Moving to Benin from Sri Lanka

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Sri Lanka to Benin? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Sri Lanka to Benin, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Benin compared to Sri Lanka.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LK
11.5
BJ
24.8

Sri Lanka 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

LK
$507
BJ
$138
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LK
11.9
BJ
2.0

Sri Lanka 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

LK
37.0
BJ
77.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LK
1.1t
BJ
0.5t

Sri Lanka 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

LK
10.1
BJ
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LK
90.8%
BJ
1.0%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LK
6.4%
BJ
1.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LK
$13,000
BJ
$3,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LK
77.5 yrs
BJ
62.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LK
8.2
BJ
55.8

Sri Lanka generally does better on family life, though Benin leads in education spending.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Colombo Rain: 99.4 in/yr (2524 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Colombo Porto-novo
Jan–Mar 88°/73°F (31°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/77°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Colombo Porto-novo
Jan 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C)
Feb 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C)
Mar 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C)
Apr 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C)
May 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C)
Jun 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C)
Sep 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C)
Oct 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C)
Nov 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Dec 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C)

Data: National Meteorological Centre National Meteorological Centre, Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka 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.

Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Benin

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

Benin passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Benin passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Benin: 0.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Benin offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Benin safe for expats?

Sri Lanka performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Benin compared to Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka 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 11.9 in Sri Lanka. Benin scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sri Lanka: 67).

What's the weather like in Benin compared to Sri Lanka?

The average high temperature in Porto-novo is None°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Porto-novo receives around 47.0 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.

What language do they speak in Benin?

The official language in Benin is French. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.

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At a Glance

LK BJ
Population 23,187,516 13,754,688
Currency Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Sinhala, Tamil French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +94 +229
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119