Benin - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Benin was 5,869,446 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 5,869,446 in 2020 and a minimum value of 225,532 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 225,532
1961 243,036
1962 262,053
1963 282,716
1964 305,169
1965 329,545
1966 356,057
1967 384,830
1968 416,030
1969 449,720
1970 486,098
1971 525,276
1972 567,564
1973 613,053
1974 662,185
1975 715,202
1976 772,493
1977 834,087
1978 900,435
1979 965,276
1980 1,016,235
1981 1,070,017
1982 1,126,941
1983 1,187,096
1984 1,250,621
1985 1,317,607
1986 1,388,168
1987 1,462,441
1988 1,541,338
1989 1,625,793
1990 1,716,832
1991 1,815,043
1992 1,910,226
1993 1,995,344
1994 2,082,660
1995 2,170,763
1996 2,259,208
1997 2,348,393
1998 2,439,229
1999 2,533,358
2000 2,631,923
2001 2,735,155
2002 2,847,832
2003 2,973,327
2004 3,103,024
2005 3,236,233
2006 3,372,952
2007 3,513,642
2008 3,658,705
2009 3,808,659
2010 3,964,235
2011 4,125,678
2012 4,293,033
2013 4,466,251
2014 4,646,154
2015 4,832,686
2016 5,026,050
2017 5,226,414
2018 5,433,800
2019 5,648,149
2020 5,869,446

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization