2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

note

there may be another region called Matam

Age structure

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.)

Agriculture - products

peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Airports

20 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)

total

9

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m

1 (2002) Military Senegal

Area

land

192,000 sq km

total

196,190 sq km

water

4,190 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Background

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. Geography Senegal

Birth rate

36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.373 billion, including capital expenditures of $357 million (2002 est.)

revenues

$1.373 billion

Capital

Dakar

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Coastline

531 km

Constitution

a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Senegal

conventional short form

Senegal

local long form

Republique du Senegal

local short form

Senegal

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code

XOF

Death rate

10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$3.1 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA

Disputes - international

separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and political instability in Guinea-Bissau

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.3 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$362.6 million (2002 est.)

Economy - overview

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

1.412 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.518 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president

chief of state

President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Idrissa SECK (since 4 November 2002)

Exports

$1.15 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Exports - partners

India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6315

[221] 822-2991

chancery

2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

consulate(s) general

New York

telephone

[1] (202) 234-0540

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Senegal

Flag description

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 Economy Senegal

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15.64 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

18%

industry

27%

services

55% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

14 00 N, 14 00 W

Geography - note

westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal People Senegal

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Highways

paved

4,271 km including 7 km of expressways

total

14,576 km

unpaved

10,305 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

27,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33.5% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.6%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.46 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners

France 25.6%, Nigeria 8.7%, Thailand 7.2%, US 5.4%, Germany 5.4%, Italy 4.5%, Spain 4% (2002)

Independence

4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

Industrial production growth rate

8.1% (2002 est.)

Industries

agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials

Infant mortality rate

female

53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

61.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

57.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.sn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

100,000 (2002) Transportation Senegal

Irrigated land

710 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system was reformed in 1992

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 70%

Land boundaries

border countries

The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

total

2,640 km

Land use

arable land

11.58%

other

88.23% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.19%

Languages

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Legal system

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

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10

elections

last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)

note

the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001, had 140 seats

Life expectancy at birth

female

57.95 years (2003 est.)

male

54.83 years

total population

56.37 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

30.7% (2003 est.) Government Senegal

male

50%

total population

40.2%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

18.4 years (2002)

male

17.2 years

total

17.8 years

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$68.6 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY02) Transnational Issues Senegal

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,404,838 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,256,973 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

116,688 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Nationality

adjective

Senegalese

noun

Senegalese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Natural resources

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Net migration rate

0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 564 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers

Population

10,580,307 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.56% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

1.24 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2002)

total

906 km

Religions

Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system

general assessment

good system

international

4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

234,916 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

373,965 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

361,000 (1997)

Terrain

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Total fertility rate

4.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)

Waterways

897 km

note

785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river