Senegal

Republic of SenegalRepublique du Senegal

republicIndependence 4 April 1960 (from France)

Senegal as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 136 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
12.32 million July 2010 est. · 7.71m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.579% 2010 est. · 3.1% in 1993
Median ageyears
17.9 years 2010 est. · 17.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
59.38 years 2010 est. · 56.01 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.86 children per woman 2010 est. · 6.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
57.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 2010 est. · 87 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,900 2010 est. · $780 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.9% 2010 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. 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 and has amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and to weaken the opposition, part of the President's increasingly autocratic governing style. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation.

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 elevation southwest of Kedougoulowest 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

23 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2010 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
12,323,252
(July 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 71growth rate: 2.579% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 28

Per 1,000 population

Birth
37.27 (2010 est.)Death
9.49 (July 2010 est.)Net migration
-1.99 (2010 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2010 est.)59.38
57.48 · 61.34Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)57.7
64.34 · 50.86Literacy (2002 est.)39.3%
51.1% · 29.2%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2010 est.)17.9
17.1 · 18.7School life expectancy years (2008)8
8 · 7
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 189 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 36 · 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:
0.87 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.86 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

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

5.1% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 64

Government

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

19 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; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
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 members indirectly elected and 65 members appointed by the president) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote and 60 elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms)

elections:
  • Senate - last held on 19 August 2007 (next to be held - NA);
  • National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held in 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 for 3 June 2007;
  • the 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];
  • Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE];
  • And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE];
  • 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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Fatou Danielle DIAGNE
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;
  • green represents Islam, progress, and hope;
  • yellow signifies natural wealth and progress;
  • red symbolizes sacrifice and determination;
  • the star denotes unity and hope

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

National anthem

name:
"Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
lyrics/music:
Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER

note: adopted 1960; the lyrics were written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal"s first president; the anthem is sometimes played incorporating the Koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and Balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title

Economy

Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance.

48 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$23.86billion
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 117$22.96 billion (2009 est.) · $22.56 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $12.66 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,900
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 191$1,900 (2009 est.) · $1,900 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real growth rate
3.9%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 861.8% (2009 est.) · 3.3% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: 3.8% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 89
Inflation, consumer prices
1.2%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 28-1% (2009 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)

agriculture 14.9%industry 21.4%services 63.6% (2010 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

20.12%
Mali
5.02%
France
19.58%
9.84%
India
UK
9.64%
China
8.08%
Netherlands
5.64%
5.58%
Gambia
Thailand
4.75%
4.23%
Italy
US
3.97%
Exports $2.112 billion (2010 est.)Imports $4.474 billion (2010 est.)(2009)

Electricity

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

Economy - overview

Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance. The country's key export industries are phosphate mining, fertilizer production, and commercial fishing. The country is also working on iron ore and oil exploration projects. In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community.

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.

The country was adversely affected by the global economic downturn in 2009 and GDP growth fell below 2%. 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. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal 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 which was completed in 2010. Senegal received its first disbursement from the $540 million Millennium Challenge Account compact it signed in September 2009 for infrastructure and agriculture development.

In 2010, the Senegalese people protested against frequent power cuts. The government pledged to expand capacity by 2012 and to promote renewable energy but until Senegal has more capacity, more protests are likely and economic activity will be hindered. During the year, bakers protested government price controls on bread.

Foreign investment in Senegal is constrained by Senegal's business environment, which has slipped in recent years, and by perceptions of corruption.

Labor force

5.53 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

48% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

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: 55

Investment (gross fixed)

25.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Public debt

32.1% of GDP (2010 est.) · 29.6% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) · 4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95

Stock of narrow money

$2.8 billion (31 December 2010 est) · $2.903 billion (31 December 2009 est) country comparison to the world: 112

Stock of broad money

$4.603 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $4.745 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Stock of domestic credit

$3.516 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.412 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

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: 132

Oil - consumption

39,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - exports

5,653 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Oil - imports

42,850 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

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 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - proved reserves

NA cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.046 billion (2010 est.) · -$1.356 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Exports

$2.112 billion (2010 est.) · $1.902 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$4.474 billion (2010 est.) · $4.549 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.123 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Debt - external

$3.885 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.462 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71 (2010), 470.9 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006)

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
6.902 million
(2009)
Fixed lines
278,800
(2009) · country code .sn

Telephone system

general assessment:
good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk 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
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)

Broadcast media

  • state-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) operates 2 TV stations;
  • a few private TV subscription channels rebroadcast foreign channels without providing any local news or programs;
  • RTS operates a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations;
  • a large number of community and private-broadcast radio stations are available;
  • transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar (2007)

Internet users

1.818 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 76

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
2
1 (2010)

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

20 (2010) country comparison to the world: 135

Pipelines

gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2009)

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

Merchant marine

total:
1

country comparison to the world: 155

by type:
passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

Military

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2009)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.4%of GDP
(2005 est.)country comparison to the world: 111

Military branches

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2009)

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:
3,211,279
females age 16-49:
3,250,128 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
2,109,080
females age 16-49:
2,287,510 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
157,468
female:
156,689 (2010 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 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/senegal/2010.