2019 Edition

Background

The French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s. Several attempts at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement have failed to resolve the conflict but, despite sporadic incidents of violence, an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect since 2012. Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. Senegal was ruled by the Socialist Party of Senegal, first under President Léopold Sédar SENGHOR, and then President Abdou DIOUF, for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000. He was re-elected in 2007 and during his two terms amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. His decision to run for a third presidential term sparked a large public backlash that led to his defeat in a March 2012 runoff with Macky SALL. A 2016 constitutional referendum reduced the term to five years with a maximum of two consecutive terms for future presidents - the change did not apply to SALL's first term. SALL won his bid for re-election in February 2019; his term will end in 2024. A month after the election, the National Assembly voted to abolish the office of the prime minister. Opposition organizations and civil society have criticized the decision as a further concentration of power in the executive branch at the expense of the legislative and judicial branches.

Area

Land

192,530 sq km

Total

196,722 sq km

Water

4,192 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana

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

Elevation

Highest Point

unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

69 m

Environment Current Issues

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; periodic droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental protective laws; wildlife populations threatened by poaching

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

Signed But Not Ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic Coordinates

14 00 N, 14 00 W

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

1,200 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 km

Total

2,684 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

46.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

17.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

29.1% (2011 est.)

Forest

43.8% (2011 est.)

Other

9.4% (2011 est.)

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

Natural Hazards

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Natural Resources

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Age Structure

0 14 Years

41.15% (male 3,106,942 /female 3,074,740)

15 24 Years

20.33% (male 1,521,868 /female 1,531,484)

25 54 Years

31.45% (male 2,176,052 /female 2,547,566)

55 64 Years

4.05% (male 261,682 /female 347,374)

65 Years And Over

3.02% (male 200,079 /female 253,158) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

32.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

14.4% (2017)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

27.8% (2017)

Current Health Expenditure

5.5% (2016)

Death Rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Senegal has a large and growing youth population but has not been successful in developing its potential human capital. Senegal’s high total fertility rate of almost 4.5 children per woman continues to bolster the country’s large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Fertility remains high because of the continued desire for large families, the low use of family planning, and early childbearing. Because of the country’s high illiteracy rate (more than 40%), high unemployment (even among university graduates), and widespread poverty, Senegalese youths face dim prospects; women are especially disadvantaged.Senegal historically was a destination country for economic migrants, but in recent years West African migrants more often use Senegal as a transit point to North Africa – and sometimes illegally onward to Europe. The country also has been host to several thousand black Mauritanian refugees since they were expelled from their homeland during its 1989 border conflict with Senegal. The country’s economic crisis in the 1970s stimulated emigration; departures accelerated in the 1990s. Destinations shifted from neighboring countries, which were experiencing economic decline, civil wars, and increasing xenophobia, to Libya and Mauritania because of their booming oil industries and to developed countries (most notably former colonial ruler France, as well as Italy and Spain). The latter became attractive in the 1990s because of job opportunities and their periodic regularization programs (legalizing the status of illegal migrants).Additionally, about 16,000 Senegalese refugees still remain in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau as a result of more than 30 years of fighting between government forces and rebel separatists in southern Senegal’s Casamance region.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

5.6 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

18 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

85.4 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

79.8 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

67.3% of population

Improved Total

78.5% of population

Improved Urban

92.9% of population

Unimproved Rural

32.7% of population

Unimproved Total

21.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

7.1% of population

Education Expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

Wolof 37.1%, Pular 26.2%, Serer 17%, Mandinka 5.6%, Jola 4.5%, Soninke 1.4%, other 8.3% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.4% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

1,300 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

42,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

0.3 beds/1,000 population

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

42.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

53.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

48 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

64.7 years

Male

60.4 years

Total Population

62.5 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

39.8% (2017)

Male

64.8%

Total Population

51.9%

Major Infectious Diseases

Animal Contact Diseases

rabies (2016)

Degree Of Risk

very high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Respiratory Diseases

meningococcal meningitis (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

malaria and dengue fever (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

3.057 million DAKAR (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

315 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

19.9 years

Male

18.1 years

Total

19 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

21.9 years (2017 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Senegalese

Noun

Senegalese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

8.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

15,020,945 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.36% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95.9% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 4.1% (mostly Roman Catholic) (2016 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

33.8% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

47.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

65.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

66.2% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

52.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

34.6% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

9 years (2017)

Male

9 years

Total

9 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.85 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.75 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.79 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.94 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

4.2 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

8.9% (2015 est.)

Male

7.4%

Total

8.1%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

3.73% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

47.7% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

14 44 N, 17 38 W

Name

Dakar

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

Amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2019 (2019)

History

previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of Senegal

Conventional Short Form

Senegal

Etymology

named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; many theories exist for the origin of the river name; perhaps the most widely cited derives the name from "Azenegue," the Portuguese appellation for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river

Former

Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation

Local Long Form

Republique du Senegal

Local Short Form

Senegal

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Tulinabo S. MUSHINGI (since August 2017); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau

Embassy

Route des Almadies, Dakar

Fax

[221] 33-822-2991

Mailing Address

B.P. 49, Dakar

Telephone

[221] 33-879-4000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

2215 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Momar DIOP (since 22 June 2018)

Consulate's General

Houston, New York

Fax

[1] (202) 629-2961

Telephone

[1] (202) 234-0540

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Chief Of State

President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012)

Election Results

Macky SALL elected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%

Elections Appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single renewable 5-year term; election last held on 24 February 2019 (next to be held in February 2024)

Head Of Government

President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012)

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; green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies natural wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and determination; the star denotes unity and hope

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

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

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionel (consists of 7 members, including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges)

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 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

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

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (165 seats; 105 members including 15 representing Senegalese diaspora directly elected by plurality vote in single- and multi-seat constituencies and 60 members directly elected by proportional representation vote in single- and multi-seat constituencies)

Election Results

National Assembly results - percent of vote by party/coalition - BBK 49.5%, CGWS 16.7%, MTS 11.7%, PUR 4.7%, CP-Kaddu Askan Wi 2%, other 15.4%; seats by party/coalition - BBY 125, CGWS 19, MTS 7, PUR 3, CP-Kaddu Askan Wi 2, other 9; composition - men 96, women 69, percent of women 41.8%

Elections

National Assembly - last held on 2 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER

Name

"Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

National Symbol S

lion; national colors: green, yellow, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR-Yakaar [Macky SALL] Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE] Alliance for Citizenship and Labor or ACT [Abdoul MBAYE] And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Mamadou DIOP Decriox] Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope) [Macky SALL] (coalition includes AFP, APR, BGC, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, and UNP) Bokk Gis Gis coalition [Pape DIOP] Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk [Mansour Sy DJAMIL] Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Abdoulaye BATHILY] Dare the Future movement [Aissata Tall SALL] Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE] Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS] General Alliance for the Interests of the Republic or AGIR [Thierno BOCOUM] Grand Party or GP [Malick GAKOU] Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Magatte THIAM] Madicke 2019 coalition [Madicke NIANG] National Union for the People or UNP [Souleymane Ndene NDIAYE] Only Senegal movement [Pierre Goudiaby ATEPA] Party for Truth and Development or PVD [Cheikh Ahmadou Kara MBAKE] Party of Unity and Rally or PUR [El Hadji SALL] Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi [Abdoulaye BALDE] Patriots of Senegal for Ethics, Work and Fraternity or (PASTEF) [Ousmane SONKO] Rewmi Party [Idrissa SECK] Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE] Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG] Tekki Movement [Mamadou Lamine DIALLO]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

4.9 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

4.139 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

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

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

4.25%

31 December 2010

0.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

5.3%

31 December 2017

5.4%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$769 million

2017

-$1.547 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$6.327 billion

31 December 2017

$8.571 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2011

40.3

Economy Overview

Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture, which are the primary sources of employment in rural areas. The country's key export industries include phosphate mining, fertilizer production, agricultural products and commercial fishing and Senegal is also working on oil exploration projects. It relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. Senegal reached a growth rate of 7% in 2017, due in part to strong performance in agriculture despite erratic rainfall.President Macky SALL, who was elected in March 2012 under a reformist policy agenda, inherited an economy with high energy costs, a challenging business environment, and a culture of overspending. President SALL unveiled an ambitious economic plan, the Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP), which aims to implement priority economic reforms and investment projects to increase economic growth while preserving macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and a challenging business climate are among the perennial challenges that may slow the implementation of this plan.Senegal receives technical support from the IMF under a Policy Support Instrument (PSI) to assist with implementation of the ESP. The PSI implementation continues to be satisfactory as concluded by the IMF’s fifth review in December 2017. Financial markets have signaled confidence in Senegal through successful Eurobond issuances in 2014, 2017, and 2018.The government is focusing on 19 projects under the ESP to continue The government’s goal under the ESP is structural transformation of the economy. Key projects include the Thiès-Touba Highway, the new international airport opened in December 2017, and upgrades to energy infrastructure. The cost of electricity is a chief constraint for Senegal’s development. Electricity prices in Senegal are among the highest in the world. Power Africa, a US presidential initiative led by USAID, supports Senegal’s plans to improve reliability and increase generating capacity.

Exchange Rates

2013

494.42

2014

591.45

2015

593.01

2016

593.01

2017

617.4

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$2.498 billion

2017

$2.362 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

Mali 14.8%, Switzerland 11.4%, India 6%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, UAE 5.1%, Gambia, The 4.2%, Spain 4.1% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

27% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

15.2% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

71.9% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-42.8% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

25.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

3.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

16.9% (2017 est.)

Industry

24.3% (2017 est.)

Services

58.8% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$21.11 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$3,200

2016

$3,300

2017

$3,500

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$48.15 billion

2016

$51.15 billion

2017

$54.8 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

6.4%

2016

6.2%

2017

7.2%

Gross National Saving

2015

20.4% of GDP

2016

21.3% of GDP

2017

21.2% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

31.1% (2011)

Lowest 10

2.5%

Imports

2016

$4.966 billion

2017

$5.217 billion

Imports Commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports Partners

France 16.3%, China 10.4%, Nigeria 8%, India 7.2%, Netherlands 4.8%, Spain 4.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

7.7% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

0.8%

2017

1.3%

Labor Force

6.966 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

77.5%

Industry

22.5%

Industry And Services

22.5% (2007 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

46.7% (2011 est.)

Public Debt

2016

47.8% of GDP

2017

48.3% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$116.9 million

31 December 2017

$1.827 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$4.689 billion

31 December 2017

$5.944 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$5.219 billion

31 December 2017

$6.695 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$4.689 billion

31 December 2017

$5.944 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

19.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2007

48%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

8.644 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

17,880 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

43% (2017)

Electrification Total Population

65% (2017)

Electrification Urban Areas

90% (2017)

Population Without Electricity

6 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

3.497 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

82% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

977,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

4.167 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

59.46 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

59.46 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

48,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

4,063 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

32,050 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

17,590 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

1 (2017 est.)

Total

111,795

Broadcast Media

state-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) broadcasts TV programs from five cities in Senegal; in most regions of the country, viewers can receive TV programming from at least 7 private broadcasters; a wide range of independent TV programming is available via satellite; RTS operates a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations; at least 7 community radio stations and 18 private-broadcast radio stations are available; transmissions of at least 5 international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar (2019)

Internet Country Code

.sn

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

25.7% (July 2016 est.)

Total

3,675,209

Telephone System

Domestic

generally reliable urban system with a fiber-optic network; about two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar; mobile-cellular service is steadily displacing fixed-line service, even in urban areas; fixed-line 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular 107 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system; mobile penetration reached 108% in March 2019; mobile broadband accounts for close to 100% (97.2%) Internet accesses; 3G and LTE services (2018)

International

country code - 221; landing points for the ACE, Atlantis-2, MainOne and SAT-3/WASC submarine cables providing connectivity from South Africa, numerous western African countries, Europe and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

2 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

290,636

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

107 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

15,758,366

Airports

20 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

6 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2017)

Total

9 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

7 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

3 (2013)

Total

11 (2013)

Under 914 M

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

6V (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 23 (2018)

Total

28

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

3,095,523 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

115,355 (2015)

Pipelines

43 km gas, 8 km refined products (2017)

Ports And Terminals

Dakar

Railways

Narrow Gauge

906 km 1.000-m gauge (2017)

Total

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

Roadways

Paved

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

Total

16,665 km (2017)

Unpaved

10,539 km (2017)

Waterways

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

Military And Security Forces

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal), National Gendarmerie (includes Territorial and Mobile components) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2015

1.58% of GDP

2016

1.73% of GDP

2017

1.46% of GDP

2018

1.44% of GDP

2019

1.38% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 20 years of age for selective conscript service; 2-year service obligation; women have been accepted into military service since 2008 (2016)

Disputes International

cross-border trafficking in persons, timber, wildlife, and cannabis; rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance find refuge in Guinea-Bissau

Illicit Drugs

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Idps

18,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2017)

Refugees Country Of Origin

14,155 (Mauritania) (2019)