Is Dakar Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Dakar
Safety rating
Women living in Dakar consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 2.7 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Dakar consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 1.8 out of 5.
Violence rating
On average 42% percentage of women in Senegal have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.
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Crime & Safety Statistics
Safety rating: | 2.7/5 | Moderate |
Safety walking alone after dark: | N/A | Not enough data |
Safety using public transport: | N/A | Not enough data |
Crime rate: | 1.8/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | N/A | Not enough data |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | N/A | Not enough data |
Worries of being physically attacked: | N/A | Not enough data |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | N/A | Not enough data |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | N/A | Not enough data |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | N/A | Not enough data |
How safe is Dakar?
Walking alone on day light should be fine provided that other people are in the street. If you look foreigner vendors would harasse you. At night it can be dangerous to walk alone in streets. Taxi are a painful experience cars are totally not maintained unsafe and must negotiate with drivers some are greedy.
Posted: June 22, 2024Dakar can feel like a safe city once you are familiar with it, especially if you understand the local language, Wolof, or speak French. However, for visiting and ensuring your safety in the city, it is advisable to go with someone who knows Dakar well and has lived there. This way, you can avoid being scammed.
Posted: June 1, 2024Is Dakar worth visiting?
Cherlynn
Zimbabwe
Group travel
My stay was lovely (Forced me to polish up on my french). Clean streets, friendly people (you will find people exercising everywhere,all the time). Seafood is amazing with lots of eateries to try on the mainland and on Goree island !! VISIT the monument and explore inside the statue, visit Goree island especially the House of Slaves,immerse in the history of the island and the people. Get some cfa at the airport and also buy a local line(cfa1000) for Yango(local uberlike app). Curio market sellers aggressively market a friendly but firm "Jerejef" will indicate you are not interested. The seafood market and eatery close to Magicland is a must(pops up at night), Chez de Thio on Goree island was superb. A guide will give you a fuller experience of the island and trust, and they are reasonably priced.
Posted: July 15, 2025Experienced: May, 2025
Johanna
Austria
Solo travel
While Dakar can be a bit overwhelming, especially for woman alone, I really enjoyed my stay. It’s a fantastic city that has lots and lots to offer, from a rich cultural and night life, to beautiful beaches and lots of different activities and sports. I didn’t feel in danger at all, but it was kind of annoying sometimes, that I encountered so many men that would constantly try to talk to me, no matter what I was doing at that moment.
Posted: December 1, 2024Safety in Senegal
