“The Senegal-Valencia Region Migration Route and Its Impact on Origin and Destination” is the title of the study that has analyzed the main causes of the migration route between Senegal and the Valencia region. The Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), through the Vice Rectorate for Internationalization and Cooperation, highlights that economic motivation is the primary driver of migration, fueled by a critical disparity in indicators of living standards, health, and education between the two regions.

This research, led by Juana Aznar as principal investigator, is based on a preliminary analysis of Senegal’s socioeconomic context, supplemented by semi-structured interviews with migrants residing in the Valencian Community, with the aim of gaining firsthand insight into their individual experiences and realities.

“There are realities right on our doorstep that we know nothing about. Senegal is 100 kilometers from the Canary Islands—that’s nothing; this leads us to examine why those who arrive in the Canary Islands do so, and it’s important to analyze this,” Aznar emphasizes. The report reveals a staggering economic gap: in 2023, Senegal’s real GDP per capita was just 9.12% of Spain’s. Poverty indicators and data on basic services reveal alarming figures regarding quality of life. According to the Human Development Index (HDI), Senegal ranks 169th out of 193 countries, placing it in the low development category.

“Every migrant has their own story, family, and background. You can’t lump them all together. I’ve spoken with women who have been in the Valencian Community for over 20 years, and who left children behind in Senegal or who have started families here. I’ve also spoken with second-generation women, born here, who are studying and blending their Senegalese roots with their lives in Spain,” says the project leader.

The study identifies that migration is not just an individual endeavor, but a family economic strategy. In fact, Senegal is the ninth-largest recipient of remittances from Spain, with a total of 478 million euros sent by migrants to cover primarily basic living and healthcare expenses in their home country.

As of January 1, 2022, the Senegalese population in the Valencian Community numbered 7,020 people, concentrated mainly in the provinces of Valencia (53.6%) and Alicante (39.8%). The population is predominantly male (84.5%), although migrant women are playing an increasingly active and independent role.

The study concludes that, to reduce migration driven by economic necessity, it is imperative to strengthen the education system—where Senegal has a youth illiteracy rate of 21.9%—and improve healthcare infrastructure. The report emphasizes that migration is currently perceived as a more profitable option than the economic returns that would result from remaining in Senegal.

This project is part of the initiatives funded by the collaboration agreement between the Generalitat Valenciana, through the First Vice Presidency and the Regional Ministry of Social Services, Equality, and Housing, and the UMH, to co-fund the project “Institutional Research and Training Actions: University Cooperation for Development 2024.”