Lagos in Nigeria has the largest Chinese community in West Africa, followed by Accra and Tema in Ghana, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and Dakar in Senegal. The main sectors are contracting, wholesale and retail, factories (around Lagos and Ogun State), mining (bauxite and iron ore in Guinea, lithium and gold in Mali) and fishing. Flights from China to West Africa usually connect in Paris, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dubai or Cairo.
Security varies widely across the region. As of October 2026, most of Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Benin, Mauritania and Cabo Verde are rated blue (low risk) by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Seven Nigerian states are red (extremely high risk), and most of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is red or orange (high risk). The MFA advises Chinese citizens not to travel to Mali for now.
Main sectors and cities
| Country | Main cities | Main sectors for Chinese residents |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Lagos, Kano, Abuja | Contracting, manufacturing (Lekki Free Zone, Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone), wholesale trade, investment [1] |
| Ghana | Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi | Trade, contracting, manufacturing, restaurants and clinics [2] |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké | Contracting (roads, dams, ports), shops and supermarkets, restaurants and hotels, pharmacies and clinics [3] |
| Senegal | Dakar, Thiès, Mbour | Contracting, wholesale and retail, manufacturing, fishing, customs clearance and logistics [4] |
| Guinea | Conakry, Boké, Boffa, Simandou mining area | Bauxite, iron ore and gold mining, infrastructure, trade in building materials and daily goods [5] |
| Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso | Bamako; Niamey; Ouagadougou | Contracting, oil (Niger), sugar and lithium (Mali) [6], trade and restaurants |
| Benin, Togo | Cotonou; Lomé | Small factories, logistics, re-export trade |
| Other countries | Freetown, Monrovia, Nouadhibou, Banjul, Bissau, Praia | Mining, fishing and fishmeal plants, construction, retail |
For details, see the Nigeria guide. Population estimates for each country are in the table below this text and on the Chinese population in Africa page.
Flights from China
According to MOFCOM’s 2025 Côte d’Ivoire guide, there are no direct flights between China and Côte d’Ivoire; travellers connect in Paris, Nairobi, Dubai, Addis Ababa or Cairo [3]. The same hubs serve most other countries in the region. Check with the airline when booking.
ECOWAS and the CFA franc zone
- The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took effect on 29 January 2025. Until further notice, ECOWAS asked member states to keep giving citizens of the three countries visa-free entry, residence and establishment rights, and to keep treating their goods under ECOWAS trade rules [7].
- ECOWAS members apply a common external tariff [3]. Tariff schedules for goods imported from China are therefore broadly the same across West Africa, though import controls and customs procedures differ by country.
- Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and several neighbours belong to the West African Economic and Monetary Union, whose central bank sets monetary policy. They use the CFA franc (FCFA), at about 656 FCFA to the euro [3][8]. Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and others have their own currencies.
- Since 1 December 2024 China has applied zero tariffs on 100% of tariff lines for 33 African least developed countries it has diplomatic ties with, and from 1 May 2026 it applies zero tariffs to the other 20 African countries it has ties with, for two years [9].
ECOWAS visa-free and residence rights apply only to citizens of member states. Chinese passport holders need each country’s visa and work permit. For Nigeria, see Nigeria visas and work permits.
Security overview
| MFA risk level (as of October 2026) | Country or area |
|---|---|
| Red (extremely high risk) | 16 regions of Mali (the rest is orange; the MFA advises against travel to Mali) [8]; 22 provinces of Burkina Faso [11]; Diffa, Tillabéri and other areas of Niger [12]; seven Nigerian states including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna and Zamfara, plus Ogun State outside the capital Abeokuta and the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone [10] |
| Orange (high risk) | 24 Nigerian states including Lagos, Kano and Plateau [10]; Bawku area of Ghana’s Upper East Region [13]; the provinces of Kong, Tehini and Bouna in Côte d’Ivoire [14] |
| Yellow (medium risk) | The rest of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire; Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia |
| Blue (low risk) | Most of Ghana, Senegal and Benin; Togo, Mauritania, Cabo Verde |
For precautions in Nigeria, see Nigeria safety. For what to do after a kidnapping, robbery or arrest, see Consular protection and the 12308 hotline.
References
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Nigeria (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Ghana (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Côte d’Ivoire (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Senegal (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Guinea (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Mali (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- ECOWAS announces exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger (3News, Ghana, 29 January 2025)
- China Consular Service Network: Mali country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China to apply zero tariffs to all African countries with diplomatic ties from 1 May 2026 (Xinhua / gov.cn, 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Nigeria country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Burkina Faso country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Niger country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Ghana country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Côte d’Ivoire country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
Countries in this region
| Country | Chinese population (est.) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | ~30,000–50,000 | 2017–2020 |
| Ghana | ~30,000–50,000 | 2025 |
| Guinea | ~15,000–25,000 | 2025 |
| Senegal | ~5,000 (incl. Chinese company staff) | 2025 |
| Côte d'Ivoire | ~4,000–5,000 | 2016 |
| Sierra Leone | ~3,000 | 2025 |
| Cabo Verde | ~2,000–3,000 | 2017 |
| Mali | ~1,000–3,000 | 2025 |
| Benin | ~2,000 | 2025 |
| Liberia | ~1,500–2,500 | 2025 |
| Togo | ~900 | 2025 |
| Mauritania | Several hundred or more (no total) | 2024 |
| Burkina Faso | ~500 | 2025 |
| Niger | ~300–500 | 2025 |
| The Gambia | ~300 | 2025 |
| Guinea-Bissau | ~100–200 | 2020 |