1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Agriculture
accounts for 20% of GDP; major products - peanuts (cash crop), millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; estimated two-thirds self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 354,000 metric tons in 1990
Airports
total: 26 usable: 20 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 16
Area
total area: 196,190 sq km land area: 192,000 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Birth rate
43.15 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Police
Budget
revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $269 million (1992 est.)
Capital
Dakar
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April) has strong southeast winds; dry season (May to November) dominated by hot, dry harmattan wind
Coastline
531 km
Constitution
3 March 1963, last revised in 1991
Currency
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Death rate
12.01 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 2% of GDP (1989 est.)
Digraph
SG
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-0540 or 0541
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $551 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.23 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $589 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $295 million
Electricity
capacity: 215,000 kW production: 760 million kWh consumption per capita: 100 kWh (1991)
Environment
current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping
Ethnic divisions
Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: the official rate is pegged to the French franc, and beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Executive branch
chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981); election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held February 2000); results - Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57% head of government: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
Exports
$904 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: fish, ground nuts, petroleum products, phosphates, cotton partners: France, other EC members, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali
External debt
$2.9 billion (1990)
FAX
[221] 22-29-91
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
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
Highways
total: 14,007 km paved: 3,777 km unpaved: crushed stone, improved earth 10,230 km
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America
Imports
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum partners: France, other EC, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, China, Japan
Independence
20 August 1960 (from France; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
Industrial production
growth rate 1.9% (1991); accounts for 15% of GDP
Industries
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, petroleum refining, building materials
Infant mortality rate
75.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-1.8% (1991 est.)
Inland waterways
897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal, 112 km on the Saloum
International disputes
short section of the boundary with The Gambia is indefinite; Senegal and Guinea-Bissau signed an agreement resolving their maritime boundary in 1993; boundary with Mauritania
Irrigated land
1,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Labor force
2.509 million (77% are engaged in subsistence farming; 175,000 wage earners) by occupation: private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60% note: 52% of population of working age (1985)
Land boundaries
total 2,640 km, The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Land use
arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 31% other: 12%
Languages
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Legal system
based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court, which also audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 56.58 years male: 55.12 years female: 58.09 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 38% male: 52% female: 25%
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 1,951,370; fit for military service 1,018,802; reach military age (18) annually 94,973 (1994 est.)
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMUR, UNTAC, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Merchant marine
1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other 7%; seats - (120 total) PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, Let Us Unite Senegal 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$1,400 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
1.2% (1991 est.)
Nationality
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Natural resources
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Note
The Gambia is almost an enclave
Other political or pressure groups
students; teachers; labor; Muslim Brotherhoods
Overview
After 14 years of mixed compliance with IMF and World Bank economic reform programs, Senegal finds its economy remains hostage to negative economic forces. Declining terms of trade, weather-related setbacks, and relentless growth in population have held back overall growth and left per capita incomes stagnant, if not diminished. The economy continues to rely on exports of fish, peanuts, and phosphates for hard currency earnings. A 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 is likely to lead to substantial increases in local currency prices for producers that may spur improved production. A sheltered import-substitution sector, comprising textiles, shoes, and other light manufacturing, will remain plagued, however, by high labor, transportation, and energy costs. Public finances face a decade-long trend in declining tax revenues, making the government increasingly dependent on official development assistance from bilateral donors.
Political parties and leaders
Socialist Party (PS), President Abdou DIOUF; Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), Abdoulaye WADE; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement (LD-MPT), Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY; Independent Labor Party (PIT), Amath DANSOKHO; Senegalese Democratic Union-Renewal (UDS-R), Mamadou Puritain FALL; other small uninfluential parties
Population
8,730,508 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
3.11% (1994 est.)
Ports
Dakar, Kaolack, Foundiougne, Ziguinchor
Railroads
1,034 km 1.000-meter gauge; all single track except 70 km double track Dakar to Thies
Religions
Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telecommunications
above-average urban system, using microwave and cable; broadcast stations - 8 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Terrain
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Total fertility rate
6.09 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Unemployment rate
NA%
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark JOHNSON embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 23-42-96 or 23-34-24