Moving to Iceland from Senegal

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Senegal to Iceland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Senegal to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 82°F in Dakar, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Senegal to Iceland.

Moved in 2023
4

people moved from Senegal to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Senegal.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SN
20.8
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SN
$206
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SN
1.3
IS
45.2

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland 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

SN
65.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SN
0.8t
IS
8.5t

Senegal generally does better on environment, though Iceland 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

SN
1.4
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SN
16.3%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Senegal across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SN
2.9%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SN
$4,400
IS
$66,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SN
70.0 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SN
32.4
IS
1.6

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

Data: Direction Generale des Impots et des Domaines, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dakar Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Dakar Reykjavik
Jan 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM), Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Senegal passport

Senegal passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Senegal passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Senegal

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Senegal 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 Iceland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iceland: 38.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iceland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Senegal?

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 1.3 in Senegal. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Senegal: 50).

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 82°F in Dakar. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Dakar gets 14.9 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Senegal, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

SN IS
Population 17,923,036 357,603
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages French Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +221 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 17 112