Travel safety comparison · Africa
Sierra Leone vs Senegal: safety comparison
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Sierra Leone vs Senegal: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Senegal sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Sierra Leone (33 against 42), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Senegal scores 2/5 against Sierra Leone's 3/5.
| 🇸🇱Sierra Leone | 🇸🇳Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 42 / 100 | 33 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Normal Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #57 | #69 |
| Drug law | Severe (long sentences) | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Exercise Caution | Exercise Caution |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | illegal | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | SLE | XOF |
Sierra Leone vs Senegal: common questions
Is Sierra Leone or Senegal safer to visit?
Senegal has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 33/100 vs 42/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Sierra Leone or Senegal safer for solo female travellers?
Sierra Leone is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Senegal is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Sierra Leone and Senegal?
Sierra Leone: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Senegal: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).