Senegal

Historical Background

Located in a region engulfed by conflict and violence, Senegal remains one of the most stable countries in Africa, with four peaceful political transitions since obtaining its independence from France. Senegal is also known as the land of the “Teranga” – a Wolof word that encompasses the Senegalese spirit of warmth, friendliness to visitors, and community. (Wolof is one of the country’s national languages.) In Senegal, migration, especially international migration, is perceived as positive, given its economic contribution to the country.

In recent years, Senegal has shifted from a destination country for migrants in Africa to a transit and origin country for most migrants in Africa and West Africa in particular. Before 1990, the smooth functioning of the state machinery made the state a beacon of hope to most Senegalese, as the state stood out as the main employer of labour. Most Senegalese were comfortable living at home (Senegal) until the economic crisis hit the country in 1990, and by 1999, GDP sank by 28.1%, causing untold hardship within communities (Gerdes, 2007). Between 2014 and 2018, Senegal recorded recognisable economic growth, consistently above 6% per year (World Bank, 2021). Between 2016 and the first half of 2017, GDP growth accelerated from 6.5% in 2015 to 6.7% in 2016, positioning Senegal among the fastest-growing economies in Africa (World Bank, 2018). Its main economic drivers during this period were the service sector, investment, and exports.

These gains were affected by the twin effects of droughts and low commodity prices and further compounded by the worsening effects of COVID-19. Real GDP growth stood at 0.87% in 2020, down from 4.4% in 2019 and 6.2% in 2018 (World Bank, 2021). The pandemic has adversely changed the country's economic gains, affecting the services and export sectors in particular. Inflation rose to 1.9% in 2020 from 0.9% in 2019 (African Development Bank, 2021). In 2020, the Human Development Index (HDI) for Senegal stood at 0.512, and the country was ranked 168 out of 189 countries (UN Development Programme, 2021). Today, the dwindling economy, coupled with the growing population, predominantly youth under the age of 18, and the inability of the state to be the main employer of labour, are the main reasons why most Senegalese want to look for opportunities outside the country.

The economic decline and worsening political crisis in neighbouring countries have increased the aspiration of Senegalese to migrate to Europe. Senegal remained one of the top countries in West Africa, sending migrants to Spain (Gueye & Deshingkar, 2020). The combined rate of under-employment linked to working times and unemployment is around 31.5% (42.4% among women and 23.4% among men) (International Labour Organization, 2018). Migration in Senegal is mostly seen as a way of escaping poverty (economic migrants) – people migrate to better their lives (ibid). With the country's proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, most of the migrants use irregular migration routes (IOM, 2018).

Migration Policies

Senegal has experienced the multi-faceted dynamics of migration and mobility. Senegal is an origin, transit, and host country of migrants. This status is posing enormous policy and institutional challenges to the government on how migration should be managed within the country. Senegal was the first African country to formally recognise the importance of diaspora engagement as a key factor in Senegalese migration governance architecture by creating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, which is in charge of relations with Senegalese migrants, assistance abroad, and their return home. There is also the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, which oversees immigration management, and the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Planning, which oversees in-depth studies and research on migration issues. 

At the national level, Law No. 71-10 of 25 January 1971 sets the conditions of admission, residence, and establishment of foreigners in Senegal, while Law No. 2005-06 of 10 May 2005 outlines rules on combating trafficking in persons and related practices and protecting victims (Rabat Process, 2018). The Senegalese government also has a policy in place that allows 15 members of parliament to be elected by the diaspora community overseas to represent their interests (African Diaspora Policy Centre, 2021). The government has public and private funds that members of the diaspora can access in the form of loans for investment purposes (ibid). At the regional level, Senegal is a party to the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its protocols and the Treaty of the West African Economic Monetary Unit (WAEMU). Both treaties focus on the freedom of movement of persons, goods, services, and capital for citizens of their member states as well as the right to residence and establishment (Jegen, 2020). At the international level, Senegal is a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, the 1969 AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families, the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, and the 2000 Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants (Rabat Process, 2018).

Governmental Institutions

The two ministries focusing on migration are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad and the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad focuses on diplomatic matters, consular services, and diaspora relations with Senegalese nationals abroad while the Ministry of the Interior is the primary actor in regulating the entry, stay, and exit of third-country nationals through its enforcement agencies. Under the Ministry of the Interior, the National Eligibility Commission (CNE) accepts or declines applications for refugee status. Once an application is approved by the CNE, it makes recommendations to the president of Senegal for approval (UNHCR, 2023). Due to the bureaucracy involved in the process, delays are bound to occur. However, according to the Global Detention Project (2020), foreign nationals are not arbitrarily arrested because of their immigration status unless they are involved in criminal activities.

Internal Migration

About 2 million individuals, or 14.6% of the general population in Senegal, are internal migrants (Duboz et al., 2020). Growing urbanisation is one of the key drivers of internal migration. In Senegal, 70% of internal migrants are moving to urban settings, with urban-to-urban migration accounting for 77%, and Dakar accounting for 41% (ibid). Because of the growing economic activities and infrastructural development in Dakar, it remains the main area of attraction for most Senegalese. For example, of the 22 hospitals in the country, eight are located in Dakar (ibid).

In Senegal, women are more likely to migrate than men. However, they move less far and are more likely to migrate to rural areas, especially when originating from rural areas. While women's mobility is mostly linked to marriage, men's mobility is mostly linked to labour (Chort et al., 2017). Another factor that influences internal migration from rural to urban areas, especially among female youth, is the desire to move away from traditional values in the rural areas that constrain their freedom to urban centres where they will have greater autonomy and sexual independence than traditionally tolerated (Stevanovic-Fenn & Edmeades, 2017). This entails that the triggers of internal migration in Senegal are both economically and socially driven.

Internally Displaced Persons

Internal displacement in Senegal is mostly influenced by violence. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC, 2024), by December 2023, 8,400 people were displaced because of conflict and violence, while 12,000 were displaced because of natural disasters. From 2019 to 2023, conflict and violence-related displacement did not change (ibid). Violence in the southern region of Casamance (Kolda, Sedhiou, and Ziguinchor), caused by the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC – a separatist armed group that started as far back as 1982), is still a threat and a source of internal displacement in the region which has led to the displacement of over 60,000 people (Max Intelligence Portal, 2020). The ongoing war also poses a challenge to returnees, as recent attempts to relocate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the vicinity of Bassine in the Ziguinchor region sparked renewed violence between the Senegalese Armed Forces and the MFDC.

Floods also contribute to internal displacement. On 7 September 2020, all the regions in Senegal recorded excess rainfall compared to normal, ranging from 100mm to 1,900mm, with the regions of Dakar and Thies hit hardest, recording 800mm of rainfall (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [IFRC], 2020). The floods affected 11 regions, including 25 departments, and destroyed 102 houses, causing the displacement of 3,285 people, representing 365 families in the suburbs of Dakar and the department of Thies (ibid). Most affected were women, especially pregnant women, and children under the age of five years. Other areas affected by the floods included the department of Matam, Kanel, Ranerou, Saint-Louis, Podor, Dagana, Kaolack, Nioro, Mbacke, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Kolda, Velingara, Bambey, Diourbel, Tivaouane, Mbour, Kaffrine, Mbirkelane, Fatick, and Foundiougne (ibid). The impact of displacement in Senegal is heavily felt by the most vulnerable in the society, including children and women from the poor ranks of the society, as they are located in areas that are prone to either disaster or conflict.

Immigration

Senegal, in recent years, has transitioned from a destination country to a transit and origin country for migrants in Africa, particularly in West Africa. Most migrants in the region used Senegal as a starting point for their journey from Africa to Europe, navigating a complex web of hubs along the Atlantic Coastline (IOM, 2019). The immigration stock in Senegal has experienced a steady increase from 2010 to 2024.

According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA, 2025), in 2010, the immigration stock was 256,100; in 2015 and 2020, it went up to 266,500 and 274,900, and in 2024 it peaked at 281,900. The top five origin countries of immigrants in Senegal are Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone (ibid). The migration corridor between Senegal and the Gambia is among the top 10 migration corridors in Western Africa, with an estimated population of 154,739 migrants moving between the two countries (Migration Data Portal, 2021b). Other immigrant populations in Senegal come from France, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. The strategic location of the country makes it a gateway to Europe for many using irregular migration routes. This is making the country attractive to migrants within and outside the continent.

Female Migration

Female migration to Senegal has increased steadily over the past two decades. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA, 2025), the female migration stock stood at 120,200 in 2010. It went up to 125,100 in 2015, and 129,300 in 2020, and peaked at 132,600 in 2024. Female migrants as a percentage of the migrant population in Senegal stood at 47% in 2024 (ibid). The mobility rate of migrants in the sub-region has been growing, with migrants migrating to other countries within the sub-region, particularly female migrants who are cross-border traders (ILO, 2020). According to Setrana and Kleist (2022), the enforcement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol Relating to the Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and Establishment within the sub-region has resulted in the increased mobility of female migrants. Female migration in the region is seen as a way to improve livelihoods, partly through cross-border trading.

Children

Child migration in Senegal as a percentage of the migrant population has been stable over the years. In 2010, 2015, and 2020, the proportion of child migrants below the age of 18 as a percentage of the migrant population in Senegal has been 28.1%, 27.8%, and 27.6%, respectively (UNICEF, 2020). Senegal is a party to several international and regional instruments designed to protect children, including the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1999 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Also, at the national level, the country has adopted the National Strategy on Social Protection (SNPE) (Centre on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach, 2022). Despite being party to the above and various other instruments, child migrants in Senegal are subjected to various forms of human abuse. While some child migrants are recruited as sex workers (see section on Human Trafficking), others migrate based on rational decisions such as finding employment, particularly domestic work. These child migration trends are common between Southern Senegal and the Gambia and between Northern Senegal and Mauritania (ACP Observatory on Migration, 2012). There are also children, particularly girls under 10 years of age from Niger and Mali, who are beggars in the streets of Dakar, Thies, and Saint-Louis – some of them with their mothers and others recruited as blind guides (ibid). Another set of child migrants are young girls aged 10 to 15, mostly from Guinea, who migrate to join their husbands (ibid). Child migration constitutes a complex dimension of human mobility in Senegal, as the activities of child migrants are intertwined in several aspects of Senegalese society.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

According to the UN Refugee Agency, by January 2025, there were 11,848 refugees and 1,313 asylum seekers in Senegal (UNHCR, 2025). These refugees are predominantly from Mauritania (11,539), with a few hundred from the Central African Republic (252), and 57 from unspecified countries. These refugees can be categorised into two distinct groups – those who have been in the country for more than 30 years (mostly from Mauritania) and who live predominantly in rural areas, and the more recent refugees from the Central African Republic, Burundi, and Rwanda who live predominantly in urban areas (UNHCR, 2019).

Following UNHCR advocacy, authorities increasingly favour local integration, naturalisation, long-term residence permits, and the inclusion of locally integrated Mauritanian refugees into the national social service programme (UNHCR, 2021). This approach reflects the receptive nature of the Senegalese authority in terms of the policy framework designed to accommodate refugees and asylum seekers. These are some of the approaches that recognise and value the contributions of migrants within their host communities.

Emigration

Emigration from Senegal is mostly driven by labour demand in Europe, and economic insecurity and labour income in Senegal, as migration is seen as a strategy for income diversification and improving well-being and social standing. A study conducted by the European Commission called “Regarding Europe from outside” established that three in four Senegalese would love to emigrate, with Europe being the most coveted destination (Minority Rights Group, 2019). Over the past two decades, emigration from Senegal has experienced a steady increase. According to UN DESA (2025), it rose from 498,400 in 2010 and to 558,300 in 2015 and further increased to 665,700 in 2020. It peaked at 741,400 in 2024 (ibid). Around 4% to 5% of the country’s population lives abroad, and about half live in Europe (Bernardini, 2018). The main European destinations for migrants from Senegal are France (110,000), Italy (80,000), and Spain (60,000) (Smith, 2020). Most of the irregular Senegalese migrants in Europe use the Mediterranean route. For example, in 2018, the Western Mediterranean route from West Africa towards Spain accounted for over 58,000 arrivals, predominantly young males with an average age of 31 years (International Organisation for Migration [IOM], 2019). Senegal was ranked the 10th largest country of origin in terms of irregular sea border crossing and was one of the top West African nationalities of arrivals in Europe in 2018 (ibid). It is important to note that intra-regional migration accounts for about 46% of migration flow from Senegal mainly to the Gambia (100,000), Mauritania (40,000), Cote d’Ivoire (20,000), Mali, and Niger (ibid). 

There is no specific data on the number of skilled Senegalese migrants abroad and where they are located. However, the government engages with Senegalese abroad regarding the economic development of the country. Together with national and international partners, the government has implemented three programmes that draw on the expertise of skilled Senegalese abroad: MIDA-Senegal, TOKTEN, and Co-Development. Through these programmes, the government can use Senegalese expertise abroad in the social, economic, scientific, and technological development of the country. In line with the diaspora's contribution to the country's development, the Senegalese authority allocated an additional 15 parliamentary seats, allowing the diaspora to have permanent representation in the Senegalese parliament (News24, 2017). The government, through its policies, values the contribution of its diaspora in the development of the country, and it is taking steps to create an enabling environment that will allow the diaspora to contribute to the country’s future.

Labour Migration

Senegal plays a dual role in terms of labour migration, both as a country of destination and origin for migrant labour. While Senegalese migrate for work abroad, Senegal also hosts thousands of migrant labourers from neighbouring countries. The porous borders between Senegal and its neighbouring countries and the lack of capacity to collect immigration data are some of the challenges that make it difficult to have a proper understanding of the scale of labour migration in the country (Coz & Hooper, 2021). Although Senegal, through its national migration policy, has committed to establishing an effective data collection system to inform policymaking, very little is known about migrant labourers in the country.

However, in 2023, the government released its revised migration policy that seeks to provide social protection to migrant workers and integrate them into the social protection programme (United Nations, 2024). It is important to note that as a member of the ECOWAS sub-regional block advocating for the free movement and residency of its nationals within member states, regional integration constitutes a key factor that shapes labour migration in Senegal. Migrant labour in Senegal is concentrated in low-skilled roles in the informal economy (agriculture, retail and trade, manufacturing, and mining), with a few working in high-skilled roles (multinational companies) (Coz & Hooper, 2021). The revised migration policy, if properly implemented, will improve the working conditions of migrant workers in the country as it will grant them access to social protection.

Human Trafficking

Senegal is ranked a Tier 2 country in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, as it does not meet the minimum standard for the cancellation of human trafficking activities. Poverty remains one of the key drivers of human trafficking as it exposes women and children to human trafficking. In Senegal, overall poverty was at 36.3% in 2022 (World Bank, 2023). Forced begging is the most prevalent form of trafficking in Senegal, as it is seen as an alternative source of income where criminal elements prey on children to make money. Despite joint efforts from the government and international organisations such as Interpol’s Operation Epervier, human trafficking, especially child begging, is growing in the country. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), children’s forced begging in Senegal generates 5 billion CFA ($8 million) annually (ENACT Africa, 2019). Many of these begging children, known as “talibe”, are victims of human trafficking.

Several religious schools (Daaras) have deviated from their mandate of caring for and teaching Islamic studies to children placed under their watch, to forcing these children to beg on the streets for them. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report (2024), it is estimated that tens of thousands of children are begging in the streets in Senegal. Traffickers also subject Senegalese children and women to sex trafficking and forced labour in domestic servitude and gold mines. According to the Centre on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (2022), children as young as 12 years are involved in sex trafficking in Senegal. Internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking although traffickers exploit boys from the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali in forced begging in Senegalese cities as well as forced labour in the artisanal gold mines (Trafficking in Persons Report, 2024).

Child sex tourism is prevalent in the cities of Dakar, Saint-Louis, Cap Skirring, and La Petit Côte, traditionally known as tourist areas (Trafficking in Persons Report, 2024). The government of Senegal maintained efforts to identify and protect trafficking victims. Through the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender, and Child Protection, the government has identified and referred 622 trafficking victims to centres for care (487 forced begging victims and 135 sex trafficking victims), the majority of whom were children (ibid). During this process, each child under their care received medical care, clothing, food, and psycho-social support (ibid). The government reported prosecuting 91 alleged traffickers and obtaining convictions for 30 traffickers in nine of its 14 provinces (ibid). The analysis indicates that child trafficking remains a serious concern in Senegal.

Remittances

In Senegal, remittance flow remains one of the main sources of revenue and especially household income. According to Carrasco and Obucina (2022) and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) (2022), remittances to Senegal accounted for $2.6 billion, constituting between 10.5% and 10.7% of the country’s GDP in 2020 and contributed to a 30% reduction in poverty in the country. However, according to the World Bank (2024), since 2021, remittance flow as a percentage of GDP has experienced a steady decline from 11.3% in 2021 to 10.9% in 2022 and 9.5% in 2023. The World Bank (2025) also noted that personal remittances received in Senegal have increased steadily from 2016 (544.4 billion) to 2023 (822.75 billion). To facilitate the flow of remittances in the country, there are 23 Remittance Service Providers (RSPs) and 41 RSPs providing cash-out facilities for migrant families, including four mobile providers that also offer international remittance services. 

Remittance flow into the country is hampered by constraints such as excessive transfer costs, heavy reliance on informal channels, regulatory barriers, an underdeveloped financial sector and limited financial inclusion, and underdeveloped technological infrastructure and innovation (United Nations, 2024). These constraints limit the flow of remittances into the country and compromise data on the exact flow of remittances in the country, as a large proportion of remittances are transferred through informal channels to avert excessive transfer costs. International remittance has a productive impact on the economy of Senegal, as most of it is spent on durable goods, education, and investment (Randazzo & Piracha, 2019; UNCDF, 2022). Although the government recognises the importance of remittance flow for economic growth, more needs to be done to create an enabling environment to facilitate and encourage the flow of remittances in the country.

Returns and Returnees

With its status as a gateway to Europe, many migrants in Senegal use irregular migration routes to attain their “European dream” living and working in Europe. According to the IOM (2019), in 2018, more than 58,000 irregular migrants arrived in Spain using the Western Mediterranean Route, with Senegal topping the chart. Some of these migrants, upon arrival, were arrested and deported, while others voluntarily returned home. From 2017, through its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Programme, the IOM has assisted 8,761 migrants to return to Senegal and has reintegrated more than 5,000 migrants (Mix Migration Centre, 2024). However, some were deported, and others returned independently without any return assistance. Most of those who were not assisted by the IOM reported not receiving any form of assistance. Those assisted by the IOM through the AVRR programme upon arrival home received support from the government and international organisations to facilitate their reintegration process into communities. This support typically includes cash, psychosocial support, basic needs support (food, water, clothes), help to find a job, help to start a business, and assistance with tools/materials for income-generating activities (ibid). While some returnees require support to facilitate their reintegration into their host communities, others have acquired social and material capital out of the country that can positively impact their communities.

International Organisations

International organisations dealing with migration-related issues in Senegal include:

• International Organization for Migration: The IOM is a key stakeholder in linking migration and development efforts in Senegal. It also supports the Senegalese government in improving youth employability and provides social protection, especially to those working in the informal economy.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: The UNHCR guides and coordinates international action to protect refugees.
• United Nations Development Programme: The UNDP supports the government in its drive to reduce poverty in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Danish Refugee Council: The DRC assists refugees and internally displaced persons.
• International Committee of the Red Cross: The ICRC assists victims of armed conflict.
• International Refugee Rights Initiative: The IRRI assists victims of armed conflict through advocacy.
• Vaccine support: In this era of COVID-19, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – have delivered 951,360 vaccines under the COVAX initiative in Senegal.