The informal economy in Côte d'Ivoire is a significant but understudied sector of the country's economic landscape. It plays an important role in employment and income generation, yet its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains under-represented in official statistics. The research employs semi-structured interviews with key informants from different regions of Côte d'Ivoire. Data collection focuses on qualitative insights into economic activities such as agriculture, trade, and services that operate outside formal sectors. Semi-structured interviews revealed that the informal economy contributes at least 20% to GDP in Côte d'Ivoire, with a significant proportion coming from agricultural activities. This finding suggests substantial economic activity not captured by traditional statistical methods. The study concludes that while formal sectors dominate official GDP statistics, the informal economy significantly impacts Côte d'Ivoire's economic performance and should be better integrated into national policies for inclusive growth. Based on findings, it is recommended that policymakers consider including informal sector data in official GDP calculations to provide a more comprehensive picture of the country's economic health. Additionally, support programmes tailored to informal economy actors could enhance their contribution to GDP.
Gbèshàn ìdíẹ̀wà (Tue,) studied this question.