Senegal

Republic of SenegalRepublique du Senegal

republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 4 April 1960 (from France)

Senegal as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 126 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, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Populationas each edition published it

10.85 million July 2004 est. · 7.71m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.52% 2004 est. · 3.1% in 1993

Median ageyears

18 years 2004 est. · 17.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

56.56 years 2004 est. · 56.01 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.84 children per woman 2004 est. · 6.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

56.53 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 87 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,600 2003 est. · $780 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.5% 2003 est. · 1.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 196,190 sq km

arable land 12.78%permanent crops 0.21%other 87.01% (2001)irrigated 710 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

196,190sq km

land: 192,000 sq kmwater: 4,190 sq kmslightly smaller than South Dakota

Coastline

531km

territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Highest point

581m

unnamed feature near Nepen Diakhalowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

14 00 N, 14 00 W

Map references

Africa

Climate

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

Terrain

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Natural resources

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Natural hazards

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues

wildlife populations threatened by poaching;
deforestation;
overgrazing;
soil erosion;
desertification;
overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note

westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

People

19 fields

Population

10,852,147

(July 2004 est.)growth rate: 2.52% (2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth

35.72Death

10.74Net migration

0.2

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)56.56

54.94 · 58.23Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)56.53

60.25 · 52.71

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)40.2%

50% · 30.7%Median age years (2004 est.)18

17.4 · 18.5

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Wolof 43.3%Pular 23.8%Serer 14.7%Jola 3.7%Mandinka 3%Soninke 1.1%European and Lebanese 1%other 9.4%

Religions

Muslim 94%indigenous beliefs 1%Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8%

(2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43.2% (male 2,368,011; female 2,325,298)
15-64 years:: 53.7% (male 2,803,192; female 3,025,304)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 158,881; female 171,461) (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.84 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

44,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,500 (2003 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule; President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000); Prime Minister Macky SALL (since 21 April 2004)

18 fields

Presidential election, second roundpercent of vote

58.49%

Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%Abdou DIOUF (PS) 41.51%election last held 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 120 seats, elected 29 April 2001one dot, one seat

SOPI Coalition 89AFP 11PS 10other 10

Country name

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

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital

Dakar

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Constitution

a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001

Legal system

based on French civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court;
the Council of State audits the government's accounting office;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government:: Prime Minister Macky SALL (since 21 April 2004)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term under new constitution;
election last held 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of vote in the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, Abdou DIOUF (PS) 41.51%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)

note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001, had 140 seats

elections:: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court;
Council of State;
Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation;
Court of Appeals;
note - the judicial system was reformed in 1992

Political parties and leaders

African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known as PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general];
African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP];
Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE];
Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM];
Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY];
Front for Socialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE];
Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS];
Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO];
National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF];
Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG];
SOPI Coalition (a coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE];
Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA];
other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

labor;
Muslim brotherhoods;
students;
teachers

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA
chancery:: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-0540
FAX:: [1] (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Richard Alan ROTH
embassy:: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address:: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone:: [221] 823-4296
FAX:: [221] 822-2991

Flag description

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 January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community.

44 fields

Real growth rate

5.5%

(2003 est.)industrial production growth: 2.9% (2003 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

48%

(urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

54%

(2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2003 est.)

agriculture 16.8%industry 27.2%services 56% (2003 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

12.2%

France

24.9%

13%

India

Nigeria

12.2%

9.5%

Mali

8.5%

Italy

Thailand

6.7%

5.4%

Cote d'Ivoire

Spain

4.3%

Exports $1.23 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)Imports $1.753 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)(2003)

Budget

Revenues

$1.304 billionExpenditures

$1.367 billion (2003 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $357 million

Electricity

Electricity production

1.518 billion (2001)Electricity consumption

1.412 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled.

After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during 1995-2003. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff.

Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17.09 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.3% of GDP (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.3 (1995)

Labor force

4.62 million NA (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 70%

Public debt

54.2% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products

peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables;
cattle, poultry, pigs;
fish

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Natural gas - production

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance

$-389 million (2003)

Exports

$1.23 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Imports

$1.753 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$780 million (2003)

Debt - external

$3.009 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$362.6 million (2002 est.)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code

XOF

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

575,900

(2003)

Internet users

672

(2003)

Fixed lines

228,800

(2003) · country code .sn

Telephone system

general assessment:: good system
domestic:: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international:: country code - 221;
4 submarine cables;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Internet users

225,000 (2003)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 9Unpaved 11

Networkskm

Highways

14,576Railways

906Waterways

1,000 (2003)

Highways: paved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expressways · unpaved: 10,305 km (2000) · Railways: narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2003) · Waterways: (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers)