Benin City vs Lagos

Lagos leads Benin City by 5 points on the CIRA Index, 47 to 42. Benin City grades better on 4 measures, Lagos on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Benin City 42, Lagos 47
• OECD: Benin City 41, Lagos 49
• UN Tourism: Benin City 47, Lagos 50
• UNDRR: Benin City 28, Lagos 35

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Benin City 55, Lagos 65
• Economy and jobs: Benin City 56, Lagos 58
• Climate and hazards: Benin City 20, Lagos 35
• Water and environment: Benin City 56, Lagos 44
• Community and housing: Benin City –, Lagos 25
• Access and continuity: Benin City 17, Lagos 38

Where Benin City is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 18 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Nigeria Economic Impact Report 2024, 2023). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Unemployment rate: 4.4 % of the labour force (region figure) (National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2023, 2023). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.

Where Lagos is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 66.7 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Estate Intel / Punch Newspapers, 'Lagos hotel room rates hit N205,534 as supply lags', October 2025). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 0 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development & Nigerian Railway Corporation, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Radio Nigeria Lagos / Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), 2026). Grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) / PwC Nigeria, 2025). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Nigeria: #104 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Nigeria: #104 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Benin City in full · Lagos in full

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