 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.[5]

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

Vital statistics[]

Benin's registration of vital events is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations has prepared the following estimates.[5]

Period Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR*
1950–1955 93 000 79 000 14 000 41.0 34.8 6.1 5.86 210
1955–1960 103 000 75 000 28 000 43.6 31.7 11.9 6.13 195
1960–1965 116 000 74 000 41 000 46.2 29.7 16.5 6.42 184
1965–1970 129 000 75 000 54 000 47.5 27.6 19.9 6.65 173
1970–1975 144 000 73 000 71 000 47.8 24.1 23.7 6.84 152
1975–1980 163 000 73 000 90 000 47.9 21.5 26.4 7.00 136
1980–1985 185 000 77 000 108 000 47.7 19.8 27.9 7.01 126
1985–1990 210 000 82 000 128 000 47.2 18.4 28.8 6.88 120
1990–1995 240 000 85 000 155 000 46.0 16.3 29.7 6.56 108
1995–2000 268 000 89 000 179 000 44.0 14.6 29.5 6.16 98
2000–2005 298 000 95 000 203 000 42.2 13.4 28.7 5.79 91
2005–2010 336 000 103 000 233 000 40.7 12.4 28.3 5.49 85
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Births and deaths[6]

Year Population Live births Deaths Natural increase Crude birth rate Crude death rate Rate of natural increase TFR
2012* 376 439 79 116 297 323 40,2 8,4 31,8
  • Data are projections presented in Annuaire Statistique 2010.

Fertility and births[]

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[7][8][9][10]

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):[11]

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

Life expectancy[]

Period Life expectancy in
years[12]
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, 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, descending from the Songhai Empire. The Dɛndi language 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:

Fula woman in Benin.
  • Mande by the 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
  • 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 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 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 in central Collines, especially around Savalou; the of central Atlantique (Allada); the and in the lagoons of the coast; the 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 , principally , and people from the , mainly , and , chiefly .

White Beninese[]

White Beninese people are people who are of French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, African American, Italian, German, Latin American, Russian, and Scandinavian descent. Notable Europeans include:

Other demographic statistics[]

Population pyramid of Benin in 2017

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.[13]

  • One birth every 1 minute
  • 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.[14]

Population[]

11,340,504 (July 2018 est.)
11,038,805
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.)

Age structure[]

0-14 years: 42.26% (male 2,445,265 / female 2,347,091)
15-24 years: 20.53% (male 1,184,977 / female 1,143,605)
25-54 years: 30.66% (male 1,759,834 / female 1,717,467)
55-64 years: 3.65% (male 184,453 / female 229,945)
65 years and over: 2.89% (male 128,920 / female 198,947) (2018 est.)
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 2,126,973 / female 2,042,340)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 2,443,370 / female 2,461,421)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 101,640 / female 149,288) (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate[]

4.67 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 22nd

Median age[]

Total: 18.4 years. Country comparison to the world: 209th
Male: 18.1 years
Female: 18.7 years (2018 est.)
Total: 18.2 years
Male: 17.9 years
Female: 18.6 years (2017 est.)

Population growth rate[]

2.68% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 16th
2.71% (2017 est.)

Birth rate[]

34.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 22nd
35 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Death rate[]

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 99th
7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Net migration rate[]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 74th

Mother's mean age at first birth[]

20.3 years (2011/12 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Contraceptive prevalence rate[]

17.9% (2014)

Urbanization[]

Urban population: 47.3% of total population (2018)
Rate of urbanization: 3.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Sex ratio[]

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.70 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.0 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth[]

Total population: 62.7 years (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 198th
Male: 61.2 years (2018 est.)
Female: 64.2 years (2018 est.)
Total population: 62.3 years
Male: 60.9 years
Female: 63.8 years (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight[]

18% (2014)

HIV/AIDS[]

Adult prevalence rate: 1% (2017 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 70,000 (2017 est.)
Deaths: 2,500 (2017 est.)

Major infectious diseases[]

Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations
Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality[]

English demonym and adjective:

  • Beninese (singular and plural)

French demonym and adjective:

  • Béninois (masculine, singular and plural)
  • Béninoise (feminine, singular)
  • Béninoises (feminine, plural)

Ethnic groups[]

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.) [15]

Religions[]

Islam 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.) [15]
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.[15]

Languages[]

Main article: Languages of Benin

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.

Literacy[]

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 38.4%
Male: 49.9%
Female: 27.3% (2015 est.)

Education expenditure[]

4.4% of total GDP
Country comparison to the world: 91

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Benin". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Background Note: Benin". U.S. State Department. December 2001. Archived from the original on August 8, 2002.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ ""World Population prospects – Population division"". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  4. ^ ""Overall total population" – World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision" (xslx). population.un.org (custom data acquired via website). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision". Esa.un.org. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  6. ^ "3. Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (2002 - 2016)" (PDF). Unstats.un.org. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  7. ^ "Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 1996" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  8. ^ "Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2001" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  9. ^ "Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2006" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  10. ^ "Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2011-12" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  11. ^ "Benin : Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2011-12" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  12. ^ "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  13. ^ "Benin Population 2019", World Population Review
  14. ^ "World Factbook EUROPE : GERMANY", The World Factbook, July 12, 2018 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. ^ a b c "Pew Research Centre: World Christianity". Pew Forum.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document: "2009 edition". and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.

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