Benin Climate: Temperatures, Rainfall and Seasons

Benin has a tropical climate, with warm temperatures throughout the year and a strong seasonal pattern of rainfall. Conditions become generally hotter and drier toward the north, while the southern part of the country is more humid and has two rainy seasons.

Benin’s climate at a glance

Temperature and precipitation figures are from CRU-CY v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia. National averages for 1991–2020.

What is the climate of Benin?

Benin is hot throughout the year, but its long north–south shape creates noticeable differences in both temperature and rainfall.

Southern Benin is influenced by the nearby Gulf of Guinea and is generally more humid, while the northern interior tends to be hotter and has a longer dry season.

Historical data for 1991–2020 show average annual temperatures of around 27.5°C (81.5°F) near the southern coast compared with about 28.5°C (83.3°F) in parts of the far north.

Rainfall also changes across the country. Annual precipitation averages roughly 1,050 mm (41 in) nationally, but some southern areas such as the Ouémé and Littoral departments receive more than 1,200 mm (47 in), while the far north is generally drier.

Seasonal differences become stronger toward northern Benin. The south has two rainy periods during the year, while the north has one main rainy season followed by a long dry season. During the northern dry season, the harmattan can bring hot, dry and dusty air from the Sahara.

Climate types in Benin

This map shows the main climate types found across Benin. Each color represents a different climate type, based mainly on long-term patterns of temperature and rainfall.

Most of Benin has a tropical savanna climate. This climate type covers almost the entire country, from the southern coast through the central regions and across much of the north.

In the far north, the map shows an area of hot semi-arid climate. Overall, the pattern is quite simple: tropical savanna climate dominates Benin, with hotter and drier semi-arid conditions appearing only near the country’s northern edge.

Temperatures in Benin

Benin, like many countries in West Africa, remains hot throughout the year.

Data for 1991–2020 show national average temperatures ranging from about 25.9°C (78.6°F) in August to 31.3°C (88.3°F) in March. Average daytime maximum temperatures reach approximately 37.8°C (100.0°F) in March, before falling to around 29.7°C (85.5°F) in August.

Average minimum temperatures range from about 19.9°C (67.8°F) in January and December to 25.5°C (77.9°F) in April.

Month	Avg. minimum	Avg. temperature	Avg. maximum
January	19.9 °C (67.8 °F)	27.0 °C (80.6 °F)	34.1 °C (93.4 °F)
February	22.4 °C (72.3 °F)	29.4 °C (84.9 °F)	36.4 °C (97.5 °F)
March	24.9 °C (76.8 °F)	31.3 °C (88.3 °F)	37.8 °C (100.0 °F)
April	25.5 °C (77.9 °F)	31.2 °C (88.2 °F)	37.0 °C (98.6 °F)
May	24.6 °C (76.3 °F)	29.6 °C (85.3 °F)	34.8 °C (94.6 °F)
June	23.3 °C (73.9 °F)	27.9 °C (82.2 °F)	32.5 °C (90.5 °F)
July	22.5 °C (72.5 °F)	26.4 °C (79.5 °F)	30.4 °C (86.7 °F)
August	22.1 °C (71.8 °F)	25.9 °C (78.6 °F)	29.7 °C (85.5 °F)
September	22.2 °C (72.0 °F)	26.5 °C (79.7 °F)	30.8 °C (87.4 °F)
October	22.5 °C (72.5 °F)	27.8 °C (82.0 °F)	33.1 °C (91.6 °F)
November	21.0 °C (69.8 °F)	28.1 °C (82.6 °F)	35.2 °C (95.4 °F)
December	19.9 °C (67.8 °F)	27.1 °C (80.8 °F)	34.5 °C (94.1 °F)

These are countrywide averages. Coastal areas are generally slightly cooler because of the influence of the Atlantic, while the northern interior tends to be hotter.

Rainfall in Benin

Rainfall in Benin is strongly seasonal.

The 1991–2020 national figures show precipitation increasing rapidly from March onward. August is the wettest month in the national dataset, averaging 205.6 mm (8.09 in), while January is the driest at only 2.9 mm (0.11 in).

National rainfall remains above 100 mm per month from May through September before falling sharply during October and November.

Month	Precipitation
January	2.9 mm (0.11 in)
February	9.0 mm (0.35 in)
March	26.7 mm (1.05 in)
April	61.6 mm (2.43 in)
May	121.2 mm (4.77 in)
June	150.4 mm (5.92 in)
July	176.7 mm (6.96 in)
August	205.6 mm (8.09 in)
September	186.6 mm (7.35 in)
October	90.8 mm (3.57 in)
November	9.7 mm (0.38 in)
December	3.0 mm (0.12 in)

These countrywide figures hide important regional differences. Southern Benin generally receives more rainfall and has two rainy seasons, while rainfall in northern Benin is concentrated into a single season. The north also experiences a longer and more pronounced dry period.

Rainy and dry seasons in Benin

The timing of Benin’s rainy and dry seasons differs between the south and north.

In southern Benin, there are generally two rainy periods, from March to July and again from September to November. These are separated by a shorter drier period during the middle of the year and a longer dry season around December to February.

Northern Benin has one main rainy season, broadly from May to September. The rest of the year is much drier, with the main dry season occurring during the northern winter months. The harmattan, a dry and dusty wind from the Sahara, is particularly associated with this period.

How is Benin’s climate changing?

Benin has experienced substantial warming in recent decades. Average temperature increased by approximately 0.26°C (0.47°F) per decade between 1971 and 2020.

Temperatures are expected to continue rising, increasing exposure to extreme heat. Under a scenario in which global warming reaches around 2.7°C, it is estimated that by 2070 almost all of Benin’s territory could be exposed to extreme temperatures.

Rainfall has become more erratic, with evidence of more intense rainfall events and longer dry spells in some parts of Benin. Future dry and wet periods are also expected to become more extreme, increasing both drought and flood risks.

Reference

Harris I, Osborn TJ, Jones P and Lister D (2020) Version 4 of the CRU TS Monthly High-Resolution Gridded Multivariate Climate Dataset. Sci Data 7, 109. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0453-3.