Cotonou: population
Cotonou, Benin: 2.51 million people in 2025, by the UN estimate.
Rank among the cities of the country: 1 of 29.
In 1975 it had 364,000 people.
In 2000 it had 1.03 million people, so it has grown by 143% since then.
For 2050 the UN projects 3.44 million people.
A city here is a dense area of at least 1,500 people per km² with at least 50,000 people, drawn on a population grid by the UN degree of urbanisation. It can differ from the city’s administrative borders and from national statistics. Years from 2026 on are projections.
Largest cities: Benin
| City | 2025 | 2050, projected |
|---|---|---|
| Cotonou | 2,506,489 | 3,444,190 |
| Porto-Novo | 818,617 | 1,201,491 |
| Parakou | 395,528 | 728,028 |
| Bohicon | 293,833 | 462,020 |
| Djougou | 159,643 | 228,258 |
| Whydah | 134,144 | 215,176 |
| Pobè | 123,350 | 192,211 |
| Kandi | 121,259 | 228,608 |
| Aplahoué | 118,390 | 191,335 |
| Malanville | 114,386 | 200,208 |
Sources: World Urbanization Prospects 2025, UN DESA Population Division (CC BY 3.0 IGO).
