Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
357,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
over 25 private TV stations; state-run Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) broadcasts from five cities; wide range of independent TV available via satellite; hundreds of radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar
Communications: Internet country code
.sn
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
60.12% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
399,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
120 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
22.4 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, groundnuts, watermelons, millet, cassava, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, onions, milk (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$9.267 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$7.749 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.550 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.347 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$944.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$795.6 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$1.526 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$2.215 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.898 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$2.662 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$3.327 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$5.542 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$6.072 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$35.581 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$14.985 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
493.900 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
493.757 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
591.212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
592.606 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
580.657 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
555.446 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
585.911 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
623.760 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.570 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, fish, cement (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$3.795 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$4.312 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$4.031 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$4.105 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$4.605 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$5.305 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$5.847 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$5.078 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$6.78 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$7.418 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$7.001 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$8.101 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
28.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
16.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
65.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-43.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
32.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
15.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
25.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
49.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$5,071 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$32.267 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$93.817 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
38.3 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
36.2 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
28.8% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rice, garments, wheat (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$5.236 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$6.298 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$6.197 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$7.512 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$8.979 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$9.187 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$9.652 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$12.278 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$14.698 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$14.916 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$14.255 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
20% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.14% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.84% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.32% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.46% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.76% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.54% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.18% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.70% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.94% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.80% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
5.763 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
37.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
47.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$40.387 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$43.697 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$46.624 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$50.052 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$59.655 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$63.009 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$71.874 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$74.642 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$77.82 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$83.183 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.37% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.36% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
7.41% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
6.21% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.61% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
1.34% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.54% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.85% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.26% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
6.06% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$2,854 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$2,994 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,101 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,234 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$3,648 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$3,753 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$4,174 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$4,530 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,778 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.778 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.932 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.758 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$2.607 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
11.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
10.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
10.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
19.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.86% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
3.43% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.44% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
2.84% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.78% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
2.79% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
6.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
4.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
138,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
181,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
43.4%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
67.9% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
96.6%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
7.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
486 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
1.772 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
983 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.303 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
34.604 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
34.646 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
456,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
9.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
10.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental laws; poaching
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
49.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
45.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
5.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
258.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
37 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
89.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
42.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
38.97 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
2.759 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1.416 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
261 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
55.24% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.454 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
11.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana
Geography: Area: land
192,530 sq km
Geography: Area: water
4,192 sq km
Geography: Coastline
531 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
69 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal
Geography: Irrigated land
1,200 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
The Gambia 749 km; Guinea 363 km; Guinea-Bissau 341 km; Mali 489 km; Mauritania 742 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,684 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
49.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
45.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
5.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Geography: Population distribution
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
Geography: Terrain
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Government: Administrative divisions
14 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Government: Capital: etymology
the name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar , meaning "tamarind tree"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
14 44 N, 17 38 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1959 (pre-independence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Senegal
Government: Country name: etymology
named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; the river's name may derive from "Azenegue," the Portuguese name for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river, or it could come from a local word meaning "navigable"
Government: Country name: former
Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
Government: Country name: local long form
République du Sénégal
Government: Country name: local short form
Sénégal
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
DakarACS@state.gov https://sn.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Route des Almadies, Dakar
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C. 20521-2130
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[221] 33-879-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Abdoul Wahab HAIDARA (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
contact@ambasenegal-us.org http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 629-2961
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 234-0540
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54%, Amadou BA (APR) 36%, other 10% 2019: Macky SALL reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%, other 5.5%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single, renewable 5-year term
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
March 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
24 March 2024
Government: Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red, with a small five-pointed green star centered on the yellow band; green stands for Islam, progress, and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, and red for sacrifice and determination; the star represents unity and hope history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of 7 members, including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon recommendation of the Superior Council of the Magistrates, a body chaired by the president and minister of justice; judge tenure varies, with mandatory retirement either at 65 or 68 years; Constitutional Council members are appointed, 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker; judges serve 6-year terms, with renewal of 2 members every 2 years
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
November 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/17/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
165 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
41.2%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
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
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
Government: National color(s)
green, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Island of Gorée (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: Political parties
Alliance for Citizenship and Work or ACT Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP AND (National Alliance for Democracy) And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS ARC (Alternative for the next generation of citizens) Awalé Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope); coalition includes AFP, APR, BGC, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, and UNP Bokk Gis Gis coalition Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk Coalition Mimi 2024 Dare the Future movement Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT Democratic Renaissance Congress Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ Gainde Centrist Bloc or BCG General Alliance for the Interests of the Republic or AGIR Grand Party or GP Gueum sa Bopp (Believe in yourself) Independence and Labor Party or PIT Jotna Coalition Liberate the People (Yewwi Askan Wi) or YAW Madicke 2019 coalition National Union for the People or UNP Only Senegal Movement Party for Truth and Development or PVD Party of Unity and Rally or PUR Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi PRP (Republican party for Progress) Rewmi Party Save Senegal (Wallu Senegal Grand Coalition) or WS; coalition includes PDS, Jotna Coalition, Democratic Renaissance Congress Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS Socialist Party or PS Tekki Movement Réewum Ngor (Republic of Values) Servants (Les Serviteurs)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Senegal is one of the few countries in the world with evidence of continuous human life from the Paleolithic period to present. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Jolof Empire ruled most of Senegal. Starting in the 15th century, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain traded along the Senegalese coast. Senegal’s location on the western tip of Africa made it a favorable base for the European slave trade. European powers used the Senegalese island of Goree as a base to purchase slaves from the warring chiefdoms on the mainland, and at the height of the slave trade in Senegal, over one-third of the Senegalese population was enslaved. In 1815, France abolished slavery and began expanding inland. During the second half of the 19th century, France took possession of Senegal as a French colony. In 1959, the French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. In 1982, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union dissolved in 1989. Since the 1980s, the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance -- a separatist movement based in southern Senegal -- has led a low-level insurgency. Several attempts at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement have failed. Since 2012, despite sporadic incidents of violence, an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect. Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. The Socialist Party of Senegal ruled for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000 and re-elected in 2007. WADE amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. In 2012, WADE’s decision to run for a third presidential term sparked public backlash that led to his loss to current President Macky SALL. A 2016 constitutional referendum limited future presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE took office in April 2024.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Senegalese military is responsible for both territorial defense and internal security; it also assists the civilian government in such areas as preventive healthcare, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and disaster response; key areas of focus for the military include a low-level insurgency in the country's south, maritime security, and securing the border against smuggling and Sahel-based Islamist insurgent groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State; the military participates in foreign peacekeeping deployments and multinational exercises; its closest security partner is France, which has long maintained a military presence in Senegal Senegalese security forces have been engaged in a low-level counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region against factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MDFC) since 1982; the conflict is one of longest running low-level insurgencies in the World, having claimed more than 5,000 lives while leaving another 60,000 displaced; in recent years, nearly all of the MDFC factions have agreed to cease hostilities (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Senegalese Armed Forces (les Forces Armées Sénégalaises, FAS): Army (l’Armée de Terre, AT), Senegalese National Navy (Marine Séenéegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (l'Arméee de l'Air du Séenéegal, AAS), National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 25,000 active Armed Forces personnel, including the Gendarmerie (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA; plus about 575 police); approximately 380 police Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a mix of older, secondhand, and some more modern equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.21% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.60% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.47% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.67% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.52% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.41% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.76% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.52% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.48% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.57% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-28 (up to 35 for specialized roles); 24-month service commitment (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
40.7% (male 3,907,986/female 3,760,594)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
55.9% (male 5,098,038/female 5,437,195)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.4% (2024 est.) (male 277,290/female 366,416)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
29.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
0.7% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
8.8% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
30.5% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.2% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.32% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
16.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
78.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
72.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 77% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 23% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
6.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.9% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
6.16% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Wolof 39.7%, Pulaar 27.5%, Sereer 16%, Mandinka 4.9%, Jola 4.2%, Soninke 2.4%, other 5.4% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2019 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.93 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
3.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
34.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
67.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
41.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
61.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
50.36% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
237 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
20 years
People and Society: Median age: male
18.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
21.9 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Senegalese
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
18,501,984 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.32% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
9,564,205
People and Society: Population: male
9,283,314
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 77.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 22.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
10 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
8 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
9 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.94 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
10.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
5.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.77 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
55.24% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2023 - signed cooperation agreement with ESA to leverage space technology for socio-economic growth; established a space control center to provide infrastructure for satellite manufacturing and satellite services 2024 - first Earth observation/remote sensing nanosatellite (GaindeSat-1A) built with French assistance and launched by US; signed agreement with Turkey on space infrastructure advancement; agreed to participate in China's lunar exploration/research station project 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; signed agreement with France for capacity development in space infrastructure and Earth observation initiatives
Space: Space agency/agencies
Senegalese Space Study Agency (Agence Sénégalaise d'Etudes Spatiales or ASES; launched in 2023 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
small, nascent program focused on earth observation/remote sensing capabilities, largely for climate resilience, environmental management, research, and socio-economic development; conducts research in fields such as astronomy and planetary sciences; has cooperated with space agencies in China, France, Turkey, and the US, as well as the ESA (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
5,922 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
13,064 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
20 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
6V
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 30
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
36 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Dakar, Karabane, Lyndiane, M'bao Oil Terminal, Rufisque, St. Louis
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
4
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
6 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
4
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.