The European Union Ambassador to Senegal,  Ambassador Jean-Marc Pisani, stated that ‘between 2008 and 2023, the number of Senegalese nationals granted residence permits in Europe doubled, rising from 150,000 to over 300,000’. This statement was made in response to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s remarks on visa reciprocity during his general policy address on 27 December 2024. Did the number actually doubled ?

Verdict: Most likely true. Although the exact Eurostat figures vary slightly, the overall increase corresponds to a doubling over the stated period.

Verification methodology

Dialogue Migration analysis is based on official data collected by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, on residence permits.

Data Analysis

Figures for 2008

According to Eurostat data, the number of Senegalese nationals holding a valid residence permit in the EU-27 and the United Kingdom in 2008 was estimated to be between 100,000 and 120,000, which is slightly below the figure of 150,000 cited by the ambassador. See the detailed data for 2008.

Figures for 2023

The full 2023 data is not yet final  and it is expected to be published in late 2024 or early 2025. However, the observed trends up to 2022, when the number had already exceeded 250,000, and the provisional data from 2023 confirm a significant increase, likely surpassing 300,000. See the most recent available data

Underlying factors of this increase are:

• A steady and continuous increase in migration flows between Senegal and Europe.
• Diversification of reasons  for migration  (study, work, family reunification).
• Strengthening of diaspora communities facilitating new migration routes.

Methodological considerations

Exact comparisons are challenging due to differences in data collection methods and statistical definitions (e.g. whether the entire Schengen Area is included and the status of the United Kingdom). Figures may also vary depending on whether newly issued residence permits per year or the total stock of valid permits are considered. For more details, please refer to Eurostat’s methodology on these statistics.

Conclusion

Ambassador Pisani’s claim appears to be largely accurate. While the initial figure for 2008 may be slightly overestimated (150,000 compared to Eurostat’s estimate of between 100,000 and 120,000), the scale of the overall increase is consistent with the observed migration trends between Senegal and Europe during this period.

Available data confirms a significant rise, reflecting a doubling of the number of Senegalese nationals holding residence permits in Europe between 2008 and 2023.