Benin's cities at a glance
Dots sized by population · Cotonou in orange
Benin has 6 with more than 100,000 (city-proper figures). The largest is Cotonou with 679,012 people, followed by Abomey-Calavi (385,755) and Porto-Novo (264,320). The three largest cities together hold about 8.7% of the country's 15.3 million people.
The capital, Porto-Novo, is the 3rd largest city with 264,320 people — Cotonou is 2.6× larger.
By region, the most large cities are in Borgou (5), Atlantique (3), Ouémé (3).
Country-level figures — live population, births and deaths, growth, density and history — are on the Benin population page; provinces, terrain, rivers and society maps are in the Benin atlas.
Benin cities by population
| # | City | Region | Population | Share of Benin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cotonou | Littoral | 679,012 | 4.4% |
| 2 | Abomey-Calavi | Atlantique | 385,755 | 2.5% |
| 3 | Porto-NovoCapital | Ouémé | 264,320 | 1.7% |
| 4 | Parakou | Borgou | 255,478 | 1.7% |
| 5 | Godomè | Atlantique | 253,262 | 1.7% |
| 6 | Abomey | Zou | 117,824 | 0.8% |
| 7 | Djougou | Donga | 94,773 | 0.6% |
| 8 | Bohicon | Zou | 93,744 | 0.6% |
| 9 | Ekpé | Ouémé | 75,313 | 0.5% |
| 10 | Nikki | Borgou | 66,109 | 0.4% |
| 11 | Malanville | Alibori | 64,639 | 0.4% |
| 12 | Kandi | Alibori | 56,043 | 0.4% |
| 13 | Kérou | Atakora | 54,276 | 0.4% |
| 14 | Natitingou | Atakora | 53,284 | 0.3% |
| 15 | Pobé | Plateau | 49,232 | 0.3% |
| 16 | Ouidah | Atlantique | 47,616 | 0.3% |
| 17 | Lokossa | Mono | 47,246 | 0.3% |
| 18 | Bassila | Donga | 46,569 | 0.3% |
| 19 | Tchaourou | Borgou | 43,862 | 0.3% |
| 20 | Cové | Zou | 43,554 | 0.3% |
| 21 | Sakété | Plateau | 43,541 | 0.3% |
| 22 | Comé | Collines | 42,586 | 0.3% |
| 23 | Missérété | Ouémé | 41,657 | 0.3% |
| 24 | Dogbo | Kouffo | 41,341 | 0.3% |
| 25 | Kétou | Plateau | 39,626 | 0.3% |
| 26 | Savalou | Collines | 38,162 | 0.2% |
| 27 | Banikoara | Alibori | 37,571 | 0.2% |
| 28 | Péhonko | Atakora | 37,217 | 0.2% |
| 29 | Kalalé | Borgou | 35,513 | 0.2% |
| 30 | Sinendé | Borgou | 35,267 | 0.2% |
Cities with 300,000 or more people link to their own page. The list keeps every city of 100,000+ and at least the 30 largest places of the country.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest city in Benin?
Cotonou, with about 679,012 inhabitants (city proper). It is larger than the capital, Porto-Novo (264,320).
What is the capital of Benin?
Porto-Novo — population 264,320, the 3rd largest city in the country.
How many cities in Benin have over one million people?
None — the largest, Cotonou, has 679,012 people.
Are these metropolitan-area populations?
No. They are city-proper figures (the administrative city) from GeoNames, based on the latest census or official estimate. Metropolitan areas, which include suburbs and satellite towns, are larger — often several times larger for the biggest cities.
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SudanCite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Largest Cities in Benin 2026: Population Ranking. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/benin/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/benin/">Largest Cities in Benin 2026: Population Ranking</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.