Senegal: Facts and Figures - Facts and Figures

Official name

Republic of Senegal

Capital

Dakar

Area

196,722 sq km

75,955 sq mi

Largest cities (population)

Dakar

2,079,000 (2000 estimate)

Thiès

228,017 (1996 estimate)

Kaolack

199,023 (1996 estimate)

Ziguinchor

180,555 (1996 estimate)

Saint-Louis

132,425 (1996 estimate)

Population

12,521,851 (2007 estimate)

Population growth rate

2.65 per cent (2007 estimate)

Population density

65 persons per sq km (2007 estimate)

169 persons per sq mi (2007 estimate)

Urbanization

Per cent urban

51 per cent (2005 estimate)

Per cent rural

49 per cent (2005 estimate)

Life expectancy

Total

56.7 years (2007 estimate)

Female

58.1 years (2007 estimate)

Male

55.3 years (2007 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

60 deaths per 1,000 live births (2007 estimate)

Literacy rate

Total

42.1 per cent (2005 estimate)

Female

32.6 per cent (2005 estimate)

Male

51.7 per cent (2005 estimate)

Ethnic divisions

Wolof

44 per cent

Fulani and Tutulor

24 per cent

Serer

15 per cent

Diola

5 per cent

Mandinka

4 per cent

Other

8 per cent

Languages

Balanta-Ganja (official), Hassaniyya (official), Jola-Fonyi (official), Mandinka (official), Mandjak (official), Mankanya (official), Noon (official), Pulaar (official), Serer-Sine (official), Soninke (official), Wolof (official), French (official), Upper Guinea Crioulu (Portuguese Creole), Western Manikakan, other indigenous languages

Religions

Muslim, indigenous beliefs, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Type of government

Multi-party republic

Independence

August 20, 1960 (from France)

Constitution

March 3, 1963, revised 1991, 1998

Voting rights

Universal at age 18

Gross domestic product (GDP) (US$)

8,238 million (2005)

GDP per capita (US$)

706.70 (2005)

GDP by economic sector

GDP, agriculture

17.9 per cent (2005)

GDP, industry

18.9 per cent (2005)

GDP, services

63.2 per cent (2005)

National budget (US$)

Total revenue

821 million (2001)

Total expenditure

710 million (2001)

Monetary unit

1 Communauté Financière Africaine (CFA) franc, consisting of 100 centimes

Exports

Fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Imports

Foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum

Major trading partners for exports

France, Italy, Mali, Spain, India, Côte d’Ivoire

Major trading partners for imports

France, Cameroon, Nigeria, Italy, Thailand, Algeria, China, Japan

Industries

Agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, petroleum refining, building materials

Agriculture

Major products: peanuts, millet, maize, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs, fish

Natural resources

Fish, phosphates, iron ore

Basic Facts and People sections

Area data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Population, population growth rate, and population projections are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International Data Base (IDB) (www.census.gov). Urban and rural population data are from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), FAOSTAT database (www.fao.org). Largest cities population data and political divisions data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Ethnic divisions and religion data are largely from the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook and from various country censuses and reports. Language data are largely from the Ethnologue, Languages of the World, Summer Institute of Linguistics International (www.sil.org).

Health and Education section

Life expectancy and infant mortality data are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International database (IDB) (www.census.gov). Population per physician and population per hospital bed data are from the World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int). Education data are from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org).

Government section

Government, independence, legislature, constitution, highest court, and voting qualifications data are largely from various government Web sites, the latest Europa World Yearbook, and the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. The armed forces data are from Military Balance.

Economy section

Gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, GDP by economic sectors, employment, and national budget data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org). Monetary unit, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, exports, imports, and major trade partner information is from the latest Europa World Yearbook and various International Monetary Fund (IMF) publications.

Energy, Communication, and Transportation section

Electricity information is from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) database (www.eia.doe.gov). Radio, telephone, television, and newspaper information is from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org). Internet hosts, motor vehicles, and road data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org).

Note

Figures may not total 100 per cent due to rounding.