Migration trends in Benin

Africa

Benin loses more people than it takes in: 726.5K emigrants against 373.7K immigrants. Net balance −352.9K — 2% of the country's population

14.5M

Population

373.7K

Immigrants

726.5K

Emigrants

−352.9K

Outflow

1 in 39 residents of Benin was born abroad — and 1 in 21 people born in Benin lives abroad

#84 in the world by net migration loss

Top corridors

The largest migration flows in Benin

Where people move to

404.5K55.7%

75.3K10.4%

72.9K10.0%

Where people come from

120.4K32.2%

92.4K24.7%

82.9K22.2%

Key moments

How migration has changed since 1990

1990

69K immigrants · 226.2K emigrants

2000

The foreign-born population passed 100K residents

2005

Togo overtook Niger as the largest source of new arrivals
A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 84%
An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 55%

2010

The diaspora passed 500K people

Today

Since 1990: 304.6K more foreign-born residents and 500.4K more emigrants

Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)

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