2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 40.8% (male 2,467,021/female 2,422,385) 15-64 years: 56.1% (male 3,346,756/female 3,378,518) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 174,399/female 198,042) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

20 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

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 (2006)

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 was ruled by the Socialist Party for forty years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. A southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982, but Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping. Geography Senegal

Birth rate

32.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $357 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$2.023 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

14 40 N, 17 26 W

name

Dakar

time difference

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

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

new constitution adopted 7 January 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Senegal

conventional short form

Senegal

former

Senegambia (along with The Gambia); Mali Federation

local long form

Republique du Senegal

local short form

Senegal

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

XOF

Current account balance

$-895.2 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$1.628 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Janice L. JACOBS

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

chancery

2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA

telephone

[1] (202) 234-0540

Disputes - international

The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict; 2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents have fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along the border

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.3 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$449.6 million (2003 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 over 5% annually during 1995-2006. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in 2006. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal will benefit from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt.

Electricity - consumption

1.351 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

1.453 billion kWh (2004)

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

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 - 522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

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) 58.5%, Abdou DIOUF (PS) 41.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last held under prior constitution (seven-year terms) 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be held 25 February 2007); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Macky SALL (since 21 April 2004)

Exports

$1.478 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Mali 16.9%, India 13.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 6.1%, Italy 5.5%, Gambia, The 4.6% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6315

[221] 822-2991

consulate(s) general

Houston, New York

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

18.3%

industry

19.2%

services

62.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.562 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$22.01 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

14 00 N, 14 00 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

44,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33.5% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.6%

IDPs

22,400 (approximately 65 percent of the IDP population returned in 2005 but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2006)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$2.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners

France 22.8%, Nigeria 11.4%, Brazil 4.5%, Thailand 4.3%, US 4.2%, UK 4% (2005)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

49.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

56.49 deaths/1,000 live births

total

52.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.sn

Internet hosts

412 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

540,000 (2005) Transportation Senegal

Investment (gross fixed)

41% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

1,200 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals

Labor force

4.749 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

77%

industry and services

23% (1990 est.)

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

12.51%

other

87.25% (2005)

permanent crops

0.24%

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 25 February 2007) note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006, they will now coincide with presidential elections in 2007

note

the former National Assembly had 120 seats, but deputies in late 2006 voted to expand the number of seats to 140

Life expectancy at birth

female

60.85 years (2006 est.)

male

57.7 years

total population

59.25 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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis (2007)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

2,461,939 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,443,840

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,642,533 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,558,175

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

129,398 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

129,331

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

19.3 years (2006 est.)

male

18.9 years

total

19.1 years

Military branches

Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$117.3 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Senegal

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Nationality

adjective

Senegalese

noun

Senegalese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Natural resources

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 43 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism (also known as AJ/PADS) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; 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 Bamba DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF]; People's Labor Party or PTP [Elhadji DIOUF]; Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]; Rewmi [Idrissa SECK]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition [Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers

Population

11,987,121 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.34% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Dakar Military Senegal

Public debt

17.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

1.24 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2005)

total

906 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

19,712 (Mauritania)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.18 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

3,972 km (including 7 km of expressways)

total

13,576 km

unpaved

9,604 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 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

country code - 221; 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

266,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.73 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

361,000 (1997)

Terrain

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Total fertility rate

4.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

48%; note - urban youth 40% (2001 est.)

Waterways

1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2005)