Urban Population: Benin
Benin's urban population is currently 52.5% as of 2024. # Benin Urban Population Benin's urban population reached 52.
Current (2024)
52.5%
+1.5% y/y
Peak (2024)
52.5%
Low (1960)
9.8%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Benin
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Benin
Analysis# Benin Urban Population
Benin's urban population reached 52.546% in 2024, marking its all-time peak and crossing the crucial halfway point for the first time. This represents a dramatic transformation from 1960, when just 9.79% of the population lived in urban areas—a cumulative increase of 436.7% over six decades. The country now stands at a watershed moment where urban and rural populations are nearly equal.
The consistent upward trajectory from 2015 onward reveals sustained urbanization momentum. Annual gains accelerated from 0.668 percentage points in 2015–2016 to 0.8 points by 2023–2024, suggesting structural economic shifts drawing people toward cities. With urbanization showing no signs of slowing, Benin's continued migration from rural to urban centers will reshape infrastructure demands, labor markets, and regional development patterns in the coming years.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52.5% | +1.55% |
| 2023 | 51.7% | +1.54% |
| 2022 | 51.0% | +1.53% |
| 2021 | 50.2% | +1.52% |
| 2020 | 49.4% | +1.50% |
| 2019 | 48.7% | +1.50% |
| 2018 | 48.0% | +1.48% |
| 2017 | 47.3% | +1.47% |
| 2016 | 46.6% | +1.45% |
| 2015 | 45.9% | +1.44% |
| 2014 | 45.3% | +1.43% |
| 2013 | 44.6% | +1.37% |
| 2012 | 44.0% | +1.35% |
| 2011 | 43.5% | +1.33% |
| 2010 | 42.9% | +1.31% |
| 2009 | 42.3% | +1.28% |
| 2008 | 41.8% | +1.25% |
| 2007 | 41.3% | +1.22% |
| 2006 | 40.8% | +1.19% |
| 2005 | 40.3% | +1.15% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 39.9% | +1.11% |
| 2003 | 39.4% | +1.06% |
| 2002 | 39.0% | +1.00% |
| 2001 | 38.6% | +0.90% |
| 2000 | 38.3% | +0.81% |
| 1999 | 38.0% | +0.76% |
| 1998 | 37.7% | +0.74% |
| 1997 | 37.4% | +0.74% |
| 1996 | 37.1% | +0.78% |
| 1995 | 36.8% | +0.85% |
| 1994 | 36.5% | +0.95% |
| 1993 | 36.2% | +1.10% |
| 1992 | 35.8% | +1.27% |
| 1991 | 35.3% | +1.50% |
| 1990 | 34.8% | +1.72% |
| 1989 | 34.2% | +1.92% |
| 1988 | 33.6% | +2.12% |
| 1987 | 32.9% | +2.30% |
| 1986 | 32.1% | +2.46% |
| 1985 | 31.4% | +2.61% |
| 1984 | 30.6% | +2.73% |
| 1983 | 29.8% | +2.85% |
| 1982 | 28.9% | +2.93% |
| 1981 | 28.1% | +2.99% |
| 1980 | 27.3% | +3.03% |
| 1979 | 26.5% | +3.21% |
| 1978 | 25.7% | +3.57% |
| 1977 | 24.8% | +3.92% |
| 1976 | 23.9% | +4.26% |
| 1975 | 22.9% | +4.60% |
| 1974 | 21.9% | +4.93% |
| 1973 | 20.8% | +5.26% |
| 1972 | 19.8% | +5.56% |
| 1971 | 18.8% | +5.85% |
| 1970 | 17.7% | +6.11% |
| 1969 | 16.7% | +6.34% |
| 1968 | 15.7% | +6.51% |
| 1967 | 14.7% | +6.62% |
| 1966 | 13.8% | +6.65% |
| 1965 | 13.0% | +6.56% |
| 1964 | 12.2% | +6.34% |
| 1963 | 11.4% | +5.96% |
| 1962 | 10.8% | +5.40% |
| 1961 | 10.2% | +4.69% |
| 1960 | 9.8% | — |
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