Country explorer: Senegal

Senegal's economy has demonstrated resilience and steady growth, as characterized by a consistent increase in GDP per capita, a dynamic fluctuation of the unemployment rate with a noticeable drop in recent years, and moderate inflation levels, reflecting controlled economic management and parallels with broader trends observed among lower-middle-income countries.

Senegal has experienced a significant demographic transformation characterized by steady population growth, a gradual decrease in fertility rates, persistent net migration loss, and consistent improvements in life expectancy, mirroring trends common to many lower-middle-income countries but with distinct progress in health outcomes.

Senegal has experienced significant improvements in basic needs, shown by a consistent rise in access to electricity and safely managed drinking water, even as challenges persist with access to clean fuels for cooking and safely managed sanitation, marking a complex trajectory of development similar to many lower-middle-income countries.

Senegal has made notable progress in human development as reflected by steady improvements in its Human Development Index, significant reductions in child mortality, gradual increases in literacy rates, and enhancements in average learning-adjusted years of schooling, underscoring a positive trajectory towards bolstering the quality of life and education, a trend that aligns with many of its lower-middle-income country peers.

Senegal has seen a dynamic shift towards renewable energy, particularly in solar and wind, accompanied by a marked decrease in per capita CO2 emissions, reflecting broader trends in environmental sustainability efforts and energy diversification similar to its peers in the region.

Senegal has experienced a remarkable digital transformation and growth in mobile connectivity, evidenced by significant increases in internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, paralleling trends seen in other lower-middle-income countries but with a distinctive surge in scientific outputs per capita.

Senegal has seen a modest increase in international migration, significant improvements in self-reported life satisfaction and reductions in gender inequality, within the context of a gradually decreasing but still substantial age dependency ratio, indicating ongoing demographic pressures alongside social progress.

Senegal has demonstrated notable improvements in governance, highlighted by consistent advancements in rule of law, reduction in corruption perception, enhancement of political civil liberties, and significant progress in press freedom, distinguishing it as a model for democratic governance in the region.