Senegal’s economy shrank by 1.2% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, according to figures released by the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD).
This decline in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adjusted for seasonal variations, was mainly driven by sharp contractions in the primary (-4.1%) and secondary (-2.8%) sectors. Net taxes on products also dropped by 2.3%.
The primary sector recorded the steepest decline, down 4.1%, largely due to a 7.1% plunge in agricultural activity. This contraction was partially offset by increases in livestock (+3.4%), forestry (+1.5%), and fishing (+1.1%).
The secondary sector contracted by 2.8%, weighed down particularly by construction (-7.1%), electricity production (-3.7%), and construction materials (-3.5%). The agri-food industry declined by 2.9%, with particularly sharp drops in edible oils (-39.6%) and dairy products (-19.6%).
Only oil refining (+3.5%) and water distribution (+1.0%) posted positive growth in this sector.
In contrast, the tertiary sector grew by 0.8%, supported by strong performances in health services (+8.2%), transport (+7.4%), and public administration (+3.0%). However, the accommodation and food services (-8.1%) and financial services (-4.9%) subsectors remained in difficulty.
On the demand side, exports fell by 8.3% and imports by 3.2%. Investment (gross fixed capital formation) declined by 6.5%. Final household and government consumption, however, saw a significant increase (+4.6%).
Excluding oil and gas, GDP contracted by 1.8%, while nominal GDP reached 4,806.04 billion CFA francs in the first quarter of 2025.
ARD/te/lb/as/APA