Ouinhi

Ouinhi [wi.ni] is a town, arrondissement, and commune in the Zou Department of south-western Benin. The commune covers an area of 483 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 59,381 people.^[1][2] It is bounded on the north-west by the commune of Zagnanado, south-west by the commune of Zogbodomey, south by the commune of Bonou and east by the commune of Adja-Ouèrè. The commune is divided into arrondissements which include Dasso, Ouinhi, and Tohu, comprising 28 villages.^[3]

Ouinhi
Commune and city
Ouinhi Location in Benin
Coordinates: 7°20′N 2°27′E
Country	Benin
Department	Zou Department
Government
• Mayor	Jonas Babatoundé HOUESSOU
Area
• Total	186 sq mi (483 km2)
Population  (2013)
• Total	59,381
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

The arrondissements of Ouinhi and Dasso were struck hard by the 2008 Benin floods in July 2008, tearing down mud and straw homes and infrastructure and polluting rivers.^[4]

Geography

Ouinhi is a town and commune in the Zou Department of south-western Benin. The commune covers an area of approximately 483 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 59,381 inhabitants.^[5] It is bounded to the north by the commune of Zagnanado, to the west by Zogbodomè, to the south by Bonou, and to the east by Adja-Ouèrè.^[6] The commune is divided into four arrondissements: Ouinhi, Dasso, Sagon, and Tohouè, comprising about 40 villages and urban quarters.^[6]

Culture and Demographics

Ouinhi is inhabited primarily by the Mahi and Fon peoples, along with Holli, Nagos, and Yoruba communities.^[6] The local languages include Mahi, Fon, Holli, and others. ^[5]

Economy & Agriculture

Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy. Major food crops include rice (notably in bas-fonds), maize, manioc, peanut, yam, and sweet potato.^[6] Ouinhi also has natural deposits of gypsum, laterite, sand, gravel, and limestone.^[6] In 2025, a 400-hectare irrigated perimeter was launched at Ahogo-Ouokon within Ouinhi commune under the PACOFIDE project to boost rice production.^[7]

Governance

The mayor of Ouinhi is Jonas Babatoundé Houessou.^[5]

Infrastructure & Services

With decentralization reforms, the commune has gained more responsibilities in managing potable water services, although delays and resource constraints remain challenges as identified in recent studies.