Lagos vs Cotonou: which is sunnier?
🇳🇬 Nigeria vs 🇧🇯 Benin · 106 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Lagos and Cotonou are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,868 vs 1,921 hours a year. Cotonou has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Lagos | Cotonou | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,868 | 1,921 |
| Sunniest month | January (85/100) | January (86/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 83/100 | 84/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 64/100 | 66/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,546 mm | 1,342 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Lagos vs Cotonou month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | Cotonou | Lagos | Cotonou | Lagos | Cotonou | Lagos | Cotonou | |
| January | 85 | 86 | 29° | 30° | 25 | 20 | 30° | 30° |
| February | 84 | 84 | 30° | 30° | 32 | 32 | 29° | 29° |
| March | 76 | 76 | 29° | 30° | 71 | 78 | 30° | 29° |
| April | 67 | 68 | 29° | 30° | 125 | 119 | 31° | 30° |
| May | 62 | 62 | 29° | 29° | 189 | 174 | 31° | 31° |
| June | 62 | 62 | 28° | 28° | 243 | 216 | 30° | 30° |
| July | 62 | 62 | 27° | 27° | 205 | 165 | 28° | 27° |
| August | 69 | 73 | 27° | 27° | 114 | 93 | 27° | 26° |
| September | 62 | 62 | 27° | 27° | 245 | 198 | 27° | 26° |
| October | 62 | 62 | 28° | 28° | 202 | 172 | 29° | 28° |
| November | 76 | 80 | 29° | 29° | 71 | 55 | 30° | 30° |
| December | 85 | 86 | 29° | 30° | 24 | 20 | 29° | 29° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug Cotonou · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Cotonou · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Lagos averages 83/100, Cotonou 84/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Lagos averages 68/100, Cotonou 69/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 30°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Lagos averages 64/100, Cotonou 66/100. Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Lagos averages 62/100, Cotonou 62/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 28°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Lagos all year, Cotonou all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Lagos weather by month · Cotonou weather by month · Best time to visit Nigeria.
More comparisons: Lagos vs Lomé · Lagos vs Accra · Cotonou vs Lomé · Cotonou vs Accra · all head-to-heads