Freetown vs Lusaka

Freetown and Lusaka are level on the CIRA Index at 62. Freetown grades better on 7 measures, Lusaka on 7; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Freetown 62, Lusaka 62
• OECD: Freetown 60, Lusaka 59
• UN Tourism: Freetown 65, Lusaka 58
• UNDRR: Freetown 53, Lusaka 49

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Freetown 71, Lusaka 71
• Economy and jobs: Freetown 67, Lusaka 63
• Climate and hazards: Freetown 55, Lusaka 60
• Water and environment: Freetown 69, Lusaka 56
• Community and housing: Freetown –, Lusaka 75
• Access and continuity: Freetown 46, Lusaka 42

Where Freetown is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 62.7 % 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.
• Unemployment rate: 3.2 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 4.8 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.
• Green space: 31.5 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (American Journal of Geographic Information System, 'Assessment of Urban Growth and Expansion of Freetown, Sierra Leone 1988 – 2022', 2022). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Freetown City Council, 2024). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs / Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, 2024). Grade 1/4.

Where Lusaka is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2023, 2024 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 17.2 % of international arrivals or nights (AirDNA, Lusaka, Lusaka Province Airbnb Data 2026: Occupancy, Revenue & STR Market Report, 2025–2026). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 55 % average annual occupancy (country figure) (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Zambia, H1 2025). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• Tropical nights: 40 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 2/4.
• Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Government effectiveness: 33 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 20 and 40: grade 1/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Sierra Leone: #109 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Zambia: #96 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Freetown in full · Lusaka in full

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