ARCHIVE // SN // 1999
Senegal
1999 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 8, FM 6, shortwave 1
Radios
[time series]
850,000 (1993 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
81,988 (1995 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
1 (1997)
Televisions
[time series]
61,000 (1993 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture--products)
[time series]
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $885 million expenditures: $885 million, including capital expenditures of $125 million (1996 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Debt - external
(Debt--external)
[time series]
$3.8 billion (1997)
Economic aid
(Economic aid--recipient)
[time series]
$647.5 million (1995)
Economic overview
(Economy--overview)
[time series]
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 is 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 5% annually in 1995-98. Annual inflation has been pushed below 2%, and the fiscal deficit has been cut to less than 1.5% of GDP. Investment rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction. Forecasters predict growth will continue in the 5% range in 1999-2000.
Electricity - consumption
(Electricity--consumption)
[time series]
730 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports
(Electricity--exports)
[time series]
0 kWh (1997)
Electricity - imports
(Electricity--imports)
[time series]
0 kWh (1997)
Electricity - production
(Electricity--production)
[time series]
1.027 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity - production by source
(Electricity--production by source)
[time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1966), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Exports
[time series]
$925 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities
(Exports--commodities)
[time series]
fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners
(Exports--partners)
[time series]
France 20%, other EU countries, India, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali (1996)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity--$15.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP--composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 19% industry: 17% services: 64% (1996 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP--per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity?$1,600 (1998 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP--real growth rate)
[time series]
5.7% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)
Imports
[time series]
$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities
(Imports--commodities)
[time series]
foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners
(Imports--partners)
[time series]
France 36%, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, US, China, Japan (1996)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
7% (1998 est.)
Industries
[time series]
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
1.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation
(Labor force--by occupation)
[time series]
agriculture 60%
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate
[time series]
NA%; urban youth 40%
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative
(Area--comparative)
[time series]
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Climate
[time series]
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Coastline
[time series]
531 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Environment - current issues
(Environment--current issues)
[time series]
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
International environmental agreements
(Environment--international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Geography - note
(Geography--note)
[time series]
The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
Irrigated land
[time series]
710 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 54% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Location
[time series]
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Map references
[time series]
Africa
Maritime claims
[time series]
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Natural resources
[time series]
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Terrain
[time series]
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
10 regions (regions, singular--region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Capital
[time series]
Dakar
Constitution
[time series]
3 March 1963, revised 1991
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal
Data code
[time series]
SG
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr. embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Lamine LOUM (since 4 July 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of vote--Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
Government type
[time series]
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Independence
[time series]
4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 (The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
International organization participation
[time series]
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Judicial branch
[time series]
under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
Legal system
[time series]
based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PS 50.19%, PDS 19%, UDS-R 13%, And/Jef-PADS 5%, LD/MPT 4%, CDP/Garab-Gi 2%, FSD 1%, PDS-R 1%, RND 1%, BCG 1%, PIT 1% ; seats by party--PS 93, PDS 23, UDS-R 11, And-Jef/PADS 4, LD-MPT 3, CDP/Garab-Gi 1, FSD 1, PDS-R 1, RND 1, BCG 1, PIT 1
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
African Party for Democracy and secretary general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
students; teachers; labor; Muslim brotherhoods
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Military
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military expenditures - dollar figure
(Military expenditures--dollar figure)
[time series]
$68 million (1997)
Military expenditures
(Military expenditures--percent of GDP)
[time series]
1.4% (1997)
Military manpower - availability
(Military manpower--availability)
[time series]
males age 15-49: 2,096,438 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
(Military manpower--fit for military service)
[time series]
males age 15-49: 1,095,047 (1999 est.)
Military manpower - military age
(Military manpower--military age)
[time series]
18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
(Military manpower--reaching military age annually)
[time series]
males: 103,348 (1999 est.)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,403,384; female 2,416,791) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,360,113; female 2,594,278) 65 years and over: 3% (male 134,765; female 142,599) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
43.88 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
10.71 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%, Mandink 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
59.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
[time series]
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 57.83 years male: 54.95 years female: 60.78 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2% (1995 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Net migration rate
[time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
[time series]
10,051,930 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
3.32% (1999 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
6.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
(Disputes--international)
[time series]
short section of boundary with The Gambia is indefinite
Illicit drugs
[time series]
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
20 (1998 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
(Airports--with paved runways)
[time series]
total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
(Airports--with unpaved runways)
[time series]
total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km unpaved: 10,305 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT (1998 est.)
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard-Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Railways
[time series]
total: 904 km narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)
Waterways
[time series]
897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river