Moving to Japan from Senegal

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Senegal to Japan, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 82°F in Dakar, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
176 ↑ 44% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Japan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SN
20.8
JP
2.7

Japan performs significantly better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SN
$206
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SN
1.3
JP
26.1

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SN
0.8t
JP
7.8t

Senegal generally does better on environment, though Japan 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
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SN
16.3%
JP
36.0%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SN
2.9%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SN
$4,400
JP
$46,300

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SN
70.0 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SN
32.4
JP
1.9

Japan generally does better on family life, though Senegal leads in education spending.

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

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dakar Tokyo
Jan–Mar 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Dakar Tokyo
Jan 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Senegal passport

Senegal passport holder visiting Japan

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

Japan passport holder visiting Senegal

Visa Free
Japan 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 Japan?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Japan has 37.2 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 Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Senegal?

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 1.3 in Senegal. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Senegal: 50).

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 82°F in Dakar. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Dakar gets 14.9 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Senegal, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

SN JP
Population 17,923,036 124,214,766
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages French Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +221 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 17 110