A city rising
from the lake

Ganvié at a glance

• Where: on Lake Nokoué, in the commune of Sô-Ava (Atlantique department, Benin). The commune covers 218 km² and lies about 16 km from Cotonou's international airport, according to the Beninese government.
• How many people: 37,172 inhabitants at the 2013 census in the two arrondissements of Ganvié I (19,155) and Ganvié II (18,017), out of 118,547 for the whole commune of Sô-Ava.
• Since when: the Toffinou, its first inhabitants, settled on the waters of the Ouémé basin in the 17th century, fleeing wars and the slave raids of the kingdoms of Abomey and Oyo.
• What is changing: the government launched the Akassato–Sô-Ava road on 31 October 2025 (16 months of works) and inaugurated new facilities in Ganvié, including a craft centre and the floating market.

To prepare your visit: getting to Ganvié from Cotonou, the budget and how to recognise a legitimate guide.

Sources: Government of Benin, Sô-Ava (14 January 2021) ; Government of Benin, Reinventing Ganvié (2 November 2025) ; INSAE, RGPH-4 village booklet, Atlantique (2016).