Cotonou
Decide whether to visit or live in Cotonou, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
AI-assisted, evidence-constrained research · how this page is made
Would you visit or live in Cotonou?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Consider with extra preparation
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel and all travel to certain areas in Benin, with specific warnings regarding regions like Alibori and Atacora departments.
high source confidence · current planning signal, not a personal-safety guaranteeSee the evidence and calculation
- Official advice recommends significant caution
- Latest air-quality reading is not elevated
- avoid_all_travel_to_parts
- avoid_all_but_essential_travel_to_parts
The score combines dated official-advisory wording, weather, air quality, sourced local context, and your selections. It does not predict crime or individual outcomes. Check local authorities and professional advice before a safety-critical decision.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Cotonou month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Cotonou are typically July, August and November, with average daytime highs around 27–30°C. February is usually the warmest month (average high 31°C), August the coldest (average low 24°C), and June the wettest (about 219 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.6 | 25.4 | 19 | 10.1 |
| February | 30.8 | 26.4 | 28 | 10.3 |
| March | 30.6 | 27.1 | 64 | 9.7 |
| April | 30.5 | 27.0 | 71 | 9.8 |
| May | 29.8 | 26.5 | 144 | 9.6 |
| June | 28.0 | 25.2 | 219 | 8.3 |
| July | 26.9 | 24.6 | 102 | 9.5 |
| August | 26.6 | 24.1 | 75 | 9.7 |
| September | 27.3 | 24.6 | 132 | 9.0 |
| October | 28.3 | 25.2 | 147 | 9.2 |
| November | 29.6 | 26.1 | 60 | 10.4 |
| December | 30.4 | 25.6 | 21 | 10.4 |
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People and places shaping Cotonou
AI-assisted local research, regenerated with the dated live layer. Every requested module remains visible; facts appear only after a source check, and unavailable categories explain what is still being researched.
Research updated Wednesday, October 28, 2026Past and future events in Cotonou
Upcoming
No future event in Cotonou currently has a sufficiently reliable date and source. This is checked again on every refresh.
Previously
- Documented history · 1830
At the beginning of the 19th century, Cotonou (then spelled "Kutonou") was a small fishing village, and is thought to have been formally founded by King Ghezo of Dahomey in 1830.
- Documented history · 1851
In 1851 the French Second Republic made a treaty with King Ghezo that allowed them to establish a trading post at Cotonou.
- Documented history · 1858
During the reign of King Glele (1858–89), the territory was ceded to the Second French Empire by a treaty signed in 1878.
- Documented history · 1883
In 1883, the French Navy occupied the city to prevent British conquest of the area.
- Founding of Cotonou
Cotonou was formally founded as a small fishing village by King Ghezo of Dahomey in 1830.
Sources checked (25)
- Cotonou
- Cotonou | Benin, Map, & Facts | Britannica
- Bénin : Luc Gnacadja désigné nouveau maire de Cotonou
- 8 Best Things to Do in Cotonou: A Complete Travel Guide
- Benin: The new mayors of Porto-Novo, Cotonou and Parakou have ...
- Cotonou, Benin: All You Must Know Before You Go (2026) - Tripadvisor
- Luc Gnacadja Nouveau Maire de Cotonou Pour Sept Ans
- THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Cotonou (2026) - Tripadvisor
- Bénin : « le moment est venu d’agir pour Cotonou. Ensemble ...
- Top 15 Things to Do in Cotonou, Benin - Cotonou Attractions
- Bénin : Luc Gnacadja remplace Luc Atrokpo à la mairie de Cotonou
- Benin - Wikipedia
- Mairie de Cotonou : Luc Gnacadja, de l’arène internationale à ...
- Cheap Flights to Cotonou from £528 Return | Skyscanner
- Cotonou - Visit Benin Republic
- 8 of the Absolute Best Things to do in Cotonou, Benin
- Who Was Born in Cotonou, Benin? Famous Names and Their ...
- 6 Famous People from Cotonou, Benin | Pantheon
- Celebrities Born In Cotonou, Benin - Famous Birthdays
- Famous People from Cotonou, Benin | 6 Notable People | Pantheon
- List of People from Cotonou - FamousFix List
- Celebrity Birthplace - Cotonou, Benin (Celebrities) - FamousFix
- Born in Cotonou (City in Benin) - happyhappybirthday.net
- Cheap Flights to Cotonou from £528 Return | Skyscanner
- Wikidata structured records for Cotonou
Interactive geography
See Cotonou in context
Keep the deeper context
Stable history, culture, districts, and practical reference remain in the main reading flow while the live layers above continue changing.
01 · OverviewCotonou, in brief
Cotonou is the largest city of Benin and serves as the nation's seat of government. Positioned in the southeast of the country, the settlement occupies a narrow coastal strip situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Nokoué.
How is Cotonou physically shaped by its surrounding waters and landforms? The municipality lies entirely on a coastal strip, bordered on one side by the Atlantic Ocean and on the other by Lake Nokoué. Cutting directly through the urban area is the lagoon of Cotonou, a canal originally dug by the French in 1855 that effectively divides the city in two. Three bridges cross this channel to connect the separate districts. Additionally, the Ouémé River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou, contributing to the distinct hydrological features of the region.
What environmental and geographical pressures affect the coastline? The surrounding geography has left the area vulnerable to significant coastal erosion, a phenomenon noted for several decades. This erosion intensified after 1961 following the construction of the Nangbeto Dam and the deep-water port of Cotonou. A pilot project funded by the United Nations Environment Program demonstrated that the coast directly east of the city retreated by 400 meters over a forty-year span, forcing many residents to abandon their homes along the shoreline.
How does the geography support regional and international connectivity? Situated in the Littoral department at coordinates 6.36536 latitude and 2.41833 longitude, the urban zone functions as a major transit hub. The established infrastructure encompasses air routes, sea access via the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, river routes leading toward Porto-Novo, and land connections. These various routes facilitate trade and transport with neighboring countries including Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Togo. Within the urban area itself, the expanding city proper—which recorded an official population of 679,012 while supporting over two million people in the wider urban area—continues to grow notably toward the west.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cotonou
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Cotonou located and what are its coordinates?
Cotonou is situated in Benin at geographic coordinates 6.3654, 2.4183, with an elevation monitored in regional geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Cotonou?
Cotonou has a recorded population of approximately 679,012 and observes the Africa/Porto-Novo time zone.
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Cotonou?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Cotonou include FR-BJ, with XOF used for local transactions.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Cotonou?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Cotonou, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.
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