Coordinates: Coordinates: 6°22′N 2°26′E / 6.367°N 2.433°E | |
Country | Benin |
Founded | 19th century |
French owned | May 19, 1868 |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 761,137 |
Time zone | UTC+1 |
Cotonou is the economy capital of Benin. It is the largest city in that country. The city officially has 761,137 people, but it is thought that the actual number of people living in the city may be as high as 1.2 million. Many of the government and diplomatic services of Benin are in Cotonou. Because of this, the city is Benin's de facto capital, even though the official capital is Porto-Novo.