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Senegal
Senegal (Africa)
Introduction
Background
Senegal is one of the few countries in the world with evidence of continuous human life from the Paleolithic period to present. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Jolof Empire ruled most of Senegal. Starting in the 15th century, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain traded along the Senegalese coast. Senegal’s location on the western tip of Africa made it a favorable base for the European slave trade. European powers used the Senegalese island of Goree as a base to purchase slaves from the warring chiefdoms on the mainland, and at the height of the slave trade in Senegal, over one-third of the Senegalese population was enslaved. In 1815, France abolished slavery and began expanding inland. During the second half of the 19th century, France took possession of Senegal as a French colony. In 1959, the French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. In 1982, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union dissolved in 1989.
Since the 1980s, the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance -- a separatist movement based in southern Senegal -- has led a low-level insurgency. Several attempts at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement have failed. Since 2012, despite sporadic incidents of violence, an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect. Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. The Socialist Party of Senegal ruled for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000 and re-elected in 2007. WADE amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. In 2012, WADE’s decision to run for a third presidential term sparked public backlash that led to his loss to current President Macky SALL. A 2016 constitutional referendum limited future presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE took office in April 2024.
Geography ::Senegal
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 196,722 sq km
land: 192,530 sq km
water: 4,192 sq km
comparison ranking: total 88
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana
Area comparison map:
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
Coastline
531 km
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
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation
highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 69 m
Natural resources
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use
agricultural land: 46.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.8% (2018 est.)
other: 9.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
1,200 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Population distribution
the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Geography - note
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal
People and Society
Population
total: 18,847,519
male: 9,283,314
female: 9,564,205 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 66; male 66; total 66
Nationality
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups
Wolof 39.7%, Pulaar 27.5%, Sereer 16%, Mandinka 4.9%, Jola 4.2%, Soninke 2.4%, other 5.4% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2019 est.)
Languages
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke
Religions
Muslim 97.2% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 2.7% (mostly Roman Catholic) (2019 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).
Age structure
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 3,907,986/female 3,760,594)
15-64 years: 55.9% (male 5,098,038/female 5,437,195)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 277,290/female 366,416)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 81.5
youth dependency ratio: 75.8
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7
potential support ratio: 17.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 19.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 18.4 years
female: 20 years
comparison ranking: total 213
Population growth rate
2.46% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 20
Birth rate
30.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 25
Death rate
4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 198
Net migration rate
-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 134
Population distribution
the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.9 years (2019 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
261 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 35
Infant mortality rate
total: 31.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 34.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 47
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 68.8 years
female: 72.4 years
comparison ranking: total population 172
Total fertility rate
4.06 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 22
Gross reproduction rate
1.98 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
26.9% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 95.9% of population
rural: 79.3% of population
total: 87.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 4.1% of population
rural: 20.7% of population
total: 12.7% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
5.2% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 94.1% of population
rural: 55.5% of population
total: 74.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 5.9% of population
rural: 44.5% of population
total: 25.9% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.8% (2016)
comparison ranking: 146
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 170
Tobacco use
total: 6.9% (2020 est.)
male: 13.1% (2020 est.)
female: 0.7% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 156
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.4% (2019)
comparison ranking: 37
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65.3% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 8.8%
women married by age 18: 30.5%
men married by age 18: 0.7% (2019 est.)
Education expenditures
5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 59
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.3%
male: 68.4%
female: 45.4% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 9 years
male: 8 years
female: 10 years (2021)
Environment
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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Land use
agricultural land: 46.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.8% (2018 est.)
other: 9.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Food insecurity
severe localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in cereal production and reduced incomes - according to the latest analysis, about 881,000 people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance between June and August 2022, mostly on account of localized shortfalls in cereal production in 2021 and reduced incomes owing to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic (2022)
Revenue from forest resources
1.46% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 45
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 76
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 38.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 10.9 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 11.74 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,454,059 tons (2016 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 260 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 58 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.76 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
38.97 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: République du Sénégal
local short form: Sénégal
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
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Dakar
geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)
etymology: the Atlantic coast trading settlement of Ndakaaru came to be called "Dakar" by French colonialists
Administrative divisions
14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Legal system
civil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Council
Constitution
history: previous 1959 (pre-independence), 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)
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 March 2024 (next to be held in March 2029)
election results:
2024: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54%, Amadou BA (APR) 36%, other 10%
2019: Macky SALL reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%, other 5.5%
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 165 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/17/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19)
percentage of women in chamber: 46.1%
expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (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
Political parties
Alliance for Citizenship and Work or ACT
Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR
Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP
AND (National Alliance for Democracy)
And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS
ARC (Alternative for the next generation of citizens)
Awalé
Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope); coalition includes AFP, APR, BGC, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, and UNP
Bokk Gis Gis coalition
Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk
Coalition Mimi 2024
Dare the Future movement
Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT
Democratic Renaissance Congress
Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ
Gainde Centrist Bloc or BCG
General Alliance for the Interests of the Republic or AGIR
Grand Party or GP
Gueum sa Bopp (Believe in yourself)
Independence and Labor Party or PIT
Jotna Coalition
Liberate the People (Yewwi Askan Wi) or YAW
Madicke 2019 coalition
National Union for the People or UNP
Only Senegal Movement
Party for Truth and Development or PVD
Party of Unity and Rally or PUR
Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi
PRP (Republican party for Progress)
Rewmi Party
Save Senegal (Wallu Senegal Grand Coalition) or WS; coalition includes PDS, Jotna Coalition, Democratic Renaissance Congress
Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS
Socialist Party or PS
Tekki Movement
Réewum Ngor (Republic of Values)
Servants (Les Serviteurs)
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, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Isidor Marcel SENE (since 31 August 2024)
chancery: 2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961
email address and website:
contact@ambasenegal-us.org
http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
embassy: Route des Almadies, Dakar
mailing address: 2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C. 20521-2130
telephone: [221] 33-879-4000
email address and website:
DakarACS@state.gov
https://sn.usembassy.gov/
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
National symbol(s)
lion; national colors: green, yellow, red
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 heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Gorée (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c)
Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income, services-driven West African economy; key mining, construction, agriculture, and fishing industries; tourism and exports hit hard by COVID-19; large informal economy; developing offshore oil and gas fields; systemic corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$78.045 billion (2023 est.)
$74.624 billion (2022 est.)
$71.874 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 105
Real GDP growth rate
4.58% (2023 est.)
3.83% (2022 est.)
6.54% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 65
Real GDP per capita
$4,300 (2023 est.)
$4,200 (2022 est.)
$4,200 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 183
GDP (official exchange rate)
$30.848 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.94% (2023 est.)
9.7% (2022 est.)
2.18% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 127
Credit ratings
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2000)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 17.4% (2023 est.)
industry: 24.3% (2023 est.)
services: 49.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 156; industry 101; agriculture 44
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 67% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 13.8% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 34.8% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 9.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 23% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -48% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
groundnuts, watermelons, rice, cassava, sugarcane, millet, maize, onions, sorghum, milk (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate
3.71% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 87
Labor force
5.578 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 77
Unemployment rate
2.93% (2023 est.)
2.97% (2022 est.)
3.37% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 42
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 4.1% (2023 est.)
male: 2.9% (2023 est.)
female: 6.7% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 181
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
36.2 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 65
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 28.8% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
9.52% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.89% of GDP (2022 est.)
11.25% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $6.423 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $6.424 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
48.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 110
Taxes and other revenues
19.44% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 91
Current account balance
-$3.327 billion (2021 est.)
-$2.662 billion (2020 est.)
-$1.898 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 173
Exports
$6.78 billion (2021 est.)
$5.063 billion (2020 est.)
$5.836 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 128
Exports - partners
Mali 18%, India 16%, Switzerland 11%, US 8%, China 4% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
gold, phosphoric acid, refined petroleum, fish, precious metal products (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$12.278 billion (2021 est.)
$9.627 billion (2020 est.)
$9.17 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 113
Imports - partners
China 22%, India 8%, France 7%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, rice, crude petroleum, plastic products (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.827 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 124
Debt - external
$16.004 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 40
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
606.57 (2023 est.)
623.76 (2022 est.)
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)
585.911 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 67.9% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 96.6%
electrification - rural areas: 43.4%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 1.668 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 7.025 billion kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 326.425 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.057 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 99; imports 101; consumption 117; installed generating capacity 127
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 74.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 10.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 9.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
hydroelectricity: 4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
consumption: 502,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 502,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 55,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Natural gas
production: 54.646 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 54.498 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
9.152 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.134 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 7.926 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 92,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 108
Energy consumption per capita
7.836 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: 156
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 297,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 108
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 20.855 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 59
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Senegal’s telecom market continues to show steady growth in all sectors; this has been supported by the particular demands made on consumers during the pandemic, which resulted in a particularly strong increase in the number of subscribers; the mobile subscriber base increased 6.7% in 2020, year-on-year, and by 4.1% in 2021, while the number of fixed broadband subscribers increased 17.5% year-on-year in 2021; mobile internet platforms account for the vast majority of all internet accesses; quality of service issues continue to plague the market, with the regulator periodically issuing fines to the market players (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 per 100 persons (2021)
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)
Broadcast media
Senegal’s media environment includes over 25 private television stations, hundreds of radio stations, and more than 45 newspapers. State-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) broadcasts from five cities in Senegal and a wide range of independent TV programming is available via satellite; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar
Internet country code
.sn
Internet users
percent of population: 58% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 153,813 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 122
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 21,038 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 40,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
6V
Airports
19 (2024)
comparison ranking: 136
Pipelines
43 km gas, 8 km refined products (2017)
Railways
total: 906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)
narrow gauge: 906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
comparison ranking: total 93
Roadways
total: 16,665 km
paved: 6,126 km (includes 241 km of expressways)
unpaved: 10,539 km (2017)
comparison ranking: total 119
Waterways
1,000 km (2012) (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers)
comparison ranking: 68
Merchant marine
total: 36 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 30
comparison ranking: total 129
Ports
total ports: 6 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 4
ports with oil terminals: 4
key ports: Dakar, Karabane, Lyndiane, M'bao Oil Terminal, Rufisque, St. Louis
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Senegalese Armed Forces (les Forces Armées Sénégalaises, FAS): Army (l’Armée de Terre, AT), Senegalese National Navy (Marine Séenéegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (l'Arméee de l'Air du Séenéegal, AAS), National Gendarmerie (includes Territorial and Mobile components)
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2024)
note: the National Police operates in major cities, while the Gendarmerie under the FAS primarily operates outside urban areas; both services have specialized anti-terrorism units
Military expenditures
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 93
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 27,000 active personnel (15,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force; 16,000 National Gendarmerie); 15,000 National Police (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a mix of older, secondhand, and more modern equipment from a variety of countries, including France, South Africa, and Russia/former Soviet Union; in recent years, the military has undertaken a modernization program and has received newer equipment from more than 10 countries, including France and the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
19 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18 years of age for cadets); 24-month service commitment (2024)
Military deployments
200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA; plus about 525 police); 800 (ECOWAS Military Intervention in The Gambia--ECOMIG); 500 (ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau--EESMGB); 450 police Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2024)
Military - note
despite limited resources, the Senegalese military is considered to be a well-equipped, experienced, and effective force; the military has a tradition of non-interference in the country’s political process and positive relations with civil authorities; it participates in foreign deployments and multinational exercises and has received assistance from France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as well as Germany, Spain, the UK, and the US; the military’s primary focuses are border, internal, and maritime security; it also works with the civilian government in areas such as preventive healthcare, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and disaster response
Senegal's security concerns include the prevalence of multiple active terrorist groups across the region and political instability in neighboring Mali and Guinea; Senegal has recently established new military and gendarmerie camps along its eastern border with Mali
Senegalese security forces have been engaged in a low-level counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region against various factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MDFC) since 1982; the conflict is one of longest running low-level insurgencies in the World, having claimed more than 5,000 lives while leaving another 60,000 displaced; in May 2023, a faction of the MFDC agreed to a peace deal (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Senegalese Space Study Agency (Agence Sénégalaise d'Etudes Spatiales or ASES; launched in 2023 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation) (2024)
Space program overview
small, nascent program focused on acquiring satellites, largely for socio-economic development and research; conducts research in such fields as astronomy and planetary sciences; has cooperated with the European Space Agency, and the space agencies of China, France, Turkey, and the US (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 11,518 (Mauritania) (2023)
IDPs: 8,400 (2022)
Illicit drugs
a transit point on the cocaine route from South America to Europe; large production of cannabis in southern Casamance region; the high domestic use of cannabis, ecstasy, and to a lesser extent crack cocaine
