Moving to New Zealand from Senegal

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Senegal to New Zealand — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Senegal to New Zealand, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 82°F in Dakar, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to New Zealand

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Senegal to New Zealand, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2019
1

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

Who's moving to New Zealand?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Senegal and New Zealand stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SN
20.8
NZ
6.6

New Zealand 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
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SN
1.3
NZ
35.7

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SN
0.8t
NZ
6.0t

Senegal generally does better on environment, though New Zealand 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
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SN
16.3%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand 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%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SN
$4,400
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Senegal leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SN
70.0 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SN
32.4
NZ
3.4

New Zealand 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

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dakar Wellington
Jan–Mar 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Dakar Wellington
Jan 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM), New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Senegal passport

Senegal passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Senegal passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Senegal

Visa Free
New Zealand 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 New Zealand?

With 35.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, New Zealand can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Senegal and New Zealand.

Is New Zealand safe for expats?

New Zealand performs significantly better than Senegal across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Senegal?

Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 1.3 in Senegal. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Senegal: 50).

What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Senegal?

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 82°F in Dakar. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Dakar gets 14.9 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Senegal, the official language is French.

Share this

At a Glance

SN NZ
Population 17,923,036 5,053,004
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages French English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +221 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 17 111