According to the most recent data from the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), the services sector in Senegal shows contrasting trajectories in the third quarter of 2025. While tourism and transport are boosting the economy, the real estate and specialized services sectors are lagging behind.

The accommodation and food services sector posted the most spectacular performance, with a 19.7% year-on-year increase in revenue. This momentum was driven by the robust health of the restaurant sector, which grew by 20.5%, as well as by the improved performance of the accommodation sector, which saw an 18.6% increase. Over the first three quarters of the year, this segment posted overall growth of 11.1%.

Meanwhile, transportation and warehousing services rose by 8.4% in the third quarter. This increase was driven by an exceptional surge in water transport, which increased by 216.1%, more than offsetting the decline in air transport, which fell by 4.6%.

Real estate and specialized services: a difficult year in 2025

Conversely, real estate services are sinking deeper into the red. The sector saw its revenue decline by 1.6% this quarter, primarily due to the drop in property rentals and a 1.7% decrease in owner-occupied property activities. The picture is even worse over the first nine months of the year, with a total decrease of 16.5%.

The specialized, scientific, and technical services segment was not spared, contracting by 3.2% year-on-year. This decline is directly linked to the sharp drop in advertising and market research services, which fell by 16.5%, as well as the decline in legal and accounting activities.

A slight erosion in support services

Finally, the support and office services sector experienced a slight erosion of 0.5% in the third quarter of 2025. This result was weighed down by travel agencies and tour operators, which collapsed by 14.3%, despite a notable increase in human resources activities, which rose by 6.6% over the same period.