Benin vs US size comparison
How Big Is Benin Compared to the US?
The US is about 87 times the size of Benin. Benin is about 3.8 times as densely populated. Drag Benin over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Benin vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Benin laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Benin
- 112,622 km² (43,484 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 87 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Virginia (110,786 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Benin 14,814,460; the US 341,784,857
- Benin's rank by area
- 100th-largest of 197
How big Benin is compared with the US
The US is about 87 times the size of Benin: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 112,622 km² (43,484 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Benin about 72 times. Benin is bigger than 16 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 34; the state closest in size is Virginia (110,786 km²). It is the 100th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 38th-largest of 54 in Africa; the US is the third-largest.
Benin has about 15 million people (2025), the 76th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 132 people per km² it is about 3.8 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 72nd-most densely populated country.
Benin and the US on a world map
Benin reaches from 6°N to 12°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws Benin about 1.03 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 195 times the size of Benin, when it is really about 87 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Benin is
Benin's capital, Porto-Novo, is 8,660 km (5,380 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Benin borders 4 countries: Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
Benin and US in numbers
| Benin | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 112,622 km² 43,484 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 87× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 14,814,460 | 341,784,857 | The US has 23× more |
| Rank by area | 100th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 132 | 35 | Benin is 3.8× denser |
| Capital | Porto-Novo | Washington, D.C. | 8,660 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 4 | 2 |
Benin compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Benin bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 87 times the size of Benin: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 112,622 km² (43,484 sq mi).
How many times would Benin fit into the US?
About 87 times (87.31). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 72 times.
Which US state is Benin closest in size to?
Virginia (110,786 km²). Benin is about the same size as Virginia.
Is Benin bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 6.2 times the size of Benin.
Which has more people, Benin or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 23 times the 15 million in Benin.
Why does Benin look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than Benin, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 195 times the size of Benin, not 87.
Where does Benin rank by size?
Benin is the 100th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 38th-largest in Africa. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Benin from the US?
Benin's capital, Porto-Novo, is 8,660 km (5,380 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.