Moving to Benin from Nigeria

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What to Expect

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

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

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Nigeria to Benin, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
87,145 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in Nigeria live in Benin · UN DESA

Who's moving to Benin?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NG
17.2
BJ
24.8

Nigeria 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

NG
$260
BJ
$138
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
BJ
2.0

Nigeria 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

NG
77.0
BJ
77.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
BJ
0.5t

Nigeria generally does better on environment, though Benin leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.0
BJ
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
BJ
1.0%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
BJ
1.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
BJ
$3,800

Benin generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
BJ
62.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
BJ
55.8

Benin generally does better on family life, though Nigeria leads in literacy rate.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja Porto-novo
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C)
View all months
Month Abuja Porto-novo
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria 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.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Benin

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

Benin passport holder visiting Nigeria

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

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?

Nigeria performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Benin compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Benin, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Benin scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Porto-novo is None°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Porto-novo receives around 47.0 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in Benin?

The official language in Benin is French. In Nigeria, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

NG BJ
Population 225,082,083 13,754,688
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +234 +229
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112