Economy

Imports
$15.1 billion (2023). Refined Petroleum ($2.07B), Crude Petroleum ($951M), Rice ($612M), Wheat ($340M), and Cars ($290M), importing mostly from China ($2.93B), France ($1.4B), Nigeria ($1.02B), India ($1.01B), and Russia ($828M).

In 2023, Senegal was the world’s biggest importer of Processed Synthetic Staple Fibers ($38.9M).

Financial inclusion factors (over 15 years of  age)
• 28.1% have an account with a financial institution
• 4.8% have a credit card
• 44.9% have a mobile money account
• 4.1% make online purchases

Ease of doing business
Ease of conducting business is medium (59.3 out of 100) 16th out of 48 Sub-Saharan African countries 123rd worldwide out of 190 countries (2024, World Bank).

Exports
$5.25 billion (2021).  Gold ($1.07B), Refined Petroleum ($844M), Phosphoric Acid ($497M), Non-fillet Frozen Fish ($284M), and Cement ($178M), exporting mostly to Mali ($1.22B), India ($681M), Switzerland ($625M), China ($310M), and United Arab Emirates ($251M).

In 2023, Senegal was the world’s biggest exporter of Processed Synthetic Staple Fibers ($41M).

Economic freedom
‘Mostly not free’ (55.4 out of 100) ranked 16th out of 47 Sub-Saharan African countries and ranked 109th out of 184 countries worldwide (2024, Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal).

Global Innovation Index
Ranked 5th out of 28 Sub-Saharan African countries, and 93rd out of 132 worldwide.

The Global Innovation Index captures the innovation
ecosystem performance of 132 economies and tracks the most recent global innovation trends.

Media

Media language French

Information channels
Senegal has traditionally had one of the most unrestricted and diverse media scenes in the region. The constitution guarantees freedom of information and abuses against journalists are relatively infrequent, says Reporters Without Borders. But some subjects remain off limits for reporters. There are around 20 TV stations. Radio is an influential medium. Commercial and community stations have mushroomed. There are nearly 30 daily newspapers. BBC World Service (105.6 MHz) and Radio France Internationale are available on FM in Dakar. The online news media are highly-developed and include internet-based TV outlets.

The press

Le Soleil – state-owned daily
Sud Quotidien – private daily
Le Quotidien – private daily
L’Observateur – private daily
Wal Fadjri L’Aurore – private daily

Television

Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) – state-run, operates RTS1 and RTS2
TFM – private
2S TV – private

Radio

Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) – state-run, operates Chaine Nationale and Senegal Internationale, Dakar FM, regional services
Sud FM – private, in Dakar and other cities
Walf FM – operated by Groupe Wal Fadjri
Dunyaa FM – private

News agency

Agence de Presse Senegalaise – state-run
PANA – Dakar-based pan-African news agency

Social statistics

Life expectancy
68 yrs (2022)

CO2 emissions
0.7 metric tons per capita

Corruption perceptions Index
Senegal scored 43 out of 100, ranked 72 out of 180 countries worldwide.

Current health expenditure
4.35% of GDP (2021)

Current education expenditure
88.6% of total expenditure in public institutions

World Happiness Index
Senegal ranked 103 out of 146 countries, with a score of 5.046.