Littoral (Benin)

The Littoral region is one of the twelve departments of Benin. It encompasses the entire city of Cotonou, Benin's largest city and economic capital. Due to the unique geography of being nearly entirely contained within the city of Cotonou, the Littoral Department is distinct from other departments in Benin which are typically larger land areas composed of multiple towns and villages. The department's boundaries effectively mirror those of Cotonou. As such, the Littoral Department is densely populated and highly urbanized. It is the smallest of Benin's departments by land area but the most populous. The department's administrative functions are intertwined with the governance of Cotonou itself.