Senegal

Republic of SenegalRepublique du Senegal

republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 20 August 1960 (from France

Senegal as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 87 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDakar

Position14 00 N, 14 00 W

Area196,190 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

9.09 million July 1996 est. · 7.71m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.37% 1996 est. · 3.1% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

56.49 years 1996 est. · 56.01 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.31 children per woman 1996 est. · 6.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

64 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 87 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,600 1995 est. · $780 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.5% 1995 est. · 1.2% in 1993

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, | between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

15 fields

Land useshare of 196,190 sq km

arable land 27%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 30%forest and woodland 31%other 12%irrigated 1,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

196,190sq km

land area: 192,000 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Coastline

531km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

2,640km

border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

International disputes

short section of the boundary with The Gambia is indefinite; boundary with Mauritania in dispute

Climate

tropical;
hot, humid;
rainy season (December to April) has strong southeast winds;
dry season (May to November) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Terrain

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

lowest point:: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:: unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m

Environment

current issues:: wildlife populations threatened by poaching;
deforestation;
overgrazing;
soil erosion;
desertification;
overfishing
natural hazards:: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping

Geographic note

The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal

People

15 fields

Population

9,092,749

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 3.37% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

45.46Death

11.76Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years56.49

53.75 · 59.3

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy33.1%

43% · 23.2%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Wolof 36%Fulani 17%Serer 17%Toucouleur 9%Diola 9%Mandingo 9%European and Lebanese 1%other 2%

Religions

Muslim 92%indigenous beliefs 6%Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 48% (male 2,188,338; female 2,197,015)
15-64 years:: 49% (male 2,111,330; female 2,336,987)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 128,939; female 130,140) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.99 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Senegalese

Languages

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule; President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) was elected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage; Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991) was appointed by the president

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

58.4%

Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%other 9.57%

Legislature, 120 seatsone dot, one seat

PS 84PDS 27LD-MPT 3Let Us Unite Senegal 3PIT 2UDS-R 1

Name of country

conventional long form:: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form:: Senegal
local long form:: Republique du Senegal
local short form:: Senegal

Data code

Type of government

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital

Dakar

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence

20 August 1960 (from France; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Constitution

3 March 1963, revised 1991

Legal system

based on French civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court, which also audits the government's accounting office;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) was elected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000);
results - Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
head of government:: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991) was appointed by the president
cabinet:: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998);
results - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other 7%;
seats - (120 total) PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, Let Us Unite Senegal 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders

Socialist Party (PS), President Abdou DIOUF;
Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), Abdoulaye WADE;
Democratic League-Labor Party Movement (LD-MPT), Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY;
Independent Labor Party (PIT), Amath DANSOKHO;
Senegalese Democratic Union-Renewal (UDS-R), Mamadou Puritain FALL;
Let Us Unite Senegal (coalition of African Party for Democracy and Socialism and National Democratic Rally);
other small uninfluential parties

Other political or pressure groups

students;
teachers;
labor;
Muslim Brotherhoods

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK
chancery:: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-0540, 0541

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mark JOHNSON
embassy:: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address:: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone:: [221] 23 42 96, 23 34 24

FAX

[221] 22 29 91

Flag

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

In 1994 Senegal embarked on its most concerted | structural adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% devaluation of | the currencies of the 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January | of that year.

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,600

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

4.5%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

6.1%

(1995)

Labor force

2.509million

(77% are engaged in subsistence farming; 175,000 wage earners)by occupation: private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%

Budget

Revenues

$876 millionExpenditures

$197.7 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 230,000 kW

Electricity production

720 millionElectricity consumption per capita

79 (1993)

Economic overview

In 1994 Senegal embarked on its most concerted structural adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% devaluation of the currencies of the 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January of that year. After years of foot-dragging, the government has passed a liberalized labor code which should lower the cost of labor and improve the manufacturing sector's competitiveness.

Inroads also have been made in closing tax loopholes, eliminating monopoly power in several sectors, and privatizing state owned firms. At the same time, the government is holding the line on current fiscal expenditure under the watchful eyes of international organizations on which it depends for substantial support.

The IMF, in mid-1995, announced that the government met most economic targets as called for in its Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement and released the second $50 million tranche. The country's narrow resource base, environmental degradation, and untamed population growth will continue to hold back improvement in living standards over the medium term.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, petroleum refining, construction materials

Agriculture

peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables;
cattle, poultry, pigs;
fish catch of 409,000 metric tons in 1992

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

Exports

$940 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities:: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
partners:: France, other EU countries, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali

Imports

$1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities:: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum
partners:: France, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, China, Japan

External debt

$3.8 billion (1993)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $439 million (1993)

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 17 in all

over 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

13,850Railways

904Waterways

897

Highways: paved: 3,900 km · unpaved: 9,950 km (1990 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995) · Waterways: ; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum

Railways

total:: 904 km
narrow gauge:: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)

Highways

total:: 13,850 km
paved:: 3,900 km
unpaved:: 9,950 km (1990 est.)

Communications

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National | Police (Surete Nationale)

9 fields

Fixed lines

55,000

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay and cable trunk system
international:: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

males age 15-49:: 1,864,239
males fit for military service:: 973,170
males reach military age (18) annually:: 90,154 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $82 million, 2.1% of GDP (1996 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Senegal.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/senegal/1996.

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