Moving to Senegal from Burkina Faso
What to Expect
Considering a move from Burkina Faso to Senegal? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Burkina Faso to Senegal. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dakar averages 82°F vs 95°F in Ouagadougou, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Senegal compared to Burkina Faso.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Senegal performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Burkina Faso generally does better on environment, though Senegal leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Senegal generally does better on infrastructure, though Burkina Faso leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Senegal performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Senegal generally does better on family life, though Burkina Faso leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ouagadougou | Dakar |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 96°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 99°/78°F (37°/26°C) | 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 95°/67°F (35°/20°C) | 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ouagadougou | Dakar |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 91°/62°F (32.9°/16.5°C) | 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) |
| Feb | 96°/66°F (35.8°/19.1°C) | 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) |
| Mar | 101°/74°F (38.3°/23.5°C) | 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) |
| Apr | 103°/80°F (39.3°/26.4°C) | 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) |
| May | 100°/79°F (37.7°/26.1°C) | 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) |
| Jun | 94°/75°F (34.7°/24.1°C) | 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.1°/22.8°C) | 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.2°C) | 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) |
| Sep | 90°/72°F (32.5°/22.4°C) | 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) |
| Oct | 96°/73°F (35.6°/23.0°C) | 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) |
| Nov | 97°/67°F (35.9°/19.6°C) | 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.9°C) | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) |
Data:
Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Burkina Faso,
Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Burkina Faso 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.
Burkina Faso passport holder visiting Senegal
Visa Free
Senegal passport holder visiting Burkina Faso
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Senegal?
Connectivity is usually fine (Senegal: 1.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Senegal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Senegal safe for expats?
Senegal performs significantly better than Burkina Faso across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Senegal compared to Burkina Faso?
Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Burkina Faso leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Senegal, compared to 1.5 in Burkina Faso. Senegal scores 50 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Burkina Faso: 40).
What's the weather like in Senegal compared to Burkina Faso?
The average high temperature in Dakar is 82°F, compared to 95°F in Ouagadougou. Dakar receives around 14.9 in of rainfall per year, while Ouagadougou gets 29.3 in.
What language do they speak in Senegal?
Both Burkina Faso and Senegal share the same official language: French.
