Economy - overview:
Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture, which are the primary sources of employment in rural areas. The country's key export industries include phosphate mining, fertilizer production, agricultural products and commercial fishing and Senegal is also working on oil exploration projects. It relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. Senegal reached a growth rate of 7% in 2017, due in part to strong performance in agriculture despite erratic rainfall.

President Macky SALL, who was elected in March 2012 under a reformist policy agenda, inherited an economy with high energy costs, a challenging business environment, and a culture of overspending. President SALL unveiled an ambitious economic plan, the Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP), which aims to implement priority economic reforms and investment projects to increase economic growth while preserving macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and a challenging business climate are among the perennial challenges that may slow the implementation of this plan.

Senegal receives technical support from the IMF under a Policy Support Instrument (PSI) to assist with implementation of the ESP. The PSI implementation continues to be satisfactory as concluded by the IMF’s fifth review in December 2017. Financial markets have signaled confidence in Senegal through successful Eurobond issuances in 2014, 2017, and 2018.

The government is focusing on 19 projects under the ESP to continue The government’s goal under the ESP is structural transformation of the economy. Key projects include the Thiès-Touba Highway, the new international airport opened in December 2017, and upgrades to energy infrastructure. The cost of electricity is a chief constraint for Senegal’s development. Electricity prices in Senegal are among the highest in the world. Power Africa, a US presidential initiative led by USAID, supports Senegal’s plans to improve reliability and increase generating capacity.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$54.8 billion (2017 est.)
$51.15 billion (2016 est.)
$48.15 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 107
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.11 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
7.2% (2017 est.)
6.2% (2016 est.)
6.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 18
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,500 (2017 est.)
$3,300 (2016 est.)
$3,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 188
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
21.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
21.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
20.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 86
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 71.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 15.2% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 25.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 3.4% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 16.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 24.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 58.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Industries:
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:
7.7% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 26
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
6.966 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 67
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 77.5%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 22.5%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate:
48% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 216
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
46.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 31.1% (2011)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.3 (2011)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 63
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 4.139 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 4.9 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
19.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 155
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 151
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
48.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
47.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 108
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2017 est.)
0.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 73
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
0.25% (31 December 2010)
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 140
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.4% (31 December 2017 est.)
5.3% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 138
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$5.944 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.689 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 97
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$5.944 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.689 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 99
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$6.695 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.219 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 121
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
NA
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$1.547 billion (2017 est.)
-$769 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 157
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$2.362 billion (2017 est.)
$2.498 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 133
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
Mali 14.8%, Switzerland 11.4%, India 6%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, UAE 5.1%, Gambia, The 4.2%, Spain 4.1% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Imports:
$5.217 billion (2017 est.)
$4.966 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 125
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners:
France 16.3%, China 10.4%, Nigeria 8%, India 7.2%, Netherlands 4.8%, Spain 4.2% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.827 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 122
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$8.571 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.327 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 119
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
617.4 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)