Benin Departments and Capitals List

Benin, officially known as the Republic of Benin, is a country located in West Africa. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Benin is divided into 12 departments. However, please note that administrative divisions can change over time, so it's always a good idea to verify the most up-to-date information. Here are the 12 departments of Benin as of my last update:

Benin is a West African country located along the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. The country is divided into 12 departments, and those departments are further divided into communes for local administration. Porto-Novo is the official national capital, while Cotonou is the largest city and the main economic center of the country.

The southern part of Benin has coastal lagoons, busy cities, and ports, while the north is known for savannas, national parks, and farming communities. Agriculture plays a major role in the economy, and many people work in trade, transportation, and local markets across the departments.

Key Facts

• National capital: Porto-Novo
• Total population: 13,712,828 (Official estimate 2024)
• Total area: 114,763 km² (44,310 sq miles)
• Currency: West African CFA Franc (CFA, XOF)
• Bordering countries: Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria
• Total Departments: 12
• Total Communes: 77

List of Departments and Capitals of Benin

Total departments shown: 12 | Combined population: 13,712,828 | Combined area: 114,763 km²

Largest Departments by Area

• Alibori - 10,132 sq mi (26,242 km²)
• Borgou - 9,772 sq mi (25,310 km²)
• Atakora - 7,915 sq mi (20,499 km²)
• Collines - 5,236 sq mi (13,561 km²)
• Donga - 4,296 sq mi (11,126 km²)
• Zou - 2,024 sq mi (5,243 km²)
• Plateau - 1,260 sq mi (3,264 km²)
• Atlantique - 1,248 sq mi (3,233 km²)

Most Populous Departments

• Atlantique - Population: 1,727,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Littoral - Population: 1,679,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Borgou - Population: 1,415,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Zou - Population: 1,335,828 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Alibori - Population: 1,301,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Ouémé - Population: 1,298,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Atakora - Population: 1,134,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Couffo - Population: 899,000 (Official Estimate 2024)

Smallest Departments by Area

• Littoral - 31 sq mi (79 km²)
• Ouémé - 495 sq mi (1,281 km²)
• Mono - 620 sq mi (1,605 km²)
• Couffo - 928 sq mi (2,404 km²)
• Atlantique - 1,248 sq mi (3,233 km²)
• Plateau - 1,260 sq mi (3,264 km²)

Departments by Regional Grouping

• North: Alibori
• Northeast: Borgou
• Northwest: Atakora, Donga
• Central: Collines
• Central South: Zou
• South: Atlantique
• Southwest: Couffo
• Southwest Coast: Mono
• South Coast: Littoral
• Southeast: Ouémé, Plateau

Landlocked Departments

• Alibori
• Atakora
• Borgou
• Collines
• Donga
• Plateau
• Zou

Departments with Coastline

• Atlantique
• Littoral
• Mono
• Ouémé

Departments Sharing Borders with Other Countries

• Togo: Atakora, Couffo, Mono
• Burkina Faso: Atakora, Alibori
• Niger: Alibori, Borgou
• Nigeria: Borgou, Plateau, Ouémé

Sources

• Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Économique du Bénin
• World Bank - Benin Data
• CIA World Factbook - Benin
• Encyclopaedia Britannica - Benin
• United Nations Statistics Division