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Senegal
Senegal
Population
18.5M
Rank #68Source: World Bank
Capital
Dakar
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$32.81B
Rank #109Source: World Bank
Land Area
196.7K km²
Rank #87Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
68.683 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 196,722 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
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
Elevation: mean elevation: 69 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m
Natural Hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environmental Issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; periodic droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental protective laws; wildlife populations threatened by poaching
Land Use: agricultural land: 46.8% (2011 est.) forest: 43.8% (2011 est.) other: 9.4% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal
Natural Resources
fishphosphatesiron ore
People & Society
Fertility Rate
3.82
Population
18.5M
Ethnic Groups
Wolof (37.1%)Pular (26.2%)Serer (17%)Mandinka (5.6%)Jola (4.5%)Soninke (1.4%)other (8.3%)
Religions
Muslim (95.9%)Christian (4.1%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$1,773.218
GDP per Capita PPP
5,070.649
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
1,680
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
36.2
(2021)
(2021)
Unemployment
2.788%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
0.805%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
74.2%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
35.4%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
14.202 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
3.58 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
13.292%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
41.283% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
60.612%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
123.912%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
1.974%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
9.986 M ton-km
(2022)
(2022)
Container Port Traffic
738,000 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
10,655
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
47,313 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal), National Gendarmerie (includes Territorial and Mobile components)
Personnel Strength
the Senegalese Armed Forces (SAF) consist of approximately 19,000 active personnel (12,000 Army; 1,000 Navy/Coast Guard; 800 Air Force; 5,000 National Gendarmerie)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.51B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.57%
Military Expenditure History
1.5% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2018) 1.5% of GDP (2017) 1.6% of GDP (2016) 1.2% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
1,000 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
the SAF inventory includes mostly older or second-hand equipment from a variety of countries, including France, South Africa, and Russia/former Soviet Union; in recent years, the SAF has attempted to...
Service Age & 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
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
17.58%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
85.328%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
44.067%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
15.33%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
6.163% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
50.36%
(2023)
(2023)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
36.318:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.109
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Water Access
88.044%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
27.193%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
38.5 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
15.899 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
65.944
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
48
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
91%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
17.9%
(2021)
(2021)
Food Insecurity
5.1%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
7.553%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
41.212%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.13
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.14
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.07
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.34
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.27
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
0.06
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
civil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012) head of government: President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (165 seats; 105 members including 15 representing Senegalese diaspora directly elected by plurality vote in single- and multi-seat...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
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...
Safety
Homicide Rate
0.268 per 100,000
(2015)
(2015)
Travel Information
Language(s): French
Currency: XOF (Fr)
Timezone(s): UTC
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +221
Car Sign: SN
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
In the 1940s, Dakar occupied just the southern tip of the Cap Vert Peninsula. Today, the cityscape has sprawled both northward and eastward. In the southern part of this satellite view, piers from the peninsula protrude into the ocean, looking like rows of jagged teeth. Throughout the southern portion of the peninsula, gray hues, straight lines, and sharp angles reveal paved roads and buildings spreading toward the north. In the northwest, a long, straight line outlined by green indicates the runway of Dakar's airport. East of the airport, a large area of green reveals Technopole, a protected area and popular bird-watching destination. Photo courtesy of NASA.
In the 1940s, Dakar occupied just the southern tip of the Cap Vert Peninsula. Today, the cityscape has sprawled both northward and eastward. In the southern part of this satellite view, piers from the peninsula protrude into the ocean, looking like rows of jagged teeth. Throughout the southern portion of the peninsula, gray hues, straight lines, and sharp angles reveal paved roads and buildings spreading toward the north. In the northwest, a long, straight line outlined by green indicates the runway of Dakar's airport. East of the airport, a large area of green reveals Technopole, a protected area and popular bird-watching destination. Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data