Benguela: population, jobs, schools, health, electricity, water and housing
Benguela is a province of Angola, number 4 of 21 by population. The 2024 census counted 2,597,638 people in Benguela province (1,246,173 men and 1,351,465 women), 7.1% of Angola's 36.60 million; 4th largest of 21 provinces. Angola's census was taken on 19 September 2024 and its definitive results were published in November 2025.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Benguela: 28.6% of the labour force aged 15 and over in Benguela was unemployed in 2025, according to the INE Employment Survey, up from 24.1% in 2024; 9th highest of the 18 provinces as drawn before 2025 (Angola: 28.3%, down from 31.5%).
- Health in Benguela: 44.2% of children under five in Benguela were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in the 2023-2024 IIMS health survey, 8th highest of the 18 provinces as drawn before 2025 (Angola: 39.9%).
- Education in Benguela: 67.3% of people aged 15 and over in Benguela could read and write at the 2024 census (74.9% of men, 60.7% of women), 9th highest of 21 provinces (Angola: 72.6%).
- Poverty and living standards in Benguela: 55.7% of households in Benguela cooked mainly with firewood or charcoal in 2024 and 37.5% with gas, 10th lowest of 21 provinces for firewood and charcoal (Angola: 45.7% and 43.4%).
How fast is Benguela's population growing?
Benguela grew from 2,231,385 people in the 2014 census to 2,597,638 in 2024, an average of 1.5% a year, 2nd slowest of the 18 provinces as drawn before 2025 (Angola: 3.5% a year).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola · saved copyHow many people in Benguela live in towns and cities?
59.5% of Benguela's people lived in urban areas at the 2024 census (1,545,159 people), 11th most urban of 21 provinces (Angola: 65.5%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola · saved copyHow young is the population of Benguela?
Children under 15 made up 41.5% of Benguela's population in 2024 and people aged 65 or over 3.6%; the share of children is 10th lowest of 21 provinces (Angola: 40.4% and 4.0%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola · saved copyHow big are households in Benguela?
Households in Benguela had 3.9 people on average in 2024 (632,291 households), joint 6th smallest of 21 provinces (Angola: 3.9).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola · saved copyHow many people in Benguela have a birth certificate or ID card?
59.8% of people in Benguela had their birth registered at the 2024 census, and 45.7% of those aged 5 or over held a national identity card; birth registration is 9th lowest of 21 provinces (Angola: 63.0% and 52.4%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola · saved copyHow provinces are governed in Angola
Provinces (18 until 2024; 21 under Law 14/24). Governor appointed by and answerable to the President. Central government's representative; appoints and dismisses municipal administrators.
Every tier of government in Angola
Other provinces of Angola
- Luanda 8,816,297
- Huila 3,302,866
- Huambo 2,691,902
- Cuanza Sul 2,327,981
- Bie 2,264,874
- Uige 2,017,921
- Cunene 1,806,417
- Lunda Norte 1,742,217
- Icolo e Bengo 1,372,670
- Malanje 1,298,250
- Cabinda 903,370
- Lunda Sul 893,936
- Namibe 815,708
- Bengo 716,335
- Zaire 682,658
- Cuanza Norte 659,097
- Moxico 574,253
- Cubango 570,447
- Moxico Leste 411,074
- Cuando 138,770
Up a level: Angola · government and power in Angola · cities
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola: Resultados Definitivos do Recenseamento Geral da Populacao e Habitacao 2024 (2024 census, definitive results): Quadros 1.1, 1.6, 1.8, 3.1, 3.4, 8.1, 8.3, 8.4, 8.9, 8.15, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.6, 9.14, 9.15, 9.20, 10.4 and 12, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9cf14c66cc45…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Angola: Anuario do Inquerito sobre o Emprego em Angola 2025 (Employment Survey yearbook, April 2026): Quadros 1, 1C, 5, 16 and 25 by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0576ec002952…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE) and Ministerio da Saude (MINSA), Angola (with ICF, The DHS Program): Inquerito de Indicadores Multiplos e de Saude (IIMS) 2023-2024, Relatorio de Indicadores Basicos: Quadros 9, 12, 14, 16 and 20 by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c6165226dde1…)
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