Senegal

Population
15.8 million (2018)

Per Capita Income
USD 1,410/year (2017)

Poverty rate *
47% (2011)

Literacy rate
69% (2017)

Human Development Index
164th out of 189 countries (2018)

Senegal has been among Africa’s most stable countries, with three major peaceful political transitions since independence in 1960. Despite significant economic growth and decades of political stability, Senegal still faces serious development challenges. More than one third of the population lives below the poverty line, and 75 percent of families suffer from chronic poverty. The agriculture sector is dominated by subsistence farming, with limited access to good quality seeds and fertilizers, technology, finance and credit, agricultural insurance and post-harvest storage techniques. With 70 percent of the crops being rain-fed, the sector is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, which have severe impacts on the availability and prices of food. Gender disparities remain widespread in the country, especially in rural areas where traditional and religious practices like early and forced marriage cause girls to drop out of school, reduce their productivity and perpetuate the cycle of inequality. The lack of employment and business opportunities in agriculture is a driver of migration, which leads to urbanization and emigration.