The Littoral is a department located in southern Bénin, entirely composed of Bénin's economic capital, Cotonou. Its population is 678,874 inhabitants (2013), with a density of 8,593 residents/km², and a surface area of 7,900 ha, or 79 km². Since 2013, the Littoral department has comprised 144 city districts. The communes of the Littoral Exceptionally, the Littoral is the department of Bénin that consists of only a single commune, which is none other than the country's economic capital: Cotonou (the prefecture).