Informal Economy and GDP Contribution in Côte d'Ivoire: Implications for Policy

Côte d'Ivoire's economy is heavily influenced by its informal sector, which contributes significantly to the country's GDP but is often underreported in official statistics. Qualitative analysis based on secondary data from government reports, surveys, and interviews with business owners in key sectors of the informal economy. The informal economy contributes approximately 25% to Côte d'Ivoire's GDP, with a notable presence in agriculture, retail, and services. This sector is characterized by small-scale enterprises and self-employed individuals operating outside formal regulatory frameworks. Policy recommendations include the need for improved access to finance, market information, and training opportunities for informal economy participants to support their growth and integration into the national economy. Develop a formalization programme, enhance financial inclusion through microfinance initiatives, and establish a data collection system that accurately reflects the contributions of the informal economy in official GDP statistics.