1.7. The total labour force in the department was 253,892, of which 46.00% were women. The proportion of households with no level of education was 21.10% and the proportion of households with children attending school was 88.50%. The crude birth rate was 33.6, the general rate of fertility was 120.10 and the gross reproduction rate was 1.80. Administrative divisions The department of Littoral was created in 1999, when it was split off from Atlantique Department and Cotonou was made its capital. It is the smallest of all departments in the country. Littoral comprises just one commune/city, Cotonou, Benin's largest city and its economic capital. Cotonou is subdivided into 13 arrondissements, which are further subdivided into 165 neighborhoods. Benin originally had six administrative regions (départements), which have now been bifurcated to make 12. Each of the deconcentrated administrative services (directions départementales) of the sectoral ministries takes care of two administrative regions. A law passed in 1999 transformed the sous-prefectures, the lowest level of territorial administration, into local governments. Municipalities and communal councils have elected representatives who manage the administration of the regions. The latest elections of the municipal and communal councils were held in June 2015. References External links Cotonou Departments of Benin States and territories established in 1999