Country profile · true scale
Africa · BEN

Benin

Benin is more than a dot in an atlas. This page combines area, ranking position, population density, and comparisons that make scale easier to understand beyond the traps of familiar world maps.

True geographic outline
114,763 km²
CapitalPorto-Novo
Total surface area114,763 km²2024 edition
Population14,814,4602025 data
Land area112,760 km²2023 data
ISO CodeBENISO 3166-1 alpha-3 / UN M49
💡
Fun Fact

Benin covers 114,763 km² and has a population of approximately 14,814,460 people, averaging 131.4/km². The closest area match in the dataset is Honduras.

Country profile: Africa

Benin: true size, population, and map scale without illusions

Benin is more than a dot in an atlas. This page combines area, ranking position, population density, and comparisons that make scale easier to understand beyond the traps of familiar world maps.

Benin covers 114,763 km², ranking 103 out of 203 by area in this dataset. Its scale becomes clearer when placed beside neighbors or a familiar reference country, because a wall map can flatten our intuition. Within Africa, that places it 39 out of 55.

Benin is about 2.7 times smaller than Poland by area. This comparison is deliberately simple: Poland works as an easy reference point, and then it makes sense to move toward a similarly sized country. By area, the closest match is Honduras.

The population is approximately 14,814,460 people, with an average density of 131.4/km². Benin ranks 76 out of 203 by population and 70 by density. That is dense settlement, so comparing it with area helps explain how intensively space is used.

Within its continent, Benin represents about 0.38% of the area and about 0.96% of the population covered by this dataset. Its continental population rank is 28 out of 55, so area alone does not tell the full story.

In Africa, many territories sit closer to the equator, so world maps often visually underplay them compared with northern places stretched by the Mercator projection. That is why Benin is best read through several lenses: raw numbers, an equal-scale outline, a comparison with Poland, and a matchup with Honduras. Then the map stops being a picture and starts becoming a tool for discovery.

If you want to remember the scale quickly, compare Benin with a country of similar area and a country of similar population. By population, Rwanda is a useful next clue.

Area#103Area rank among 203 countries and territories in the dataset.
Continent#39Benin covers about 0.38% of the area in Africa.
Population#76About 14,814,460 people; continental rank 28 of 55.
Density131.4/km²Average people per square kilometer; density rank: #70.
Closest scaleHondurasThe most natural same-area outline comparison.

How to explore Benin on the map

The best path is short: compare outlines, check a country with similar population, then try the quiz. It turns numbers into something easier to remember.

The numeric values are used as comparative references for learning scale. Rankings are based on the countries and territories available in this dataset.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Size & Location

Benin covers 114,763 km². In this dataset, that ranks 103 out of 203 by area, and 39 out of 55 within its continent. Benin is about 2.7 times smaller than Poland by area.

The population is approximately 14,814,460 people, with an average density of 131.4/km². Benin ranks 76 out of 203 by population and 70 by density. That is dense settlement, so comparing it with area helps explain how intensively space is used.

Two comparisons work especially well: Benin vs Poland as a familiar reference point, and Benin vs Honduras because their areas are very close. For population, Rwanda is another useful comparison.

In Africa, many territories sit closer to the equator, so world maps often visually underplay them compared with northern places stretched by the Mercator projection. That is why a country's position on the map can mislead, while same-scale outline comparison usually gives a better intuition than a classic atlas.

Every projection moves a globe onto a flat surface and must trade something away: shape, area, direction, or distance. On this page, you can compare the impression created by Mercator, orthographic, and equal-area views.

Start with the numbers, open a 1vs1 comparison with a similar country, and then try the size-illusion quiz. That sequence combines facts, visuals, and play, making the scale easier to remember.

Read the data methodology
Data correction

Benin

The form prepares a message in your email app. The website does not store the entered data or send it automatically.