Is Abidjan safe?
Manageable with real precautions. Phone snatching, muggings after dark and chaotic roads are the main risks; political tension can flare around elections.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-02-17.
- Road deaths in Ivory Coast: 24.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 185 · Fire 180 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Abidjan at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching from car windows and in crowds, muggings at night in poorly lit areas, and occasional armed robbery of parked cars. |
| At night | Use Yango or Uber door to door; avoid walking after dark outside Zone 4 and Riviera. Keep phones out of sight in traffic. |
| Solo women | Generally okay with usual care; expect catcalling and persistent attention. Use ride apps at night and avoid empty beaches and unlit streets. |
| Other risks | Rip currents on Atlantic beaches; Chaotic traffic and unlit roads; Malaria and dengue; flooding in June |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake police asking for 'fines' or bribes at roadside stops
- Street money changers short-changing tourists
- Overcharging taxis without meters, especially from the airport
Take care
- Treichville and Adjamé after dark: muggings and snatch thefts
- Plateau after office hours: empty streets
- Beaches at Port-Bouët: strong rip currents and theft
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carry a copy of your passport; police checks are frequent
- Photographing military, police and government sites is restricted
- Drug offences, including cannabis, are prosecuted
How Abidjan compares in Ivory Coast
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Abidjan | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Grand-Bassam | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Abidjan safe for solo female travelers?
Generally okay with usual care; expect catcalling and persistent attention. Use ride apps at night and avoid empty beaches and unlit streets.
Is Abidjan safe at night?
Use Yango or Uber door to door; avoid walking after dark outside Zone 4 and Riviera. Keep phones out of sight in traffic.
What is the crime rate in Abidjan?
Phone and bag snatching from car windows and in crowds, muggings at night in poorly lit areas, and occasional armed robbery of parked cars.
What number do I call in an emergency in Abidjan?
Police 110 · Ambulance 185 · Fire 180 · All emergencies 112.
More about Abidjan
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Yango Côte d'Ivoire
- Glovo Côte d'Ivoire
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.