Littoral ([li.tɔ.ʁal], “Littoral“) is one of the twelve departments of Benin. At 79 km2 (31 sq mi), Littoral is the smallest department in the country. Its capital is Cotonou, Benin’s largest city. The department was created in 1999 with the splitting up of territories of Atlantique Department.
As per 2013 census, the total population of the department was 679,012 with 325,872 males and 353,140 females. The entire population was urban while the total labour force in the department numbered 253,892. The proportion of households with no level of attained formal education was 21.1%, by far the lowest of any department in the country.
Littoral Department borders Ouémé Department and Atlantique Department and is situated in a coastal area that has interconnected lakes and lagoons and elongated coastlines with wide marshes. Freshwater and seawater fishing is the major profession in the region. Petroleum was discovered in the 1960s in offshore areas, while titanium, low-quality iron ore, ilmenite and chromite are the major minerals.
The department’s region has mostly low-lying sandy coastal plains towards the Atlantic Ocean, marshes, lagoons and lakes. The highest elevation in the department around the coastal plains is 20 m (66 ft) compared to the average 200 m (660 ft) above average mean sea level of the country.
Prefect of Littoral department
Mr. Alain Sourou Orounla
Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa has a fitness center, a garden and a sun terrace with swimming. This 5-star hotel offers a private beach area and room service.
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The department of Littoral was created in 1999, when it was split off from Atlantique Department and Cotonou was made its capital. It is the smallest of all departments in the country. Littoral comprises just one commune/city, Cotonou, Benin’s largest city and its economic capital. Cotonou is subdivided into 13 arrondissements, which are further subdivided into 165 neighborhoods.
