Senegal

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 111,795 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2017 est.)

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

total: 3,675,209 | percent of population: 25.7% (July 2016 est.)

Telephone system

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) | 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) | 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

total subscriptions: 290,636 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 15,758,366 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: 4.139 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 4.9 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Central bank discount rate

0.25% (31 December 2010) | 4.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.4% (31 December 2017 est.) | 5.3% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.547 billion (2017 est.) | -$769 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external

$8.571 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $6.327 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.3 (2011)

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

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - | 617.4 (2017 est.) | 593.01 (2016 est.) | 593.01 (2015 est.) | 591.45 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.)

Exports

$2.362 billion (2017 est.) | $2.498 billion (2016 est.)

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 (official exchange rate)

$21.11 billion (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$54.8 billion (2017 est.) | $51.15 billion (2016 est.) | $48.15 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 71.9% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 15.2% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 25.1% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 3.4% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 16.9% (2017 est.) | industry: 24.3% (2017 est.) | services: 58.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,500 (2017 est.) | $3,300 (2016 est.) | $3,200 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.2% (2017 est.) | 6.2% (2016 est.) | 6.4% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving

21.2% of GDP (2017 est.) | 21.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 20.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$5.217 billion (2017 est.) | $4.966 billion (2016 est.)

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)

1.3% (2017 est.) | 0.8% (2016 est.)

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

48.3% of GDP (2017 est.) | 47.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.827 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.944 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $4.689 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$6.695 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $5.219 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.944 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $4.689 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

48% (2007 est.)

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 - 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.)

Electricity access

population without electricity: 6 million (2017) | electrification - total population: 65% (2017) | electrification - urban areas: 90% (2017) | electrification - rural areas: 43% (2017)

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.)

Area

total: 196,722 sq km | land: 192,530 sq km | water: 4,192 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Senegal Print Image Description 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

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

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% (2011 est.) | arable land: 17.4% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.3% (2011 est.) / 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

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 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) | etymology: the Atlantic coast trading settlement of Ndakaaru came to be called "Dakar" by French colonialists

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 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)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Momar DIOP (since 22 June 2018) | 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: President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | 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) | 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%

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, 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) | 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; composition - men 96, women 69, percent of women 41.8%

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] 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

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.

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

1.38% of GDP (2019 est.) | 1.44% of GDP (2018) | 1.46% of GDP (2017) | 1.73% of GDP (2016) | 1.58% of GDP (2015)

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)

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.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Senegal Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Senegal. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

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

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

Drinking water source

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

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

total: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 42.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.5 years (2018 est.) | male: 60.4 years | female: 64.7 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 51.9% | male: 64.8% | female: 39.8% (2017)

Major infectious diseases

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

Major urban areas - population

3.057 million DAKAR (capital) (2019)

Maternal mortality rate

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

Median age

total: 19 years (2018 est.) | male: 18.1 years | female: 19.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.9 years (2017 est.) | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

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

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 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

2.36% (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: urban: 65.4% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 33.8% of population (2015 est.) | total: 47.6% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 34.6% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 66.2% of population (2015 est.) | total: 52.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 9 years (2017)

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: 0.75 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.79 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

total: 8.1% | male: 7.4% | female: 8.9% (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 47.7% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 3.73% 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): 14,155 (Mauritania) (2019) | IDPs: 18,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2017)

Airports

20 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

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

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

6V (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 28 | by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 23 (2018)

National air transport system

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

Pipelines

43 km gas, 8 km refined products (2017)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Dakar

Railways

total: 906 km (713 km operational in 2017) (2017) | narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-m gauge (2017)

Roadways

total: 16,665 km (2017) | paved: 6,126 km (includes 241 km of expressways) (2017) | unpaved: 10,539 km (2017)

Waterways

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