Senegal

Republic of SenegalRepublique du Senegal

republicIndependence 4 April 1960 (from France)

Senegal as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 164 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
13.98 million July 2015 est. · 7.71m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.45% 2015 est. · 3.1% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.5 years 2015 est. · 17.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
61.32 years 2015 est. · 56.01 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.44 children per woman 2015 est. · 6.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
51.54 deaths per 1,000 live births 2015 est. · 87 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,300 2014 est. · $780 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.5% 2014 est. · 1.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. 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 implemented, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance 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 and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000. He was reelected in 2007 and during his two terms amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition.

His decision to run for a third presidential term sparked a large public backlash that led to his defeat in a March 2012 runoff election with Macky SALL, a former ally and prime minister. Since taking office, SALL has launched an economic reform program aimed at boosting economic growth, and his administration has conducted corruption investigations against senior figures in WADE's government.

Geography

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

20 fields
Area
196,722sq km
land: 192,530 sq kmwater: 4,192 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 88slightly 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
2,684km
border countries (5): The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 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

Land use

agricultural land:
46.8%;
  • arable land 17.4%;
  • permanent crops 0.3%;
  • permanent pasture 29.1%
forest:
43.8%
other:
9.4% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

1,197 sq km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita:
221.6 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 and Society

35 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)

184,196
65 and over2.92%
224,543
233,892
55-643.84%
303,394
1,960,745
25-5430.67%
2,325,620
1,420,180
15-2420.4%
1,431,571
2,960,395
0-1442.16%
2,931,298
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 87.6% · youth dependency ratio: 82.1% · elderly dependency ratio: 5.5% · potential support ratio: 18.2% (2015 est.)
Population
13,975,834
(July 2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 73growth rate: 2.45% (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 29

Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)

Birth
34.52Death
8.46Net migration
-1.59

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2015 est.)61.32
59.29 · 63.42Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)51.54
57.62 · 45.29Literacy (2015 est.)57.7%
69.7% · 46.6%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2015 est.)18.5
17.7 · 19.4School life expectancy years (2010)8
8 · 8Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2006 est.)14.8%
11.9% · 20.1%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 195 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 34 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 77

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% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods)Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)indigenous beliefs 1%
Urban population
43.7%of total population
(2015)rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population: DAKAR (capital) 3.52 million (2015)
Improved drinking water
78.5%of population
urban: 92.9% of populationrural: 67.3% of populationurban: 7.1% of populationrural: 32.7% of populationtotal: 21.5% of population (2015 est.)
Improved sanitation
47.6%of population
urban: 65.4% of populationrural: 33.8% of populationurban: 34.6% of populationrural: 66.2% of populationtotal: 52.4% of population (2015 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.3%
(2014)country comparison to the world: 145

Nationality

noun:
Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Senegalese

Languages

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

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.84 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.82 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.44 children born/woman (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Health expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2013) country comparison to the world: 141

Physicians density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2008)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.53% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

44,000 (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,400 (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:
rabies (2013)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.8% (2013) country comparison to the world: 40

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 53

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number:
657,216
percentage:
22% (2005 est.)

Government

Republic; President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012); Prime Minister Mohammed Abdallah Boun DIONNE (since 4 July 2014)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

65.8%
Macky SALL ( Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar ) 65.8%Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 34.2%election last held on 26 February 2012 with a runoff on 25 March 2012 (next to be held in 2019)

National Assembly results, 150 seatsone dot, one seat

Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition 119PDS 12Bokk Giss Giss coalition 4MCRN-Bes Du Nakk 4PVD 2MRDS 2URD 1AJ/PADS 1other 5

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 44 N, 17 38 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

  • previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963;
  • latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001;
  • amended many times, last in 2009 (2014)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012)
head of government:
Prime Minister Mohammed Abdallah Boun DIONNE (since 4 July 2014)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections/appointments:
  • president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term);
  • election last held on 26 February 2012 with a runoff on 25 March 2012 (next to be held in 2019);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
Macky SALL elected president; percent of vote in runoff - Macky SALL ( Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar ) 65.8%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 34.2%

Legislative branch

description:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 60 directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
National Assembly - last held on 1 July 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:
  • National Assembly results - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition 119, PDS 12, Bokk Giss Giss coalition 4, MCRN-Bes Du Nakk 4, PVD 2, MRDS 2, URD 1, AJ/PADS 1, other 5

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
  • Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges);
  • Constitutional Council (consists of 5 members including the court president, vice-president, and 3 judges)
judge selection and term of office:
  • Court of Final Appeals judges' appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Higher Council of the Judiciary, a body chaired by the president of the republic;
  • judge tenure NA;
  • Constitutional Council members appointed by the president of the republic to serve 6-year terms with renewal of 3 members every 2 years
subordinate courts:
  • High Court of Justice (for crime of high treason by president);
  • Supreme Court (for abuses by government executives and local officials);
  • Court of Auditors;
  • Courts of Appeal;
  • Assize Courts (4);
  • Regional and District Courts, Labor Court

Political parties and leaders

  • 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 [Mamadou DIOP, Landing SAVANE]
  • Benno Bokk Yakaar coaltion [Macky SALL]
  • Benno Siggil Senegal (a coalition of opposition parties)
  • Bokk Giss Giss coalition [pape DIOP]
  • Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk
  • Convergence Democratique ‘BOKK GIS GIS’ (Common Vision) Pape DIOP
  • Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Mamadou NDOYE]
  • 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 [Magette THIAM]
  • People's Labor Party or PTP [El Hadji DIOUF]
  • Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]
  • Republican Movement for Socialism and Democracy or MRDS
  • Rewmi Party [Idrissa SECK]
  • Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]
  • Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]
  • Union Centriste du Senegal or UCS [Abdoulaye BALDE']
  • 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, CD, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Babacar DIAGNE (since 18 November 2014)
embassy:
2215 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 234-0540
FAX:
[1] (202) 629-2961
consulate(s) general:
Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador James P. Zumwalt (since 9 January 2015); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
embassy:
Route des Almadies, Dakar
mailing address:
B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone:
[221] 33-879-4000
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 symbol(s)

lion; national colors: green, yellow, red

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

Economy

Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture which is the primary source of employment in rural areas.

39 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$33.61billion
(2014 est.) · $32.15 billion (2013 est.) · $31.06 billion (2012 est.)note: data are in 2014 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 119official exchange rate: $15.58 billion (2014 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,300
(2014 est.) · $2,200 (2013 est.) · $2,100 (2012 est.)note: data are in 2014 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 199
Real growth rate
4.5%
(2014 est.) · 3.5% (2013 est.) · 3.4% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 59industrial production growth: 5.2% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 50
Inflation, consumer prices
-0.5%
(2014 est.) · 0.7% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 14

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)

agriculture 15.6%industry 23.8%services 60.6% (2014 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

4.6%
France
18.4%
16%
Mali
10.5%
Switzerland
Nigeria
8.7%
China
7.7%
Netherlands
6.3%
India
5.8%
5.2%
UAE
Turkey
4.6%
Belgium
4.3%
Exports $2.462 billion (2014 est.)Imports $5.481 billion (2014 est.)(2014)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
73.1%Government consumption
16.6%Fixed capital
23.5%Inventories
4.2%Exports
21.1%Imports
-38.5%
(2014 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$3.844 billionExpenditures
$4.662 billion (2014 est.)

Economy - overview

Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture which is the primary source of employment in rural areas. The country's key export industries include phosphate mining, fertilizer production, agricultural products and commercial fishing and it is also working on oil exploration projects.

Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. President Macky SALL, who was elected in March 2012 under a reformist policy agenda, inherited an economy with high energy costs, a challenging business environment, and a culture of overspending.

Senegal received technical support from the IMF in 2010-2014 under a Policy Support Instrument to assist economic reform through sound macroeconomic and fiscal policies to reduce the fiscal deficit, increase transparency and facilitate private investment. President SALL unveiled an ambitious economic plan, the Emerging Senegal Plan, which aims to implement priority economic reforms and investment projects to increase economic growth.

Bureaucratic bottlenecks and a challenging business climate are among the perennial challenges that may slow the implementation of this plan. Investors have signaled confidence in the country through Senegal’s successful Eurobond issuances in recent years, including in 2014.

Gross national saving

17.4% of GDP (2014 est.) · 16.4% of GDP (2013 est.) · 19% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

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, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Labor force

6.326 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

48% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.5%
highest 10%:
31.1% (2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.3 (2011) · 40.3 (2011) country comparison to the world: 52

Taxes and other revenues

24.2% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.2% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Public debt

47.5% of GDP (2014 est.) · 43.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

0.25% (31 December 2010) · 4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 147

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.3% (31 December 2014 est.) · 14% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Stock of narrow money

$4.086 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $4.177 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Stock of broad money

$6.443 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $6.574 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Stock of domestic credit

$5.549 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $5.394 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Current account balance

-$1.602 billion (2014 est.) · -$1.598 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Exports

$2.462 billion (2014 est.) · $2.563 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$5.481 billion (2014 est.) · $5.698 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.95 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $2.253 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Debt - external

$5.747 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $4.91 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 494.4 (2014 est.) · 494 (2013 est.) · 510.53 (2012 est.) · 471.87 (2011 est.) · 495.28 (2010)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 623,000 kW(2011 est.)

Fossil fuels 99.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)Other renewable sources 0.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Hydroelectric plants 0%
Electricity production
3.148 billion (2012 est.)Electricity consumption
2.586 billion (2012 est.)Refined petroleum imports
23,760 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
43,720 (2013 est.)Refined petroleum production
35,800 (2011 est.)Refined petroleum exports
562 (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Crude oil - imports

15,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas - production

20.48 million cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas - consumption

20.48 million cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.139 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Communications

8 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)

105Mobile cellular
22.0%Internet users, % of population
2Fixed lines
Mobile cellular
14.4 million
(2014 est.)
Internet users
3 million
(2014 est.)
Fixed lines
310,000
(2014 est.) · 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) (2010)

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;
  • many community and private-broadcast radio stations are available;
  • transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
over 3,047 m
6
1,524 to 2,437 m
7
1
914 to 1,523 m
3
Paved 9Unpaved 111 (2013)

Networkskm

Roadways
15,000Railways
906Waterways
1,000 (2012)
Roadways: paved: 5,300 km (includes 7 km of expressways) · unpaved: 9,700 km (2015) · Railways: narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) · Waterways: (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers)

Airports

20 (2013) country comparison to the world: 136

Pipelines

gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2013)

Railways

total:
906 km
narrow gauge:
906 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

country comparison to the world: 92

Roadways

total:
15,000 km
paved:
5,300 km (includes 7 km of expressways)
unpaved:
9,700 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 125

Waterways

1,000 km (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers) (2012) country comparison to the world: 64

Merchant marine

total:
1
by type:
passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 154

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Dakar

Military

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2013)

5 fields

Military branches

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

  • 18 years of age for voluntary military service;
  • 20 years of age for selective conscript service;
  • 2-year service obligation;
  • women have been accepted into military service since 2008 (2013)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
2,699,196
females age 16-49:
3,018,565 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
1,788,493
females age 16-49:
2,133,370 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
145,509
female:
145,064 (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 southern Senegal's Casamance region

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
13,699 (Mauritania) (2014)
IDPs:
up to 24,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2014)

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 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/senegal/2015.