Moving to Senegal from Rwanda

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Rwanda to Senegal.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
282

people born in Rwanda 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 Rwanda to Senegal.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
SN
20.8

Rwanda performs better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
SN
$206
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
SN
1.3

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Senegal leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
SN
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
SN
0.8t

Rwanda performs better than Senegal across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.3
SN
1.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
SN
16.3%

Senegal performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
SN
2.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
SN
$4,400

Senegal generally does better on employment & economy, though Rwanda leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
SN
70.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
SN
32.4

Rwanda generally does better on family life, though Senegal leads in life expectancy.

Data: Rwanda Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Dakar
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 77°/64°F (25°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 79°/70°F (26°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 86°/77°F (30°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 85°/73°F (29°/23°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Dakar
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, 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 Rwanda 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.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Senegal

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

Senegal passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
Senegal passport holders can enter Rwanda 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?

Rwanda performs better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Senegal compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Senegal leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Senegal, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Senegal scores 50 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

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

The average high temperature in Dakar is 82°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Dakar receives around 14.9 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Senegal?

The official language in Senegal is French. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW SN
Population 13,173,730 17,923,036
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +250 +221
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 17