Moving to Senegal from Benin

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Benin to Senegal — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Benin to Senegal.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Benin to Senegal, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
3,740 ↑ 3% vs 2015

people born in Benin live in Senegal · UN DESA

Who's moving to Senegal?

Top countries of origin for Senegal's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Benin to Senegal.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
SN
20.8

Senegal performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BJ
$138
SN
$206
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.0
SN
1.3

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Senegal leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BJ
77.0
SN
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BJ
0.5t
SN
0.8t

Benin generally does better on environment, though Senegal leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.2
SN
1.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BJ
1.0%
SN
16.3%

Senegal generally does better on infrastructure, though Benin leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.4%
SN
2.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$3,800
SN
$4,400

Benin generally does better on employment & economy, though Senegal leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BJ
62.2 yrs
SN
70.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
55.8
SN
32.4

Senegal performs significantly better than Benin across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Dakar Rain: 14.9 in/yr (379 mm)
82° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Porto-novo Dakar
Jan–Mar 77°/64°F (25°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/70°F (26°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/73°F (29°/23°C)
View all months
Month Porto-novo Dakar
Jan 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C)
Feb 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C)
Mar 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C)
Apr 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C)
May 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C)
Jun 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C)
Sep 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C)
Oct 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C)
Nov 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C)
Dec 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN), Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Benin and Senegal. To live, work, or study long-term in Senegal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Senegal's immigration authority.

Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Senegal

Visa Free
Benin passport holders can enter Senegal without a visa.
Senegal passport

Senegal passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Free
Senegal passport holders can enter Benin without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Senegal?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Senegal has 1.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Senegal safe for expats?

Senegal performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Senegal compared to Benin?

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Senegal leads in health coverage index. There are 1.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Senegal, compared to 2.0 in Benin. Senegal scores 50 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Benin: 38).

What's the weather like in Senegal compared to Benin?

The average high temperature in Dakar is 82°F, compared to None°F in Porto-novo. Dakar receives around 14.9 in of rainfall per year, while Porto-novo gets 47.0 in.

What language do they speak in Senegal?

Both Benin and Senegal share the same official language: French.

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At a Glance

BJ SN
Population 13,754,688 17,923,036
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages French French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +229 +221
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 17