Is Benin safe in 2026?
Benin scores 78.5/100 on the live safety index — generally safe. The main pressure on the score comes from political stability, crime, economy. The score has been stable for 21 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 78.5/100).
78.5 /100generally safe
30-day trend
Benin's score changed by +0.0 over the last 22 days (78.5 → 78.5) — within normal day-to-day noise. No single event moved the index.
Risk factors
Open the interactive country card to inspect current factors. For historical factor data and integrations, see the customer API.
Conflict & War
6.0/34.1 safety points.
Official travel advisory
2 Exercise Increased Caution
The U.S. State Department places Benin at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution citing terrorism, kidnapping, unrest and crime. Our live index reads 78.5/100. That advisory was last revised Jan 7, 2026, 282 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Benin's coastal and southern regions are largely secure, though violent incidents including armed robbery, assault and abductions take place in isolated areas, typically after dark, and armed groups operate nationwide, sometimes staffing roadblocks. The northern and northeastern frontiers with Burkina Faso, Niger and the Nigerian states of Kebbi, Niger and Kwara face attacks by militant and criminal networks; Pendjari and W National Parks, the Alibori and Atacora departments, the Forest of the Three Rivers, the Oueme Superior Forest and everything east of Route Nationale 10 carry the highest exposure. Ransom kidnappings affect residents and visitors alike. Military operations and civil disturbances have turned violent, occasionally closing roads and land borders and disrupting Cotonou International Airport.
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised Jan 7, 2026. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
No threat events have been recorded for Benin — the index is holding on baseline factors alone.
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 78.5/100 (generated )
No new events and a flat recent trend support stability.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Benin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | 78.5 | — | |
| Togo | 76.7 | −1.9 | |
| Ghana | 85.5 | +7.0 | |
| Burkina Faso | 35.2 | −43.3 | |
| Nigeria | 59.6 | −19.0 | |
| Ivory Coast | 81.4 | +2.9 |