Cotonou weather in August
In August, Cotonou sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 73 mm of rain across 13.3 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 10% of the time in August, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Daylight stretches from about 12 h 18 min at the start of August to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, August is Cotonou's 9th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cotonou's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 25°
- 12th warmest
- Overnight low
- 24°
- 1st coldest
- Rainfall
- 73 mm
- 13.3 wet days
- Daylight
- 12 h 12 min
- 6:48 AM – 7:01 PM
- Cloud cover
- 73%
- 9th clearest
- Wind
- 22 km/h
- 1st windiest
- Solar energy
- 4.6 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 6.1
- out of 10
Cotonou is city in Benin, seat of the government.
- Density
- 8,595/km²
- people per km²
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in August
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month.
A typical August day in Cotonou reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 26°C. Set against its neighbours, August runs on par with July and about 1°C cooler than September.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Avg low (°C) | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 24 |
| 2 | 25 | 24 |
| 3 | 25 | 24 |
| 4 | 25 | 24 |
| 5 | 25 | 24 |
| 6 | 25 | 24 |
| 7 | 25 | 24 |
| 8 | 25 | 24 |
| 9 | 25 | 24 |
| 10 | 25 | 24 |
| 11 | 25 | 24 |
| 12 | 25 | 24 |
| 13 | 25 | 24 |
| 14 | 25 | 24 |
| 15 | 25 | 24 |
| 16 | 25 | 24 |
| 17 | 25 | 24 |
| 18 | 25 | 24 |
| 19 | 25 | 24 |
| 20 | 25 | 24 |
| 21 | 25 | 24 |
| 22 | 25 | 24 |
| 23 | 25 | 24 |
| 24 | 25 | 24 |
| 25 | 25 | 24 |
| 26 | 25 | 24 |
| 27 | 25 | 24 |
| 28 | 25 | 24 |
| 29 | 25 | 24 |
| 30 | 25 | 24 |
| 31 | 25 | 24 |
How August really feels in Cotonou
Once humidity and wind are folded in, August averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
August sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Cotonou weather by month
How August compares with the rest of the year at a glance. August is the 12th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28° / 26° | 21 | 6.6 | 11.7 | 7.1 |
| Feb | 28° / 27° | 27 | 7.8 | 11.8 | 6.4 |
| Mar | 29° / 27° | 48 | 12.5 | 12 | 5.3 |
| Apr | 29° / 27° | 73 | 15.7 | 12.1 | 4.8 |
| May | 28° / 27° | 164 | 23.4 | 12.3 | 4.0 |
| Jun | 27° / 26° | 259 | 26.1 | 12.4 | 3.9 |
| Jul | 26° / 25° | 132 | 18.9 | 12.3 | 5.2 |
| Aug | 25° / 24° | 73 | 13.3 | 12.2 | 6.1 |
| Sep | 26° / 25° | 105 | 18 | 12 | 5.2 |
| Oct | 27° / 26° | 110 | 20.2 | 11.9 | 5.0 |
| Nov | 28° / 27° | 49 | 13.8 | 11.7 | 5.7 |
| Dec | 28° / 27° | 27 | 7.6 | 11.6 | 6.9 |
Cloud cover in August
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 10% of the time in August.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of August, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 72%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| Cloudier (%) | 71 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 74 | 74 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | 71 |
| 2 | 29 | 71 |
| 3 | 29 | 71 |
| 4 | 30 | 70 |
| 5 | 30 | 70 |
| 6 | 30 | 70 |
| 7 | 31 | 69 |
| 8 | 31 | 69 |
| 9 | 30 | 70 |
| 10 | 30 | 70 |
| 11 | 30 | 70 |
| 12 | 29 | 71 |
| 13 | 29 | 71 |
| 14 | 29 | 71 |
| 15 | 29 | 71 |
| 16 | 28 | 72 |
| 17 | 27 | 73 |
| 18 | 27 | 73 |
| 19 | 27 | 73 |
| 20 | 26 | 74 |
| 21 | 26 | 74 |
| 22 | 26 | 74 |
| 23 | 26 | 74 |
| 24 | 26 | 74 |
| 25 | 26 | 74 |
| 26 | 27 | 73 |
| 27 | 27 | 73 |
| 28 | 27 | 73 |
| 29 | 27 | 73 |
| 30 | 26 | 74 |
| 31 | 26 | 74 |
Chance of precipitation in August
Cotonou gets around 73 mm of rain over 13.3 wet days in August. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 43% and peaks near 53% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 43 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 38 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 52 | 53 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 43 |
| 2 | 43 |
| 3 | 42 |
| 4 | 41 |
| 5 | 41 |
| 6 | 40 |
| 7 | 39 |
| 8 | 39 |
| 9 | 38 |
| 10 | 38 |
| 11 | 37 |
| 12 | 37 |
| 13 | 37 |
| 14 | 37 |
| 15 | 38 |
| 16 | 38 |
| 17 | 39 |
| 18 | 40 |
| 19 | 41 |
| 20 | 42 |
| 21 | 44 |
| 22 | 45 |
| 23 | 46 |
| 24 | 47 |
| 25 | 48 |
| 26 | 49 |
| 27 | 50 |
| 28 | 51 |
| 29 | 52 |
| 30 | 52 |
| 31 | 53 |
Humidity in August
Most of August feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, August lands in the oppressive band about 99% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muggy (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oppressive (%) | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 99 |
| 2 | 1 | 99 |
| 3 | 1 | 99 |
| 4 | 1 | 99 |
| 5 | 1 | 99 |
| 6 | 1 | 99 |
| 7 | 1 | 99 |
| 8 | 1 | 99 |
| 9 | 1 | 99 |
| 10 | 1 | 99 |
| 11 | 1 | 99 |
| 12 | 1 | 99 |
| 13 | 1 | 99 |
| 14 | 1 | 99 |
| 15 | 1 | 99 |
| 16 | 1 | 99 |
| 17 | 1 | 99 |
| 18 | 1 | 99 |
| 19 | 1 | 99 |
| 20 | 1 | 99 |
| 21 | 1 | 99 |
| 22 | 1 | 99 |
| 23 | 1 | 99 |
| 24 | 0 | 100 |
| 25 | 0 | 100 |
| 26 | 0 | 100 |
| 27 | 0 | 100 |
| 28 | 0 | 100 |
| 29 | 0 | 100 |
| 30 | 0 | 100 |
| 31 | 0 | 100 |
Wind in August
Winds average 22 km/h in August, the windiest month of the year.
Across August, daily wind ranges from about 21 km/h on the calmest days to 23 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Feels | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | breezy |
| 2 | 23 | breezy |
| 3 | 23 | breezy |
| 4 | 23 | breezy |
| 5 | 23 | breezy |
| 6 | 23 | breezy |
| 7 | 23 | breezy |
| 8 | 23 | breezy |
| 9 | 23 | breezy |
| 10 | 23 | breezy |
| 11 | 23 | breezy |
| 12 | 23 | breezy |
| 13 | 23 | breezy |
| 14 | 22 | breezy |
| 15 | 22 | breezy |
| 16 | 22 | breezy |
| 17 | 22 | breezy |
| 18 | 22 | breezy |
| 19 | 22 | breezy |
| 20 | 22 | breezy |
| 21 | 22 | breezy |
| 22 | 22 | breezy |
| 23 | 22 | breezy |
| 24 | 22 | breezy |
| 25 | 22 | breezy |
| 26 | 21 | breezy |
| 27 | 21 | breezy |
| 28 | 21 | breezy |
| 29 | 21 | breezy |
| 30 | 21 | breezy |
| 31 | 21 | breezy |
Sunrise & sunset in August
Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min at the start of August to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 12 minutes over August. Sunrise moves from 6:48 AM to 6:47 AM, and sunset from 7:05 PM to 6:54 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:48 | 6:47 | 6:47 | 6:47 | 6:47 | 6:47 | 6:47 | 6:47 | 6:47 |
| Sunset (PM) | 7:05 | 7:05 | 7:04 | 7:04 | 7:04 | 7:04 | 7:04 | 7:03 | 7:03 | 7:03 | 7:02 | 7:02 | 7:02 | 7:01 | 7:01 | 7:01 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 6:59 | 6:59 | 6:58 | 6:58 | 6:58 | 6:57 | 6:57 | 6:56 | 6:56 | 6:55 | 6:55 | 6:54 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:05 |
| 2 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:05 |
| 3 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:04 |
| 4 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:04 |
| 5 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:04 |
| 6 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:04 |
| 7 | 12.3 | 6:48 | 7:04 |
| 8 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:03 |
| 9 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:03 |
| 10 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:03 |
| 11 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:02 |
| 12 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:02 |
| 13 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:02 |
| 14 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:01 |
| 15 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:01 |
| 16 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:01 |
| 17 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:00 |
| 18 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:00 |
| 19 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 7:00 |
| 20 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 6:59 |
| 21 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 6:59 |
| 22 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 6:58 |
| 23 | 12.2 | 6:48 | 6:58 |
| 24 | 12.2 | 6:47 | 6:58 |
| 25 | 12.2 | 6:47 | 6:57 |
| 26 | 12.2 | 6:47 | 6:57 |
| 27 | 12.2 | 6:47 | 6:56 |
| 28 | 12.1 | 6:47 | 6:56 |
| 29 | 12.1 | 6:47 | 6:55 |
| 30 | 12.1 | 6:47 | 6:55 |
| 31 | 12.1 | 6:47 | 6:54 |
Solar energy in August
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in August, about 4.6 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.22 kWh/m² to a high of 5.6 kWh/m² in March across the year — August's 4.6 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Level | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 2 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 3 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 4 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 5 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 6 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 7 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 8 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 9 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 10 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 11 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 12 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 13 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 14 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 15 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 16 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 17 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 18 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 19 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 20 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 21 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 22 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 23 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 24 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 25 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 26 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 27 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 28 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 29 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 30 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 31 | 4.6 | Bright |
Hazard calendar for Cotonou
None of Cotonou's seasonal hazards are active in August. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.
Cotonou's rainy season runs May–July, when most of the year's rain falls.
Cotonou sees seasonal dust haze (January–April), heaviest in February.
Is August a good time to visit Cotonou?
Our two travel scores rate August for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
August is a reasonable time to visit Cotonou for sightseeing.
What to pack for Cotonou in August
From August's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In August, Cotonou sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 24°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 13 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Cotonou in August
The nearest coast averages about 25°C in August — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in May at about 29°C and coldest in August near 25°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Warm |
| Feb | 28 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 28 | Warm |
| Jul | 26 | Warm |
| Aug | 25 | Warm |
| Sep | 26 | Warm |
| Oct | 27 | Warm |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in Cotonou in August
Clear-sky midday UV in August peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Cotonou peaks around April 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 8 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 9 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Level | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Very high |
| Feb | 10 | Very high |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Very high |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Air quality in Cotonou in August
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where August falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Cotonou is worst in January — around 78 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 7.7× the cleanest month (September, 10 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 78 | 61 | 28 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 61 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 61 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 28 | Moderate |
| Apr | 24 | Moderate |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 10 | Good |
| Oct | 12 | Good |
| Nov | 19 | Moderate |
| Dec | 61 | Unhealthy |
Where is Cotonou?
Cotonou sits at 6.4°N, 2.4°E, 7 m above sea level, in Benin. The nearest listed city is Godomè, 8.0 km away.
Topography around Cotonou
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Cotonou.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Cotonou has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 13 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 33 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 171 m.
The land around Cotonou is covered by artificial surfaces (76%) within 3 km, water (66%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 16 km, and trees (37%) and water (36%) within 80 km.
Benin travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / E
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 34% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $1,658
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.4 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 18%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 1.1
- per 100k, 2017
- Road deaths
- 26.8
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 406
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Cotonou (6.3654°, 2.4183°, elevation 7 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).