Capital

Senegal

name: Dakar

geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the Atlantic coast trading settlement of Ndakaaru came to be called "Dakar" by French colonialists

Citizenship

Senegal

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

Legal system

Senegal

civil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court

Suffrage

Senegal

18 years of age; universal

Area

Senegal

total: 196,722 sq km

land: 192,530 sq km

water: 4,192 sq km

Land use

Senegal

agricultural land: 46.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.8% (2018 est.)

other: 9.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Senegal

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Age structure

Senegal

0-14 years: 41.19% (male 3,858,937/female 3,714,062)

15-64 years: 55.46% (male 4,925,324/female 5,271,627)

65 years and over: 3.34% (2023 est.) (male 266,485/female 348,225)

Birth rate

Senegal

30.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Senegal

5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Senegal

French (official), Wolof, Pular, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke

Life expectancy at birth

Senegal

total population: 70.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 68.5 years

female: 72.1 years

Major urban areas - population

Senegal

3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023)

Median age

Senegal

total: 19 years (2023 est.)

male: 18.2 years

female: 19.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Senegal

21.9 years (2019 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Senegal

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Senegal

the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Senegal

2.52% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Senegal

4.17 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Senegal

urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Senegal

5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Senegal

total: 9 years

male: 8 years

female: 10 years (2021)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Senegal

-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Senegal

10.91% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Senegal

4.377 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Senegal

46.7% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate

Senegal

3.72% (2021 est.)

3.62% (2020 est.)

2.86% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Senegal

48.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

47.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Senegal

2.55% (2020 est.)

1.76% (2019 est.)

0.46% (2018 est.)

Exports

Senegal

$5.287 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$4.593 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - partners

Senegal

Mali 22%, Switzerland 14%, India 9%, China 7% (2019)

Imports

Senegal

$8.96 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.499 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - partners

Senegal

China 17%, France 11%, Belgium 7%, Russia 7%, Netherlands 7% (2019)

Airports

Senegal

20 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Senegal

total: 153,813 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Senegal

total: 9.86 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 58% (2021 est.)

Railways

Senegal

total: 906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)

narrow gauge: 906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Roadways

Senegal

total: 16,665 km (2017)

paved: 6,126 km (2017) (includes 241 km of expressways)

unpaved: 10,539 km (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

Senegal

total subscriptions: 261,440 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Senegal

total subscriptions: 19,859,981 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Senegal

1,000 km (2012) (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers)

Disputes - international

Senegal

Senegal-Guinea-Bissau: rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance find refuge in Guinea-Bissau