Rural population density in Benin
Benin: Rural population density was 194.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▼ Falling
Rural population density in Benin, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population density in Benin is 194.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land, measured in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Benin peaked at 239.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961 and was at its lowest, 160.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 2004.
That places Benin 36th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Benin, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 239.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 236.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 233.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 230.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 227.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 222.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.2% |
| 1967 | 215.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 211.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 199.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 197.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 191.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 188.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 187.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 184.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 181.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 179.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 177.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 176.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 176.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 174.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 174.45 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 175.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 177.28 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 179.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 181.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 183.2 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 185.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 187 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 189.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 193.63 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 198.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 202.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 205.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 205.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 199.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 187.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 178.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 170.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 170.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 168.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 167.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 164.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 162.4 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 160.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 166.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 183.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 187.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 183.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 197.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 194.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 194.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 224.13 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 199.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 239.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 184.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 176.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 197.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 180.7 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 174.45 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 189.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 191.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 170.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 205.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 174.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 160.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 197.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 194.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 194.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 194.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 33 Nigeria 227.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 34 Burkina Faso 218.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 35 Angola 195.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 37 Zimbabwe 190.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 38 Senegal 190.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 39 Chad 183.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Benin
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -9.6 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -10.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.29 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 6.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0009 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -2.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Benin?
- Rural population density in Benin was 194.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 239.99 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1961.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 160.15 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2004.
- How does Benin rank for rural population density?
- Benin ranks 36th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.