MigrantoBeninese Diaspora
726.5K Beninese live abroad — the #84 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 76% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | 404468 |
| Ivory Coast | 75331 |
| Togo | 72863 |
| Gabon | 56627 |
| France | 31581 |
| Niger | 29525 |
| Ghana | 22051 |
| Republic of Congo | 15015 |
| Burkina Faso | 4437 |
| Senegal | 3834 |
| Italy | 3320 |
| Cameroon | 3103 |
| Mali | 2098 |
| Mauritania | 647 |
| Guinea | 378 |
| South Africa | 332 |
| Namibia | 171 |
| Luxembourg | 151 |
| Brazil | 136 |
| Australia | 97 |
| Sierra Leone | 94 |
| Denmark | 59 |
| Portugal | 40 |
| Hungary | 39 |
| Bulgaria | 37 |
| Norway | 30 |
| Finland | 22 |
| Liberia | 16 |
| Slovakia | 11 |
| Cyprus | 6 |
| Greece | 5 |
| Iceland | 2 |
| Estonia | 1 |
| Latvia | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Bolivia | 1 |
| Lithuania | 0 |
| Slovenia | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 95%
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Benin.
Nigeria is the primary destination for emigrants
Nigeria attracts 56% of all emigrants from Benin, while the second-largest destination receives just 10%.
Niger is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to Niger has increased by 65% since 2015, rising from 17.9K to 29.5K in 9 years.
Emigration has become more concentrated over time
The top destination's share rose from 43% to 56%, with Nigeria increasingly the primary choice.
Top emigration destinations have shifted significantly since 1990
3 new countries have entered the top 20 destinations: Cameroon, Luxembourg, Australia — Cameroon rose from outside the top 20 to rank #12.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 226170 |
| 1995 | 265968 |
| 2000 | 321244 |
| 2005 | 496572 |
| 2010 | 533981 |
| 2015 | 628871 |
| 2020 | 678375 |
| 2024 | 726530 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | Nigeria | Ivory Coast | Togo | Gabon | France |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 96599 | 47874 | 24038 | 16141 | 9930 |
| 1995 | 117556 | 51912 | 26058 | 21584 | 11158 |
| 2000 | 143212 | 55950 | 36908 | 26999 | 13208 |
| 2005 | 284647 | 59988 | 51174 | 29417 | 17912 |
| 2010 | 290747 | 64025 | 67695 | 34101 | 19798 |
| 2015 | 351985 | 68063 | 71638 | 47682 | 23132 |
| 2020 | 377169 | 72101 | 72330 | 52460 | 28360 |
| 2024 | 404468 | 75331 | 72863 | 56627 | 31581 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Benin as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Benin
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Beninese move to?
Most Beninese have moved to Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Togo — these three countries account for about 76% of all Beninese living abroad.
How many Beninese live abroad?
Around 726.5K Beninese live abroad, making it the #84-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Benin lives abroad?
About 5% of the population of Benin lives abroad — that's 726.5K out of a total population of 14.5M.
How has emigration from Benin changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Benin has grown from 628.9K to 726.5K people, a growth of about 16%.
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