Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 299,151, of whom 150,827 are men and 148,324 women; 25,483 or 8.52% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 9.1%. With an estimated area of 2,128.91 square kilometers, Bench has an estimated population density of 140.5 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 20.[1]
In the 1994 national census Bench had a population of 208,339, of whom 103,257 were men and 105,082 women; 14,067 or 6.75% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda were the Bench (62.21%), the Kafficho (9.42%), the Me'en (8.09%), the Amhara (6.27%), and the She (5.79%); all other ethnic groups made up 8.22% of the population. Bench was spoken as a first language by 62.49% of the inhabitants, 11.06% spoke Amharic, 8.1% spoke Me'en, 6.93% spoke Kafa, and 5.82% spoke She; the remaining 5.6% spoke all other primary languages reported.[2] Concerning education, 19.95% of the population were considered literate; 13.18% of children aged 7–12 were in primary school; 6.08% of the children aged 13–14 were in junior secondary school, and 3.25% of the inhabitants aged 15–18 were in senior secondary school.[3] Concerning sanitary conditions, about 81% of the urban and 22% of the total had toilet facilities.[4]