Moving to Switzerland from Benin

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Benin to Switzerland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Benin to Switzerland. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Zurich averages 55°F vs 94°F in Cotonou, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Benin to Switzerland, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
42 ↓ 19% vs 2022

people moved from Benin to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Switzerland?

Top countries of origin for Switzerland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Benin and Switzerland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
1.1
CH
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
CH
2.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BJ
$138
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.2
CH
44.8

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BJ
77.0
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BJ
0.5t
CH
3.8t

Benin generally does better on environment, though Switzerland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.3
CH
47.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BJ
1.0%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland generally does better on infrastructure, though Benin leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.6%
CH
4.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$1,658
CH
$114,769

Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Benin leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BJ
61.0 yrs
CH
84.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
45.2
CH
3.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Benin across all family life metrics.

Weather in Switzerland vs Benin

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Cotonou Rain: 51.3 in/yr (1303 mm)
94° / 83°F

Avg. annual high / low

Zurich Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Cotonou Zurich
Jan–Mar 99°/85°F (37°/29°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/84°F (35°/29°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/80°F (31°/26°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 97°/82°F (36°/28°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Cotonou Zurich
Jan 96°/84°F (35.6°/28.7°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 101°/85°F (38.6°/29.5°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 99°/85°F (37.0°/29.5°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 100°/85°F (37.5°/29.6°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 93°/84°F (34.0°/29.0°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 92°/83°F (33.3°/28.5°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 88°/80°F (31.0°/26.4°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 87°/80°F (30.4°/26.4°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.5°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 102°/81°F (39.0°/27.2°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 93°/83°F (33.9°/28.2°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 95°/83°F (35.0°/28.4°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN), MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Can you move from Benin to Switzerland?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Benin and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.

Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Required
Benin passport holders need a visa to enter Switzerland.
Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Switzerland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Benin.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Switzerland?

With 47.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Switzerland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Benin and Switzerland.

Is Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Benin.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Benin?

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 2.2 in Benin. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Benin: 38).

What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Benin?

The average high temperature in Zurich is 55°F, compared to 94°F in Cotonou. Zurich receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Cotonou gets 51.3 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Benin, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BJ CH
Population 14,814,460 9,092,436
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages French French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +229 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number — 112