Ouinhi
Ouinhi 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.
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.
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.
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. 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. The commune is divided into four arrondissements: Ouinhi, Dasso, Sagon, and Tohouè, comprising about 40 villages and urban quarters.
Culture and Demographics
Ouinhi is inhabited primarily by the Mahi and Fon peoples, along with Holli, Nagos, and Yoruba communities. The local languages include Mahi, Fon, Holli, and others.
Economy & Agriculture
Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy. Major food crops include rice, maize, manioc, peanut, yam, and sweet potato. Ouinhi also has natural deposits of gypsum, laterite, sand, gravel, and limestone. In 2025, a 400-hectare irrigated perimeter was launched at Ahogo-Ouokon within Ouinhi commune under the PACOFIDE project to boost rice production.
Governance
The mayor of Ouinhi is Jonas Babatoundé Houessou.
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.