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The Emigrant Population | Senegal | bpb.de

Senegal Background Information Historical Trends Political Development Emigrant Population Citizenship / Irregular Migration Refuge and Asylum Current Developments References

The Emigrant Population

Felix Gerdes

/ 4 Minuten zu lesen

There is a tendency for Senegalese migrants to remain in the destination country for long periods, even though a significant proportion of irregular migrants in industrial countries are deported within a short time. In general, however, Senegalese migrants plan their stays abroad as short-term experiences.

According to the World Bank, about 463 000 Senegalese (or 4% of the population) were living abroad in 2005. The results of a household survey carried out by the Senegalese Ministry of Economy and Finance show that 76% of urban households and 70% of households nationwide have at least one family member abroad.

A total of 46% have gone to Europe, where Italy, France and Spain are the most important countries of destination. A further 8% have gone to North America. The most important destinations for Senegalese migrants within Africa are the Gambia, the Ivory Coast, Mali and Mauritania. Due to its close geographical proximity, the Gambia's population includes about 300 000 Senegalese. Before the crisis in the Ivory Coast there were about 125 000 Senegalese citizens living in that country. The majority of these have returned to Senegal since the war started in 2002. The number of Senegalese in Mauritania is estimated at 50 000 to 60 000, while Mali accommodates about 30 000. The Senegalese population in Guinea-Bissau consists of between 10 000 and 20 000 persons.

Figure 1: Migrants' personal reasons for migrating (bpb) Lizenz: cc by-nc-nd/2.0/de

There is a tendency for Senegalese migrants to remain in the destination country for long periods, even though a significant proportion of irregular migrants in industrial countries are deported within a short time. In general, however, Senegalese migrants plan their stays abroad as short-term experiences. A study based on a sample of migrants residing in Germany shows that their wish for early repatriation has not been realised for a large number of reasons : some have ended up starting a family abroad, many feel obligated to continue meeting the financial needs of their dependent family in Senegal, and there is also widespread fear of losing one's social status in Senegal upon return.

According to the household survey referred to above, 46% of migrants were employed or self-employed before they emigrated, including occupation in the informal sector and subsistence farming. Some 29% were unemployed, 14% school children or students and 7% housewives. According to the survey, approximately 84% of migrants are men , of which 68% are between 15 and 34 years old.

Senegalese migrants who move to industrialised countries also demonstrate relatively high levels of education. Within a sample of 51 Senegalese in Germany, 22 hold qualifications from an institute of higher education. Among the Senegalese in the USA, just 9% have attended school for four years or less, whereas 25% possess at least four years of tertiary education. According to the World Bank, the proportion of Senegalese with tertiary education who emigrate is 24.1%. Approximately 51.4% of doctors trained in the country and 26.9% of nursing staff have left Senegal.

Figure 2: Person(s) responsible for the decision to migrate and for financing the move (bpb) Lizenz: cc by-nc-nd/2.0/de

In many senses migration is not an individual but a collective matter. This concerns financing, the financial benefits of migration and often, too, the very decision to migrate. In total just 58% of Senegalese emigrants make the decision to emigrate essentially for themselves, and only 46% finance their move abroad themselves.

On average, Senegalese living in Germany transfer between EUR 125 and 250 a month to their families. Remittances sent to Senegal increased dramatically between 1998 and 2004 from USD 91 million to USD 563.2 million. By contrast, remittances from Senegal have stayed at a relatively constant level. In 2005, remittances from abroad were estimated to represent 7.6% of the country's gross domestic product. The effects of remittances on the standard of living appear to be inconsistent. In the urban setting they have a readily apparent positive impact. In Dakar, for example, 85.2% of households with one or more members living abroad have an annual income per head of at least EUR 343, whereas this is only true of 69.2% of households with no migrants in the family. Rural areas show no clear improvements in income. This common phenomenon is explained by the fact that the rural population shifts its attention away from productive activities once they begin receiving external financial support.

Fussnoten

Fußnoten

  1. See Ratha and Zhimei Xu (2007).

  2. ^Unless otherwise stated, the data used in this section is based on a representative survey of 6 600 households ordered by the Senegalese Ministry of Economy and Finance (République du Sénégal 2004). Although this is, by far, the most comprehensive research into the topic, the data is not entirely reliable and serves primarily to illustrate tendencies. Thus, for example, the foreign population, determined as 1.2%, is unrealistically low.

  3. According to the Senegalese foreign office there were about 150 000 Senegalese living in the Ivory Coast (Diatta and Mbow 1999). Another study, however, assumes a figure of 100 000 (Fall 2003).

  4. Data from Diatta and Mbow (1999) and Fall (2003).

  5. One study that is relatively unreliable on account of the data and the manner of acquisition assumes that a large proportion of migrants return home after a stay of 20-25 years abroad (cf. Diatta and Mbow 1999).

  6. See Marfaing (2003).

  7. An earlier study, by contrast, cited a male proportion of 70% in the year 1993 (CERPOD, quoted in Marfaing 2003).

  8. See Marfaing (2003).

  9. See Black (2004).

  10. See Ratha and Zhimei Xu (2007). For a broader discussion of issues related to migration among healthcare professionals see Stewart, Clark and Clark (2007): "Migration and Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals: Causes, Consequences and Policy Responses." focus Migration Policy Brief No. 7.

  11. See Marfaing (2003).

  12. See the Balance of Payments Statistics of the IMF and Ratha and Zhimei Xu (2007). The stated sums refer to "workers' remittances". Further financial influences should be added to these such as pension claims earned abroad. In 2004, secondary financial inflows of this nature amounted to approximately USD 70 million (Ratha and Zhimei Xu 2007). In addition, only transfers executed via the formal finance system have been recorded. The actual extent of money transfers is estimated to be double or triple this amount.

  13. See Riccio (2005) and, for a broader discussion on the issue of remittances, Hertlein and Vadean (2006): "Externer Link: Remittances: A Bridge between Migration and Development?" focus Migration Policy Brief No. 5.

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