Demographics of Benin
The demographics of Benin include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
| Demographics of Benin | |
|---|---|
Population pyramid of Benin in 2020 | |
| Population | 13,754,688 (2022 est.) |
| Growth rate | 3.34% (2022 est.) |
| Birth rate | 41.15 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 62.21 years |
| • male | 60.39 years |
| • female | 64.14 years |
| Fertility rate | 5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | 55.76 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Net migration rate | 0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 45.56% |
| 65 and over | 2.39% |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) |
| At birth | 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Under 15 | 1.02 male(s)/female |
| 65 and over | 0.72 male(s)/female |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Beninese |
| Language | |
| Official | French |
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) (Fula: Fulɓe; French: Peul) 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.