Moving to Benin from Ethiopia

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ethiopia to Benin — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ethiopia to Benin, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Benin

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ethiopia to Benin.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
BJ
24.8

Ethiopia performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
BJ
$138
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
BJ
2.0

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ET
46.0
BJ
77.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
BJ
0.5t

Ethiopia performs better than Benin across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ET
0.5
BJ
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ET
32.3%
BJ
1.0%

Benin generally does better on infrastructure, though Ethiopia leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
BJ
1.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
BJ
$3,800

Benin generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
BJ
62.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
BJ
55.8

Ethiopia performs better than Benin across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa Porto-novo
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa Porto-novo
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI), Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Free
Ethiopia passport holders can enter Benin without a visa.
Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa on Arrival
Benin passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Ethiopia.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Benin?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Benin has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Benin safe for expats?

Ethiopia performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Benin compared to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Benin, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. Benin scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

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

The average high temperature in Porto-novo is None°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. Porto-novo receives around 47.0 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in Benin?

The official language in Benin is French. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

Share this

At a Glance

ET BJ
Population 113,656,596 13,754,688
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Amharic French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +251 +229
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911