Safest cities in Senegal
12 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in SenegalTerrorist attacks in Senegal cannot be ruled out.
- Terrorist kidnapThere is a threat of kidnapping in the wider Sahel region, which incorporates Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, so take precautions to reduce the risk of kidnap in remote regions and border areas.
Political situation
- There are frequent demonstrations about political issues in Dakar and other cities.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsCases of robbery, burglary and assault have become more common in Dakar, and in some cases, involve the use of weapons. Hotels frequented by foreign nationals have been targeted and robbed at gunpoint. Street crime like pickpocketing and bag-snatching is also on the increase in Dakar. To reduce your personal risk:
- Bogus taxis at the airportThere is a risk of bogus taxi drivers pretending to know you and then overcharging you for the journey from the airport. Pre-arrange transport with your accommodation or an authorised operator. If you’re expecting someone to collect you at the airport, make sure they show you their ID.
- Fake currencyBe cautious when changing cash, as there is a risk you will be scammed with fake money. Use ATMs or reputable exchange bureaux.
Laws and cultural differences
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not drink alcohol or wear revealing clothes in public during Friday prayers between 1pm and 3pm.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesThere are severe penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs. People accused regularly spend lengthy periods on remand before being tried. The maximum sentence for trafficking is 20 years.
- MoneyOnly use reputable exchange bureaux to change your money. Dakar has ATMs that accept foreign bank cards, but there are few ATMs or bank facilities in the rest of the country. Withdrawal limits can be low, and ATMs regularly run out of money, including in Dakar.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual acts are illegal in Senegal. The law is enforced and has led to arrests.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Senegal, see information on driving abroad.
- Road conditionsMost main roads are of good quality, but minor roads can be in very poor repair. During the rainy season from June to September, torrential rains can cause floods and landslides which damage roads.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Senegal, updated 2026-05-13 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- Gini 36.22021
- Human development
- HDI 0.5302023
- Income
- $5,100/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 23.5 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 62/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 53/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 46/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.66GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 41.6 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 27%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.1 doctors /1k0.7 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 37 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 6.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 6.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Senegal (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Senegal compares
| Measure | Senegal | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 36.2 | 35.2 | +1.0 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.530 | 0.763 | −0.233 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 23.5 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +8.1 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 53/100 | 52/100 | +1/100 — better for Senegal |
| Corruption perceptions | 46/100 | 39/100 | +7/100 — better for Senegal |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 41.6 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +21.9 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.6/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.8/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Senegal | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 4.5 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 36.2 | 38.5 | −2.3 — better for Senegal |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.530 | 0.563 | −0.033 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 23.5 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −4.7 /100k — better for Senegal |
| Rule of law | 53/100 | 42/100 | +11/100 — better for Senegal |
| Corruption perceptions | 46/100 | 30/100 | +16/100 — better for Senegal |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 41.6 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +14.3 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.6/10 | 5.3/10 | −0.7/10 — better for Senegal |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 12 cities, safest first
- Dakar77.2 · #2106 worldwide
- Touba77.2 · #2107 worldwide
- M'bour77.2 · #2108 worldwide
- Thiès77.2 · #2109 worldwide
- Kaolack77.2 · #2110 worldwide
- Saint-Louis77.2 · #2111 worldwide
- Tambacounda77.2 · #2112 worldwide
- Diourbel77.2 · #2113 worldwide
- Kolda77.2 · #2114 worldwide
- Louga77.2 · #2115 worldwide
- Tivaouane77.2 · #2116 worldwide
- Ziguinchor74.0 · #2963 worldwide