Senegal Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Senegal, State of West Africa; 196,000 km², 15.8 million residents (2019).Senegal borders in the north to Mauritania, in the east to Mali and in the south to Guinea and Guinea-Bissau and to the west coast to the Atlantic and encompasses the Gambia. The capital is Dakar (2.6 million residents, 2014).

Country facts

Republic of Senegal / Republic of Senegal
Country abbreviation: SN
Area: 196 000 km²
Population (2019): 15.8 million residents
Capital: Dakar
Main languages: wolof, French
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: Macky Sall (President)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 1,522
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 1,410
Currency unit: 1 CFA franc = 100 centimes
Currency code: XOF
Country number (telephony): 221
Internet domain name: sn
Time difference compared to Sweden: −1
National Day: April 4 (Independence Day, 1960)

Nature

Land use: forest (40%), agricultural land (12%), other (48%)
Highest mountain: unnamed place (581 m asl)
Longest river: Senegal (1,700 km)

Population

Population density (2019): 81 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 2.8%; birthrate 34 ‰, deathrate 6 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (43%), 15-64 (54%), 65- (3%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 65 years, women 69 years
Infant mortality (2019): 42 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 33 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.505 (place 164 of 188)
Urbanization rate (2019): 46%
Most populous city (2015): Dakar (2.6 million residents)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (17%), industry (24%), service (59%)
Exports of goods (2017): USD 2 362 million
Main export products: fish preserves, peanuts, oil products
Main exporting countries: Mali, Switzerland, India
Imports of goods (2017): US $ 5,217 million
Main import products: food, capital goods, fuel
Main importing countries: France, China, Nigeria
Railway network (2017): 900 km

Senegal consists largely of lowland. Exceptions include the Cape Verde peninsula, which consists of a number of small plateaus, and southeastern Senegal which is highland. Among the rivers, Senegal is the most important. The country’s climate is determined by its location within the tropical zone. Along the coast, winter is cool, 17 °C as the average temperature in January and 27 °C in the summer, while in the southern parts it is humid and hot, 24-38 °C, with a rainfall of up to 1,500 mm per year.

According to the constitution, the executive power is exercised by the president, who is elected for seven years. Legislative power is exercised by a national assembly elected for five years. The country became independent in 1960.

Senegal has for a long time experienced high inflation and high unemployment and has been affected by recurring dry periods. Agriculture, mainly peanut farming, and fishing form the basis of the economy. Senegal is heavily dependent on foreign (especially French) aid.