Is It Safe to Travel to Côte d'Ivoire in 2026?
Cote d Ivoire - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially as the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is the port city of Abidjan.
Is It Safe to Travel to Côte d'Ivoire in 2026?
Côte d'Ivoire is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Côte d’Ivoire due to crime, terrorism, unrest, health, and piracy in nearby waters. Do not travel to the northern border region of Côte d’Ivoire for any reason.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
- health
- other
Active restrictions in Côte d'Ivoire:
- Security escort may be required
U.S. government employees are not allowed to drive outside major cities at night.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime, particularly in urban areas where carjackings and robberies are common; caution is advised in crowded markets and public spaces.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime and civil unrest, particularly in urban settings, but major cities have some reliable infrastructure and accommodations.
Families with children should be cautious due to health risks such as malaria and limited healthcare access outside major cities, alongside the threat of crime and unrest.
Remote workers may find reliable WiFi in urban areas but should avoid travel to the northern border region and remain vigilant about crime and health risks.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Côte d'Ivoire.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- northern border region
- Savanes District
- Zanzan District
- Comoé National Park
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel4 regions
▶Comoé National Park
Increased risk of terrorism.
▶northern border region
Do Not Travel due to risks of crime and terrorism.
▶Savanes District
Increased risk of terrorism.
▶Zanzan District
Increased risk of terrorism.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire has 5 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
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Mobile data in Côte d'Ivoire
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Côte d'Ivoire has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 49/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
West African CFA Franc (XOF)
Language
French
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertYellow Fever in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana: There are outbreaks of yellow fever in the Nando Region of Burkina Faso, Bounkani Region of Côte d’Ivoire, and the Upper West Region of Ghana. Travelers to these regions should take steps to prevent yellow fever by getting vaccinated at least 10 days before travel and taking steps to prevent mosquito bites.
- watchGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Côte d'Ivoire
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Côte d'Ivoire?
▶Is it safe to travel to Côte d'Ivoire right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Côte d'Ivoire?
▶What vaccines do I need for Côte d'Ivoire?
▶Is Côte d'Ivoire safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Côte d'Ivoire?
More Côte d'Ivoire Data
Partly Free — 49/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.