Benin/Society

Society in Benin

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
14.1M(2023)
Population Growth
2.5%(2023)
Fertility Rate
4.56(2023)
Death Rate
8.8 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-7.7K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
60.8 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
77.9 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
518 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure
2.7%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
47.1%(2022)
Primary Enrollment
97.2%(2018)
Secondary Enrollment
45.4%(2022)
Tertiary Enrollment
10.6(2022)
Education Expenditure
3.4%(2022)

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
32.2%(2023)
Access to Electricity
57%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
67.4%(2022)
Urban Population
7.1M(2023)
Rural Population
7M(2023)

Current Social Overview of Benin

A summary based on key social and demographic indicators.

  • Benin has an estimated population of 14.1M
    2023
    The nation is experiencing rapid demographic expansion with an annual growth rate of 2.5%
    2023
    , indicative of a dynamic and youthful population structure and potential for a significant demographic dividend. The elevated fertility rate of 4.6 births per woman
    2023
    contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Net emigration is relatively minor, impacting the population by approximately 8K individuals annually (or -0.5 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    .
  • Regarding public health, The notably low life expectancy of 60.8 years
    2023
    underscores critical public health challenges that necessitate urgent and comprehensive interventions. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (77.9 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (518 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 2.7% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Critical educational challenges are highlighted by the low literacy rate of 47%
    2022
    , necessitating immediate and sustained interventions to improve foundational education. Complementing this, while primary education reaches 97% of children
    2018
    , secondary enrollment at 45%
    2022
    suggests significant attrition challenges that may hinder higher skill development and future economic potential. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 3.4% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (50% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 57%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 32%
    2023
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

A youthful, rapidly growing population presents a "demographic dividend" opportunity if met with sufficient investment in jobs and services.

Public Health System

Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.