MigrantoBeninese Diaspora
726.5K Beninese live abroad — 5% of the population of Benin
Beninese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 76% of the diaspora
| 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 region
95% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Beninese diaspora in numbers
Most Beninese abroad live in Nigeria
56% of the diaspora lives in Nigeria, while the next country accounts for just 10%.
The community in Niger is growing fastest
The number of Beninese living in Niger has grown 65% since 2015, from 17.9K to 29.5K.
The diaspora is more concentrated than in 1990
The largest country's share rose from 43% to 56%, and today that country is Nigeria.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Cameroon, Luxembourg, Australia. Cameroon climbed from outside the top 20 to #12.
1 in 20 people born in Benin lives abroad
726.5K people born in Benin now live in other countries — 5.0% of a population of 14.5M.
Beninese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 226170 |
| 1995 | 265968 |
| 2000 | 321244 |
| 2005 | 496572 |
| 2010 | 533981 |
| 2015 | 628871 |
| 2020 | 678375 |
| 2024 | 726530 |
Largest communities over time
Beninese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Beninese in each country has changed since the selected year
Beninese among immigrants in other countries
Where Beninese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Beninese live outside Benin?
Around 726.5K Beninese live abroad, the world's #84 largest diaspora.
Where do most Beninese abroad live?
Most Beninese live in Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Togo — these three countries account for about 76% of all Beninese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Beninese population outside Benin?
Nigeria is home to the largest Beninese community abroad — 404.5K people, about 56% of all Beninese living abroad.
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.
Is the Beninese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Beninese living abroad has grown from 628.9K to 726.5K, about 16%.
Where does the data on the Beninese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Benin who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Benin
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