Accra vs Cotonou: which is sunnier?
🇬🇭 Ghana vs 🇧🇯 Benin · 294 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Accra is the sunnier overall: about 2,134 hours of sunshine a year to Cotonou's 1,921. Accra has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months, Cotonou in 1 (8 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Accra | Cotonou | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,134 | 1,921 |
| Sunniest month | January (87/100) | January (86/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 84/100 | 84/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 66/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,167 mm | 1,342 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Accra vs Cotonou month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accra | Cotonou | Accra | Cotonou | Accra | Cotonou | Accra | Cotonou | |
| January | 87 | 86 | 30° | 30° | 22 | 20 | 29° | 30° |
| February | 83 | 84 | 30° | 30° | 44 | 32 | 29° | 29° |
| March | 72 | 76 | 29° | 30° | 104 | 78 | 29° | 29° |
| April | 67 | 68 | 29° | 30° | 134 | 119 | 31° | 30° |
| May | 64 | 62 | 28° | 29° | 196 | 174 | 31° | 31° |
| June | 64 | 62 | 27° | 28° | 197 | 216 | 29° | 30° |
| July | 75 | 62 | 26° | 27° | 91 | 165 | 26° | 27° |
| August | 84 | 73 | 25° | 27° | 40 | 93 | 25° | 26° |
| September | 73 | 62 | 26° | 27° | 102 | 198 | 26° | 26° |
| October | 64 | 62 | 27° | 28° | 148 | 172 | 28° | 28° |
| November | 79 | 80 | 28° | 29° | 64 | 55 | 29° | 30° |
| December | 87 | 86 | 29° | 30° | 25 | 20 | 29° | 29° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Cotonou · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul Accra · Aug Accra · Sep Accra · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Accra averages 84/100, Cotonou 84/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Accra averages 68/100, Cotonou 69/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C).
- June–August: Accra (average score 74/100 vs 66). Daytime highs are similar (26°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: Accra (average score 69/100 vs 62). Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 28°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Accra all year, Cotonou all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Accra weather by month · Cotonou weather by month.
More comparisons: Accra vs Lagos · Accra vs Abidjan · Accra vs Kumasi · Cotonou vs Lagos · Cotonou vs Lomé · all head-to-heads