Cotonou vs Rabat

Cotonou and Rabat are level on the CIRA Index at 55. Cotonou grades better on 5 measures, Rabat on 7; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Cotonou 55, Rabat 55
• OECD: Cotonou 48, Rabat 51
• UN Tourism: Cotonou 50, Rabat 55
• UNDRR: Cotonou 37, Rabat 48

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Cotonou 56, Rabat 40
• Economy and jobs: Cotonou 67, Rabat 42
• Climate and hazards: Cotonou 40, Rabat 60
• Water and environment: Cotonou 38, Rabat 50
• Community and housing: Cotonou 100, Rabat 100
• Access and continuity: Cotonou 38, Rabat 46

Where Cotonou is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 61.7 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 8 nights per visitor (AirROI, Cotonou, Littoral Airbnb Data 2026: Occupancy, Revenue & STR Market Report, August 2025–July 2026). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 3.4 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 4.6 % of the labour force (INSAE (now INStaD) via Matin Libre, Enquête Régionale Intégrée sur l'Emploi et le Secteur Informel (ERI-ESI), 2018). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.

Where Rabat is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 33.2 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 52 % average annual occupancy (Observatoire du Tourisme du Maroc via Le Matin / TelQuel, 2023). Between 45 and 55: grade 1/4.
• Tropical nights: 62.4 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 4.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 3.5 and 5: grade 2/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 284.7 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Cour des comptes (Royaume du Maroc), Évaluation de l'exécution des contrats de gestion déléguée des services de collecte des déchets ménagers et assimilés dans la région Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, 2021). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (ONCF & ONDA (Office National Des Aéroports) / Autoroutes du Maroc, 2024–2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Benin: #106 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Morocco: #70 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Cotonou in full · Rabat in full

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