Coping strategies are generally based on financial resources, human capital for labour, quality of soils, rainfall and knowledge of the environment, but there is no single model of adaptation. This study develops a typology of adaptation strategies based on economic data collected in five Sahelian countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal). Four socio-economic groups were identified: diversified households (7.5%), growers (22.8%), livestock breeders (45.3%) and cotton-growers (24.5%). We analysed the diversity of their coping strategies. These strategies are not very diverse except for diversified households. The groups have in general not adopted new coping strategies outside of classic strategies: agricultural diversification, migration and breeding. A weak relationship between coping strategies and the north–south rainfall gradient was found.