There’s $9Trillion in trapped land and property markets across emerging markets and africa. The World Bank predicted that, by 2021, 62.5 percent of Africa’s fastest growing economies will be in Francophone Africa. Currently, it boasts five out of the ten fastest-growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, namely, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

Built on strong democratic structures and held together by reliable institutions, Senegal is one of the most politically stable nations in Africa. Real estate has also proven to be a profitable asset class in Senegal, with property investments in Dakar, for instance, yielding an average return of 10%-13%, depending on the type of property.

Additionally, potential investors can expect even better returns on investment with time due to factors such as the wave of urbanization sweeping across Senegal and driving up demand for housing. Per data from the World Bank, 60% of Senegal’s population will live in urban areas by 2030.

The enabling environment Senegal offers multinationals, NGOs and other institutions also means that the French-speaking country is fast becoming a vibrant hub – a position that will also increase demand for real estate.

The trends that make Senegal a smart destination for real estate investment are also visible across the other nations in Francophone Africa. French-speaking countries currently account for five of the top ten fastest-growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire (7%), Senegal (6.7%), Benin (6.3%) Burkina Faso (6%) and Guinea (5.9%) all making the list.

Africa’s French-speaking countries have also recently shown the potential to offer higher returns on real estate investment than other regions.