Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
1 (2002)
Internet country code [time series]
.sn
Internet users [time series]
100,000 (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: good system 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 - main lines in use) [time series]
234,916 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
373,965 (2001)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $1.373 billion expenditures: $1.373 billion, including capital expenditures of $357 million (2002 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
XOF
Debt - external [time series]
$3.1 billion (2002 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
41.3 (1995)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$362.6 million (2002 est.)
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 was 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 during 1995-2002. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1%, but rose to an estimated 3.3% in 2001 and 3.0% in 2002. 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 (WAEMU), 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. In 2003, GDP will probably again grow at about 5%. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
1.412 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production [time series]
1.518 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Exports [time series]
$1.15 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners [time series]
India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $15.64 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 18% industry: 27% services: 55% (2001 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2002 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2.4% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Imports [time series]
$1.46 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners [time series]
France 25.6%, Nigeria 8.7%, Thailand 7.2%, US 5.4%, Germany 5.4%, Italy 4.5%, Spain 4% (2002)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
8.1% (2002 est.)
Industries [time series]
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture 70%
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - production [time series]
50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption [time series]
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports [time series]
NA (2001)
Oil - imports [time series]
NA (2001)
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
54% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)
Geography
total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
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 [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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 [time series]
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
Irrigated land [time series]
710 sq km (1998 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: 11.58% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 88.23% (1998 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 territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 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 note: there may be another region called Matam
Capital [time series]
Dakar
Constitution [time series]
a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet L. ELAM-THOMAS embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 823-4296 FAX: [221] 822-2991
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315 consulate(s) general: New York telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Idrissa SECK (since 4 November 2002) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president election results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of vote in the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, Abdou DIOUF (PS) 41.51% elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term under new constitution; election last held 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
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
International organization participation [time series]
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Judicial branch [time series]
Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system was reformed in 1992
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10 note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001, had 140 seats
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known as PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for Socialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (a coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$68.6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
1.4% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability [time series]
males age 15-49: 2,404,838 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]
males age 15-49: 1,256,973 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age [time series]
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]
males: 116,688 (2003 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,330,395; female 2,289,706) 15-64 years: 53.3% (male 2,707,195; female 2,929,998) 65 years and over: 3% (male 156,514; female 166,499) (2003 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate [time series]
10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
2,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
27,000 (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 57.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 61.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 56.37 years male: 54.83 years female: 57.95 years (2003 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.2% male: 50% female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 17.8 years male: 17.2 years female: 18.4 years (2002)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Net migration rate [time series]
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Population [time series]
10,580,307 (July 2003 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.56% (2003 est.)
Religions [time series]
Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and political instability in Guinea-Bissau
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 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expressways unpaved: 10,305 km (2000)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 564 km (2003)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Railways [time series]
total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2002)
Waterways [time series]
897 km note: 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river