Senegal

Republic of SenegalRepublique du Senegal

republicIndependence 4 April 1960 (from France)

Senegal as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 135 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, UTC
Position14 00 N, 14 00 W
Area196,722 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Populationas each edition published it
13.71 million July 2009 est. · 7.71m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.709% 2009 est. · 3.1% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.6 years 2009 est. · 17.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
59 years 2009 est. · 56.01 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.95 children per woman 2009 est. · 6.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
58.94 deaths per 1,000 live births 2009 est. · 87 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,600 2008 est. · $780 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.5% 2008 est. · 1.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict.

Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February 2007, but complaints of fraud led opposition parties to boycott June 2007 legislative polls. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 196,722 sq km

arable land 12.51%permanent crops 0.24%other 87.25% (2005)irrigated 1,200 sq km (2003)
Area
196,722sq km
country comparison to the world: 87land: 192,530 sq kmwater: 4,192 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita:
190 cu m/yr (2002)

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
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

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

People

22 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)

190,343
65 and over3%
217,462
3,728,664
15-6454.8%
3,786,000
2,911,324
0-1442.2%
2,877,804
MaleFemale
Population
13,711,597
(July 2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 67growth rate: 2.709% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 22

Per 1,000 population

Birth
36.84 (2009 est.)Death
9.75 (July 2009 est.)Net migration
0 (2009 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2009 est.)59
57.12 · 60.93Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)58.94
65.7 · 51.98
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2002 est.)39.3%
51.1% · 29.2%Median age years (2009 est.)18.6
18.4 · 18.8
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 186 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 40 · Literacy 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%Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)indigenous beliefs 1%
Urban population
42%of total population
(2008)rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1%
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 54

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.88 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.95 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

67,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:
rabies (2009)

Nationality

noun:
Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Senegalese

Languages

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

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 74

Government

Republic; President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000); Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1 May 2009)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

55.9%
Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%Idrissa SECK 14.9%Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%other 9.7%election last held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

Senate results, 150 seatsone dot, one seat

SOPI Coalition 131other 19

Country name

conventional long form:
Republic of Senegal
conventional short form:
Senegal
local long form:
Republique du Senegal
local short form:
Senegal
former:
Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation

Capital

name:
Dakar
geographic coordinates:
14 40 N, 17 26 W
time difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Constitution

adopted 7 January 2001

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government:
Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1 May 2009)
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 (eligible for a second term) under new constitution;
  • election last held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
Abdoulaye WADE reelected president; percent of vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate, reinstituted in 2007, (100 seats; 35 indirectly elected with the remaining 65 members to be appointed by the president) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote with the remaining members elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms)

elections:
  • Senate - last held 19 August 2007 (next to be held - NA);
  • National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held 2012);
  • note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006;
  • legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25 February 2007 presidential elections and later rescheduled for 3 June 2007;
  • the June election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party, which resulted in a record-low 35% voter turnout
election results:
  • Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - PDS 34, AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president;
  • National Assembly results - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - SOPI Coalition 131, other 19

Judicial branch

  • Constitutional Court;
  • Council of State;
  • Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation;
  • Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders

  • African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP];
  • Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar [Macky Sall];
  • And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE];
  • Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE];
  • Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY];
  • Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE];
  • Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS];
  • Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO];
  • Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA];
  • National Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF];
  • People's Labor Party or PTP [El Hadji DIOUF];
  • Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE];
  • Rewmi Party [Idrissa Seck];
  • Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
  • Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG];
  • SOPI Coalition [Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS);
  • Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other:
  • labor;
  • students;
  • Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes;
  • teachers

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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:
Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Marcia S. BERNICAT
embassy:
Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address:
B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone:
[221] 33-829-2100
FAX:
[221] 33-822-2991

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.

49 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$21.78billion
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 118$21.25 billion (2007 est.) · $20.27 billion (2006 est.)note: data are in 2008 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $13.35 billion (2008 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,600
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 196$1,600 (2007 est.) · $1,600 (2006 est.)note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Real growth rate
2.5%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 1414.8% (2007 est.) · 2.3% (2006 est.)industrial production growth: 4.5% (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 59
Inflation, consumer prices
5.8%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 985.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2008 est.)

agriculture 16.1%industry 19.3%services 64.6% (2008 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$3.077 billionExpenditures
$3.802 billion (2008 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
1.88 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
1.384 billion (2007 est.)

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 over 5% annually during 1995-2008. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the 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 and a more stable monetary policy.

High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in 2006 and 2007. The phosphate industry has struggled for two years to secure capital, and reduced output has directly impacted GDP. In 2007, Senegal signed agreements for major new mining concessions for iron, zircon, and gold with foreign companies.

Firms from Dubai have agreed to manage and modernize Dakar's maritime port, and create a new special economic zone. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal has benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program.

Labor force

4.973 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
77.5%
industry and services:
22.5% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate

48% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.5%
highest 10%:
30.1% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.3 (2001) · 41.3 (1995) country comparison to the world: 57

Investment (gross fixed)

25.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Public debt

21.4% of GDP (2008 est.) · 55.2% of GDP (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Central bank discount rate

4.75% (31 December 2008) · 4.25% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 119

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2008) · NA% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$NA (31 December 2008); $2.842 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$NA (31 December 2008); $1.579 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008); $2.97 billion (31 December 2007)

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;
  • iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Oil - consumption

38,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - exports

5,653 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - imports

42,850 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - production

50 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - consumption

50 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m country comparison to the world: 139

Current account balance

-$975 million (2008 est.) · -$1.18 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Exports

$2.053 billion (2008 est.) · $1.65 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Mali 19.6%, India 7.2%, France 5.5%, Gambia, The 5.4%, Italy 4.9% (2008)

Imports

$4.263 billion (2008 est.) · $3.732 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners

France 19.7%, UK 15.2%, China 6.7%, Belgium 4.6%, Thailand 4.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.601 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $1.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Debt - external

$2.627 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $2.19 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)

note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF),

and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
5.389 million
(2008)
Fixed lines
237,800
(2008) · country code .sn

Telephone system

general assessment:
good system
domestic:
  • above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network;
  • nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a call-center industry is emerging;
  • expansion of fixed-line services in rural areas needed;
  • mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly;
  • microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international:
  • country code - 221;
  • the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America;
  • satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Internet users

1.02 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 86

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
2
1 (2009)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
1

Networkskm

Roadways
13,576Railways
906Waterways
1,000 (2008)
Roadways: paved: 3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways) · unpaved: 9,604 km (2003) · Railways: narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2008) · Waterways: (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers)

Airports

19 (2009) country comparison to the world: 136

Pipelines

gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2008)

Railways

total:
906 km

country comparison to the world: 94

narrow gauge:
906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2008)

Roadways

total:
13,576 km

country comparison to the world: 127

paved:
3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways)
unpaved:
9,604 km (2003)

Waterways

1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2008) country comparison to the world: 64

Military

Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2008)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.4%of GDP
(2005 est.)country comparison to the world: 115

Military branches

Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2008)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
2,943,619
females age 16-49:
2,955,179 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
2,038,508
females age 16-49:
2,207,510 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
154,249
female:
153,679 (2009 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

  • The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict;
  • 2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
19,630 (Mauritania)
IDPs:
22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in 2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)

Illicit drugs

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

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Senegal.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/senegal/2009.