Senegal

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 (2017)

Internet country code

.sn

Internet users

total: 3,675,209 | percent of population: 25.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Telephone system

general assessment: good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk 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 | international: country code - 221; the ACE fiber-optic cable connects Senegal to Europe, the SAT-3/WASC provides fiber-optic connectivity to Europe and Asia, and Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 285,933 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 15,186,485 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $3.906 billion | expenditures: $4.535 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Central bank discount rate

0.25% (31 December 2010) | 4.25% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 142

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.4% (31 December 2016 est.) | 16.41% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Current account balance

$-783 million (2016 est.) | $-1.216 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Debt - external

$6.327 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.893 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.3 (2011) | country comparison to the world: 59

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 it is also working on oil exploration projects. Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. For the first time in the past 12 years, Senegal reached a growth rate of 6.5% in 2015 and surpassed 6.6% in 2016, due in part to a buoyant performance in agriculture because of higher rainfall and productivity in the sector. | 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 is receiving technical support from the IMF during 2015-17 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 second review mission in March 2016. Investors have signaled confidence in the country through Senegal’s successful Eurobond issuances in recent years, including in 2014. | The government will focus on 19 projects under the ESP for the 2016 budget to continue the structural transformation of the economy. These 19 projects include the Thies-Touba Highway, including the new airport- Mbour-Thies Highway. Senegal will increase the national family allowances program and the community development emergency program in 2016. Electricity supply is a chief constraint for Senegal’s development. Electricity prices in Senegal are among the highest in the world. Power Africa, a program led by USAID and OPIC, plans to increase the current 500 MW of generating capacity to over 1,000 mW in the next three to five years. Recent gas discoveries on the Senegal-Mauritanian border, as well as just south of Dakar, will help alleviate some of the energy shortages.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - | 593.01 (2016 est.) | 593.01 (2015 est.) | 591.45 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.)

Exports

$2.498 billion (2016 est.) | $2.31 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Mali 18.2%, Switzerland 10.6%, India 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, China 5% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.72 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$39.64 billion (2016 est.) | $36.67 billion (2015 est.) | $34.07 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 115

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 76.7% | government consumption: 16.2% | investment in fixed capital: 26% | investment in inventories: -2% | exports of goods and services: 29.1% | imports of goods and services: -45.9% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 17.2% | industry: 23.7% | services: 59% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2016 est.) | $2,500 (2015 est.) | $2,400 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 196

GDP - real growth rate

6.7% (2016 est.) | 6.5% (2015 est.) | 4.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Gross national saving

21.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 17.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 15.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% | highest 10%: 31.1% (2011)

Imports

$4.993 billion (2016 est.) | $4.918 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners

France 15.9%, China 10.3%, Nigeria 7.8%, India 7.6%, Netherlands 5.3%, Spain 4.9% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

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)

0.9% (2016 est.) | 0.1% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Labor force

6.737 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 77.5% | industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.7% (2011 est.)

Public debt

58.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 58.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $153.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Stock of broad money

$7.244 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.549 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Stock of domestic credit

$5.15 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.867 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Stock of narrow money

$4.736 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.264 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Taxes and other revenues

26.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Unemployment rate

48% (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.3 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Crude oil - imports

18,060 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - consumption

3.014 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

7.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - from other renewable sources

8.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Electricity - installed generating capacity

965,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - production

3.673 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity access

population without electricity: 6,400,000 | electrification - total population: 55% | electrification - urban areas: 90% | electrification - rural areas: 28% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

497 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas - production

62 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas - proved reserves

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2012 es) | country comparison to the world: 83

Refined petroleum products - consumption

44,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Refined petroleum products - exports

3,892 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Refined petroleum products - imports

30,120 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Refined petroleum products - production

16,850 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Area

total: 196,722 sq km | land: 192,530 sq km | water: 4,192 sq km | country comparison to the world: 89

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

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

mean elevation: 69 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 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 | 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

total: 2,684 km | border countries (5): The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 km

Land use

agricultural land: 46.8% | arable land 17.4%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 29.1% | forest: 43.8% | other: 9.4% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Dakar | geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W | 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

history: previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001 | amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the prime minister through the president, 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 2016 (2017)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Senegal | conventional short form: Senegal | local long form: Republique du Senegal | local short form: Senegal | former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation | 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

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 | mailing address: B.P. 49, Dakar | telephone: [221] 33-879-4000 | FAX: [221] 33-822-2991

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Babacar DIAGNE (since 18 November 2014) | chancery: 2215 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 | FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961 | consulate(s) general: Houston, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012) | head of government: Prime Minister Mohammed Abdallah Boun DIONNE (since 4 July 2014) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 26 February 2012 with a runoff on 25 March 2012 (next to be held in 2019); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Macky SALL elected president in second round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 65.8%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 34.2%

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 | note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the 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 Higher Council of the Judiciary, a body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker to serve 6-year terms with the 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; note - in early 2013, the Extraordinary African Chambers were established by agreement of the African Union and the Government of Senegal to try cases of high-level officials involved in crimes committed in Chad during the period 1982-1990

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee 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) | elections: National Assembly - last held on 2 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022) | 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

National anthem

name: "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons) | lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER | note: 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

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] | And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Mamadou DIOP Decriox] | And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS-A [Landing SAVANE] | Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope) [Macky SALL] (coalition includes AFP, APR, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, 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 [Mamadou NDOYE] | Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE] | Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS] | Grand Party or GP [Malick GAKOU] | Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Magatte THIAM] | Manko Taxawu Senegaal or MTS [Khalifa SALL] (coalition includes BGC, Du Nakk, FSD/BJ, GP, MCRN/Bes, Rewmi) | National Union for the People or UNP [Souleymane Ndene NDIAYE] | 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] | Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE] | Rewmi Party [Idrissa SECK] | Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE] | Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG] | Tekki Movement [Mamadou Lamine DIALLO] | Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA] | Winning Coalition Wattu Senegal or CGWS [Abdoulaye WADE] (includes AJ/PADS, AJ/PADS-A, Bokk Gis Gis, PDS, Tekki Movement)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Catholic clergy; labor; religious groups; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict, but 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 a Socialist Party for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000. He was reelected 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, whose term runs until 2019. A 2016 constitutional referendum reduced the term to five years with a maximum of two consecutive terms for future presidents.

Military branches

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2017)

Military expenditures

1.89% of GDP (2017 est.) | 1.73% of GDP (2016) | 1.58% of GDP (2015) | 1.57% of GDP (2014) | 1.6% of GDP (2013)

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 (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.51% (male 3,060,118/female 3,028,975) | 15-24 years: 20.33% (male 1,486,393/female 1,496,393) | 25-54 years: 31.19% (male 2,102,757/female 2,472,683) | 55-64 years: 3.98% (male 251,673/female 332,113) | 65 years and over: 2.98% (male 194,491/female 242,926) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

33.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.5% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 40

Contraceptive prevalence rate

23.3% (2015)

Death rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

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

total dependency ratio: 85.4 | youth dependency ratio: 79.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 | potential support ratio: 18 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 92.9% of population | rural: 67.3% of population | total: 78.5% of population | urban: 7.1% of population | rural: 32.7% of population | total: 21.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 53

Ethnic groups

Wolof 38.6%, Pular 26.6%, Serer 14.9%, Mandinka 4.6%, Jola 4.1%, Soninke 2.3%, other 8.9% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2010-11 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,900 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

41,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Health expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 150

Hospital bed density

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 55 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 43.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.1 years | male: 60 years | female: 64.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 57.7% | male: 69.7% | female: 46.6% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Major urban areas - population

DAKAR (capital) 3.52 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

315 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Median age

total: 18.8 years | male: 18 years | female: 19.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.5 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2016 est.)

Nationality

noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) | adjective: Senegalese

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.8% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 146

Physicians density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

14,668,522 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

2.39% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Religions

Muslim 95.4% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 4.2% (mostly Roman Catholic), animist 0.4% (2010-11 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 65.4% of population | rural: 33.8% of population | total: 47.6% of population | urban: 34.6% of population | rural: 66.2% of population | total: 52.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 9 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 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: 0.76 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.28 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 12.7% | male: 8.3% | female: 19% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Urbanization

urban population: 44.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.53% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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

refugees (country of origin): 13,683 (Mauritania) (2017) | IDPs: 24,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2016)

Airports

20 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 136

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 11 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

6V (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 9 | by type: passenger 7, cargo 2 | note: excludes numerous oceangoing pirogues operating in Senegal's coastal waters and rivers (2017) | country comparison to the world: 119

National air transport system

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,355 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3,095,523 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2017)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Dakar

Railways

total: 906 km (713 km operational in 2017) | narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-m gauge (2017) | country comparison to the world: 93

Roadways

total: 16,496 km | paved: 5,957 km (includes 72 km of expressways) | unpaved: 10,539 km (2017) | country comparison to the world: 124

Waterways

1,000 km (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 64