Côte d'Ivoire

Is Côte d'Ivoire safe to visit?

For Abidjan, the coast and the main cities, yes, with the precautions you would take anywhere in West Africa. Côte d'Ivoire has been politically stable since the 2010–11 post-election conflict, and the beaches at Grand-Bassam and Assinie are a short drive from Abidjan. The serious risks are on the roads, in the sea and in the far north, where jihadist groups from the Sahel operate. We score Côte d'Ivoire 51, below Ghana (57) and Senegal (58), and well above Burkina Faso.

The data are thin, so our confidence is low. Côte d'Ivoire publishes no homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary to UNODC, so we rely on WHO's modelled estimate of 11.0 per 100,000 for 2021, and the road death figures depend on whether you trust police counts or WHO models.

The north: where not to go

The UK advises against all travel within 40 km of the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, to the northern parts of the Zanzan and Savanes regions and to Comoé National Park, a UNESCO site in the north-east. The reason is Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the al-Qaeda affiliate fighting the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali. The US State Department says JNIM attacks on army and police posts at Kafolo and Téhini, near the Burkina Faso border, killed or wounded more than 20 members of the security forces in 2021.

The south has been hit once: the 2016 attack on the beach town of Grand-Bassam, near Abidjan. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says JNIM is mainly active in the north but that attacks could happen anywhere, including Abidjan, and names beach resorts, hotels and restaurants as possible targets. The 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary ranks Côte d'Ivoire 93rd of 163, a little worse than in 2025.

The UK also advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Liberian border in the west, where local militias have clashed with the security forces. Bouaké and Yamoussoukro lie well outside these zones; for Korhogo and anywhere further north, check the FCDO map first.

Politics after the 2025 election

Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term in the presidential election of 25 October 2025 with 89.77% of the vote on a turnout of 50.10%, according to the electoral commission. The Constitutional Council had barred leading opposition candidates, among them former president Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, on the grounds that they had been removed from the electoral roll (AFP). Parliamentary elections followed on 27 December 2025. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says demonstrations can start quickly around political events, police use tear gas on unauthorised protests and the internet may be restricted during serious unrest. Avoid crowds and keep away from military barracks.

Roads are the main killer

WHO estimatedWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 24.1 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2019, close to 8,000 deaths a year at today's population. The national road safety office, OSER, counted 1,307 deaths in 2025, down from 1,614 in 2021, and 164 in just the first six weeks of 2026. The gap between the two numbers is typical of the region: police counts miss people who die later in hospital or crashes nobody reports.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary calls driving standards poor and says emergency services outside Abidjan are unreliable. Unlit roads and stray animals make night driving especially dangerous, and the US does not let its staff drive outside major cities after dark. Bush taxis and minibuses are old and badly maintained. Inside Abidjan, the FCDO recommends ride-hailing apps, whose cars tend to be in better condition than street taxis.

Crime in Abidjan and on the roads

Violent crime is the risk that tends to surprise visitors. The US says carjacking, robbery and home invasion are common in some areas, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary reports armed break-ins and armed hold-ups on Abidjan's streets, though it adds that they are not common. In the west, armed robbers have attacked private cars on main roads by day and by night.

Away from the cities, watch for unofficial roadblocks. The FCDO says bandits known as coupeurs de route set them up on secondary and quiet roads to rob or assault drivers. Official police checkpoints are everywhere; slow down, stay calm and show your papers. Carry your original passport, because police may not accept a copy.

Malaria, care and the sea

Malaria is present all year across the whole country, with an estimated 268 cases per 1,000 people at risk in 2024 (WHO via the World Bank). CDC recommends preventive tablets for every traveller, and you must show a yellow fever certificate on arrival. Rabid dogs are common and polio has been found in the past year, so check your vaccinations. Medical care in Abidjan is reasonable but expensive, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary calls facilities elsewhere rudimentary. Buy insurance that covers evacuation.

The Atlantic coast is the other quiet danger. The FCDO says rip tides cause many drownings each year and there is no lifeboat or rescue service. The rainy season from May to November brings floods, landslides and flash floods that the FCDO says have caused deaths.

How to stay safe

• Stay out of the far north and Comoé National Park, and check the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary map before any trip beyond Bouaké.
• Do not drive between cities at night; fly or take a reputable coach company by day.
• Use ride-hailing apps in Abidjan and keep car doors locked and windows up.
• Swim only at supervised beaches, never alone.
• Call 185 for an ambulance, 110, 111 or 170 for police.

How we scored it

Road safety (37) is the weakest factor, based on WHO's estimate rather than the much lower police count. Health (42) reflects year-round malaria and limited care outside Abidjan. Conflict (58) reflects the northern no-go zones and JNIM, offset by a calm south. Violent crime (57) sits near the top of the 8–20 band: WHO models 11.0 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary for 2021, and the advisories describe armed robbery that is real but not common in Abidjan.