ARCHIVE // SN // 2017

Senegal

2017 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
state-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) broadcasts TV programs from five cities in Senegal; in most regions of the country, viewers can receive TV programming from at least 7 private broadcasters; a wide range of independent TV programming is available via satellite; RTS operates a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations; at least 7 community radio stations and 18 private-broadcast radio stations are available; transmissions of at least 5 international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar (2017)
Internet country code [time series]
.sn
Internet users [time series]
total: 3,675,209 | percent of population: 25.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system | domestic: generally reliable urban system with a fiber-optic network; about two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar; mobile-cellular service is steadily displacing fixed-line service, even in urban areas | international: country code - 221; the ACE fiber-optic cable connects Senegal to Europe, the SAT-3/WASC provides fiber-optic connectivity to Europe and Asia, and Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2017)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 285,933 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 15,186,485 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $3.906 billion | expenditures: $4.535 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-4.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144
Central bank discount rate [time series]
0.25% (31 December 2010) | 4.25% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 142
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
16.4% (31 December 2016 est.) | 16.41% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31
Current account balance [time series]
$-783 million (2016 est.) | $-1.216 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122
Debt - external [time series]
$6.327 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.893 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
40.3 (2011) | country comparison to the world: 59
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture, which are the primary sources 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. For the first time in the past 12 years, Senegal reached a growth rate of 6.5% in 2015 and surpassed 6.6% in 2016, due in part to a buoyant performance in agriculture because of higher rainfall and productivity in the sector. | 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. President SALL unveiled an ambitious economic plan, the Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP), which aims to implement priority economic reforms and investment projects to increase economic growth while preserving macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and a challenging business climate are among the perennial challenges that may slow the implementation of this plan. | Senegal is receiving technical support from the IMF during 2015-17 under a Policy Support Instrument (PSI) to assist with implementation of the ESP. The PSI implementation continues to be satisfactory as concluded by the IMF’s second review mission in March 2016. Investors have signaled confidence in the country through Senegal’s successful Eurobond issuances in recent years, including in 2014. | The government will focus on 19 projects under the ESP for the 2016 budget to continue the structural transformation of the economy. These 19 projects include the Thies-Touba Highway, including the new airport- Mbour-Thies Highway. Senegal will increase the national family allowances program and the community development emergency program in 2016. Electricity supply is a chief constraint for Senegal’s development. Electricity prices in Senegal are among the highest in the world. Power Africa, a program led by USAID and OPIC, plans to increase the current 500 MW of generating capacity to over 1,000 mW in the next three to five years. Recent gas discoveries on the Senegal-Mauritanian border, as well as just south of Dakar, will help alleviate some of the energy shortages.
Exchange rates [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - | 593.01 (2016 est.) | 593.01 (2015 est.) | 591.45 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.)
Exports [time series]
$2.498 billion (2016 est.) | $2.31 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners [time series]
Mali 18.2%, Switzerland 10.6%, India 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, China 5% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$14.72 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$39.64 billion (2016 est.) | $36.67 billion (2015 est.) | $34.07 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 115
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 76.7% | government consumption: 16.2% | investment in fixed capital: 26% | investment in inventories: -2% | exports of goods and services: 29.1% | imports of goods and services: -45.9% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 17.2% | industry: 23.7% | services: 59% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$2,500 (2016 est.) | $2,500 (2015 est.) | $2,400 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 196
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
6.7% (2016 est.) | 6.5% (2015 est.) | 4.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18
Gross national saving [time series]
21.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 17.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 15.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.5% | highest 10%: 31.1% (2011)
Imports [time series]
$4.993 billion (2016 est.) | $4.918 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122
Imports - commodities [time series]
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners [time series]
France 15.9%, China 10.3%, Nigeria 7.8%, India 7.6%, Netherlands 5.3%, Spain 4.9% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
8% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Industries [time series]
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.9% (2016 est.) | 0.1% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Labor force [time series]
6.737 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 77.5% | industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
46.7% (2011 est.)
Public debt [time series]
58.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 58.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $153.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163
Stock of broad money [time series]
$7.244 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.549 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$5.15 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.867 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$4.736 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.264 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
26.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Unemployment rate [time series]
48% (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
7.3 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Crude oil - imports [time series]
18,060 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption [time series]
3.014 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
88.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
7.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
8.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
965,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - production [time series]
3.673 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 6,400,000 | electrification - total population: 55% | electrification - urban areas: 90% | electrification - rural areas: 28% (2013)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
497 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - production [time series]
62 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2012 es) | country comparison to the world: 83
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
44,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
3,892 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
30,120 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
16,850 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 196,722 sq km | land: 192,530 sq km | water: 4,192 sq km | country comparison to the world: 89
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 [time series]
mean elevation: 69 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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 within Senegal
Irrigated land [time series]
1,200 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 2,684 km | border countries (5): The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 46.8% | arable land 17.4%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 29.1% | forest: 43.8% | other: 9.4% (2011 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]
territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Natural hazards [time series]
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Natural resources [time series]
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural
Terrain [time series]
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Capital [time series]
name: Dakar | geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W | time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal | dual citizenship recognized: no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution [time series]
history: previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001 | amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the prime minister through the president, or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable; amended several times, last in 2016 (2017)
Country name [time series]
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 | etymology: named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; many theories exist for the origin of the river name; perhaps the most widely cited derives the name from "Azenegue," the Portuguese appellation for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: ambassador Tulinabo S. MUSHINGI (since August 2017); 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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Babacar DIAGNE (since 18 November 2014) | chancery: 2215 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 | FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961 | consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Executive branch [time series]
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 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive 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 in second round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 65.8%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 34.2%
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; 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
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionel (consists of 7 members including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges' appointed by the president of the republic upon recommendation of the Higher Council of the Judiciary, a body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker to serve 6-year terms with the renewal of 2 members every 2 years | subordinate courts: High Court of Justice (for crimes of high treason by the president); Courts of Appeal; Court of Auditors; assize courts; regional and district courts; Labor Court; note - in early 2013, the Extraordinary African Chambers were established by agreement of the African Union and the Government of Senegal to try cases of high-level officials involved in crimes committed in Chad during the period 1982-1990
Legal system [time series]
civil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (165 seats; 105 members including 15 representing Senegalese diaspora directly elected by plurality vote in single- and multi-seat constituencies and 60 members directly elected by proportional representation vote in single- and multi-seat constituencies) | elections: National Assembly - last held on 2 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022) | election results: National Assembly results - percent of vote by party/coalition - BBK 49.5%, CGWS 16.7%, MTS 11.7%, PUR 4.7%, CP-Kaddu Askan Wi 2%, other 15.4%; seats by party/coalition - BBY 125, CGWS 19, MTS 7, PUR 3, CP-Kaddu Askan Wi 2, other 9
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
National symbol(s) [time series]
lion; national colors: green, yellow, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR-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 Decriox] | And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS-A [Landing SAVANE] | Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope) [Macky SALL] (coalition includes AFP, APR, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, UNP) | Bokk Gis Gis coalition [Pape DIOP] | Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk [Mansour Sy DJAMIL] | 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] | Grand Party or GP [Malick GAKOU] | Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Magatte THIAM] | Manko Taxawu Senegaal or MTS [Khalifa SALL] (coalition includes BGC, Du Nakk, FSD/BJ, GP, MCRN/Bes, Rewmi) | National Union for the People or UNP [Souleymane Ndene NDIAYE] | Party for Truth and Development or PVD [Cheikh Ahmadou Kara MBAKE] | Party of Unity and Rally or PUR [El Hadji SALL] | Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi [Abdoulaye BALDE] | Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE] | Rewmi Party [Idrissa SECK] | Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE] | Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG] | Tekki Movement [Mamadou Lamine DIALLO] | Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA] | Winning Coalition Wattu Senegal or CGWS [Abdoulaye WADE] (includes AJ/PADS, AJ/PADS-A, Bokk Gis Gis, PDS, Tekki Movement)
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Catholic clergy; labor; religious groups; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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. Several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict, but an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect since 2012. 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 with Macky SALL, whose term runs until 2019. A 2016 constitutional referendum reduced the term to five years with a maximum of two consecutive terms for future presidents.
Military and Security
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2017)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.89% of GDP (2017 est.) | 1.73% of GDP (2016) | 1.58% of GDP (2015) | 1.57% of GDP (2014) | 1.6% of GDP (2013)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
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)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 41.51% (male 3,060,118/female 3,028,975) | 15-24 years: 20.33% (male 1,486,393/female 1,496,393) | 25-54 years: 31.19% (male 2,102,757/female 2,472,683) | 55-64 years: 3.98% (male 251,673/female 332,113) | 65 years and over: 2.98% (male 194,491/female 242,926) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
33.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
15.5% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 40
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
23.3% (2015)
Death rate [time series]
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Demographic profile [time series]
Senegal has a large and growing youth population but has not been successful in developing its potential human capital. Senegal’s high total fertility rate of almost 4.5 children per woman continues to bolster the country’s large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Fertility remains high because of the continued desire for large families, the low use of family planning, and early childbearing. Because of the country’s high illiteracy rate (more than 40%), high unemployment (even among university graduates), and widespread poverty, Senegalese youths face dim prospects; women are especially disadvantaged. | Senegal historically was a destination country for economic migrants, but in recent years West African migrants more often use Senegal as a transit point to North Africa – and sometimes illegally onward to Europe. The country also has been host to several thousand black Mauritanian refugees since they were expelled from their homeland during its 1989 border conflict with Senegal. The country’s economic crisis in the 1970s stimulated emigration; departures accelerated in the 1990s. Destinations shifted from neighboring countries, which were experiencing economic decline, civil wars, and increasing xenophobia, to Libya and Mauritania because of their booming oil industries and to developed countries (most notably former colonial ruler France, as well as Italy and Spain). The latter became attractive in the 1990s because of job opportunities and their periodic regularization programs (legalizing the status of illegal migrants). | Additionally, about 16,000 Senegalese refugees still remain in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau as a result of more than 30 years of fighting between government forces and rebel separatists in southern Senegal’s Casamance region.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 85.4 | youth dependency ratio: 79.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 | potential support ratio: 18 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 92.9% of population | rural: 67.3% of population | total: 78.5% of population | urban: 7.1% of population | rural: 32.7% of population | total: 21.5% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
7.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 53
Ethnic groups [time series]
Wolof 38.6%, Pular 26.6%, Serer 14.9%, Mandinka 4.6%, Jola 4.1%, Soninke 2.3%, other 8.9% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2010-11 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
1,900 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
41,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
4.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 150
Hospital bed density [time series]
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2008)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 55 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 43.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32
Languages [time series]
French (official), Wolof, Pular, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 62.1 years | male: 60 years | female: 64.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 57.7% | male: 69.7% | female: 46.6% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
DAKAR (capital) 3.52 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
315 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Median age [time series]
total: 18.8 years | male: 18 years | female: 19.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
21.5 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2016 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) | adjective: Senegalese
Net migration rate [time series]
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
8.8% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 146
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Population [time series]
14,668,522 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71
Population distribution [time series]
the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural
Population growth rate [time series]
2.39% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30
Religions [time series]
Muslim 95.4% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 4.2% (mostly Roman Catholic), animist 0.4% (2010-11 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 65.4% of population | rural: 33.8% of population | total: 47.6% of population | urban: 34.6% of population | rural: 66.2% of population | total: 52.4% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 9 years (2015)
Sex ratio [time series]
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: 0.85 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.28 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 12.7% | male: 8.3% | female: 19% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 44.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.53% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
cross-border trafficking in persons, timber, wildlife, and cannabis; rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance find refuge in Guinea-Bissau
Illicit drugs [time series]
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 13,683 (Mauritania) (2017) | IDPs: 24,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2016)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
20 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 136
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 9 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 11 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
6V (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 9 | by type: passenger 7, cargo 2 | note: excludes numerous oceangoing pirogues operating in Senegal's coastal waters and rivers (2017) | country comparison to the world: 119
National air transport system [time series]
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,355 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3,095,523 mt-km (2015)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2017)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Dakar
Railways [time series]
total: 906 km (713 km operational in 2017) | narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-m gauge (2017) | country comparison to the world: 93
Roadways [time series]
total: 16,496 km | paved: 5,957 km (includes 72 km of expressways) | unpaved: 10,539 km (2017) | country comparison to the world: 124
Waterways [time series]
1,000 km (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 64