Subdivisions of Benin
Encyclopedia
Benin is divided into 12 departments (French: départements), and subdivided into 77 communes.
On the third level are the arrondissements of Benin
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File:Benin departments named.png|thumb|right|Departments of Benin
rect 96 41 108 60 Alibori
rect 43 70 56 89 Atakora
rect 68 237 80 256 Atlantique
rect 85 105 98 125 Borgou
rect 68 176 81 196 Collines
rect 48 116 60 134 Donga
rect 50 224 62 242 Couffo
rect 84 254 97 271 Littoral
rect 53 242 65 257 Mono
rect 98 237 118 255 Ouémé
rect 98 206 117 224 Plateau
rect 62 211 78 229 Zou
In 1999, the previous six departments were each split into two halves, forming the current 12. The six new departments have not been assigned an official capital yet.
On the third level are the arrondissements of Benin
Arrondissements of Benin
The Arrondissements of Benin refer to the third-level administrative units of Benin, after Departments and communes. In turn they contain villages and may often have several quartiers or city districts/urban neighborhoods:...
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Departments
File:Benin departments named.png|thumb|right|Departments of Benin
rect 96 41 108 60 Alibori
Alibori Department
Alibori is the largest and northernmost départements of Benin, with an area of 25,683 km² and a population of 355,950 . The department is subdivided into 6 communes, each centered at one of the principal towns: Banikoara, Gogounou, Kandi, Karimama, Malanville, and Ségbana. The department borders...
rect 43 70 56 89 Atakora
Atakora Department
Atakora is the northwestern department of Benin, bordering Togo to the west and Burkina Faso to the north. Also, it borders the departments of Alibori, Borgou, and Donga. It is the most mountainous region of Benin, and the birth place of the president, Mathieu Kérékou...
rect 68 237 80 256 Atlantique
Atlantique Department
Atlantique is one of the twelve departments of Benin.Atlantique is divided into the communes of Abomey-Calavi, Allada, Kpomassè, Ouidah, Sô-Ava, Toffo, Tori-Bossito, and Zè.In 1999 the Littoral Department was split off from Atlantique....
rect 85 105 98 125 Borgou
Borgou Department
Borgou is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Borgou borders the country of Nigeria and the departments of Alibori, Atakora, Collines and Donga. The capital of Borgou is Parakou and the total area is 25,310 km.² or 9,772 mi.²....
rect 68 176 81 196 Collines
Collines Department
Collines is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Collines was created in 1999 after the Benin government split up the former six departments of Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme and Zou into twelve. Collinies was split from Zou. Since 2008, the capital is Savalou. The departments that...
rect 48 116 60 134 Donga
Donga Department
Donga is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Donga was created in 1999 when the government split up the original six departments into twelve. Donga was split from Atakora. The capital of Donga is Djougou. The total area is 10,691 km.² or 4,128mi.²....
rect 50 224 62 242 Couffo
Kouffo Department
Kouffo is one of the twelve departments of Benin. The area of Kouffo is 2,404 km.² . Kouffo borders the country of Togo and it also borders the departments of Mono, Zou, and Atlantique. Since 2008, the capital is Aplahoué...
rect 84 254 97 271 Littoral
Littoral Department
Littoral is one of the twelve departments of Benin, and is divided into 13 arrondissements. It contains just one commune/city, Cotonou, the largest in the country and the economic capital. Littoral is the smallest of the twelve departments. The area is . Littoral was split from the Atlantique...
rect 53 242 65 257 Mono
Mono Department
Mono is one of the twelve departments of Benin. The capital of this department is Lokossa. The department of Kouffo was part of Mono until 1999 when the Benin government split up some of the departments and made new departments. The Gen language is only spoken in this department in Benin...
rect 98 237 118 255 Ouémé
Ouémé Department
Ouémé is one of the twelve departments of Benin.In 1999 the northern part of the department was split off to form the new Plateau Department....
rect 98 206 117 224 Plateau
Plateau Department
Plateau is one of the twelve departments of Benin.Plateau is divided into the communes of Ifangni, Adja-Ouèrè, Kétou, Pobè and Sakété....
rect 62 211 78 229 Zou
Zou Department
Zou is one of the twelve departments of Benin.Zou is divided into the communes of Abomey, Agbangnizoun, Bohicon, Cové, Djidja, Ouinhi, Za-Kpota, Zangnanado, and Zogbodomey....
In 1999, the previous six departments were each split into two halves, forming the current 12. The six new departments have not been assigned an official capital yet.
- AliboriAlibori DepartmentAlibori is the largest and northernmost départements of Benin, with an area of 25,683 km² and a population of 355,950 . The department is subdivided into 6 communes, each centered at one of the principal towns: Banikoara, Gogounou, Kandi, Karimama, Malanville, and Ségbana. The department borders...
- AtakoraAtakora DepartmentAtakora is the northwestern department of Benin, bordering Togo to the west and Burkina Faso to the north. Also, it borders the departments of Alibori, Borgou, and Donga. It is the most mountainous region of Benin, and the birth place of the president, Mathieu Kérékou...
- AtlantiqueAtlantique DepartmentAtlantique is one of the twelve departments of Benin.Atlantique is divided into the communes of Abomey-Calavi, Allada, Kpomassè, Ouidah, Sô-Ava, Toffo, Tori-Bossito, and Zè.In 1999 the Littoral Department was split off from Atlantique....
- BorgouBorgou DepartmentBorgou is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Borgou borders the country of Nigeria and the departments of Alibori, Atakora, Collines and Donga. The capital of Borgou is Parakou and the total area is 25,310 km.² or 9,772 mi.²....
- CollinesCollines DepartmentCollines is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Collines was created in 1999 after the Benin government split up the former six departments of Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme and Zou into twelve. Collinies was split from Zou. Since 2008, the capital is Savalou. The departments that...
- DongaDonga DepartmentDonga is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Donga was created in 1999 when the government split up the original six departments into twelve. Donga was split from Atakora. The capital of Donga is Djougou. The total area is 10,691 km.² or 4,128mi.²....
- KouffoKouffo DepartmentKouffo is one of the twelve departments of Benin. The area of Kouffo is 2,404 km.² . Kouffo borders the country of Togo and it also borders the departments of Mono, Zou, and Atlantique. Since 2008, the capital is Aplahoué...
- LittoralLittoral DepartmentLittoral is one of the twelve departments of Benin, and is divided into 13 arrondissements. It contains just one commune/city, Cotonou, the largest in the country and the economic capital. Littoral is the smallest of the twelve departments. The area is . Littoral was split from the Atlantique...
- MonoMono DepartmentMono is one of the twelve departments of Benin. The capital of this department is Lokossa. The department of Kouffo was part of Mono until 1999 when the Benin government split up some of the departments and made new departments. The Gen language is only spoken in this department in Benin...
- OuéméOuémé DepartmentOuémé is one of the twelve departments of Benin.In 1999 the northern part of the department was split off to form the new Plateau Department....
- PlateauPlateau DepartmentPlateau is one of the twelve departments of Benin.Plateau is divided into the communes of Ifangni, Adja-Ouèrè, Kétou, Pobè and Sakété....
- ZouZou DepartmentZou is one of the twelve departments of Benin.Zou is divided into the communes of Abomey, Agbangnizoun, Bohicon, Cové, Djidja, Ouinhi, Za-Kpota, Zangnanado, and Zogbodomey....