| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
14° 00' North Latitude
14° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
196,190 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds;
dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind |
| Natural Resources |
Fish, phosphates, iron ore |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Senegal |
| Capital City |
Dakar |
| Government Type |
Republic under multiparty democratic rule |
| Administrative Divisions |
11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor |
| Independence Day |
4 April 1960 (from France);
Note - complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
11,126,832 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Senegalese |
| Ethnic Groups |
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4% |
| Religion |
Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic) |
| Languages |
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.48% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF);
Note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States |
| Industries |
Agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, ship construction and repair |
| Labor Force |
4.65 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 70% |
| Agriculture Products |
Peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish |
| Export Commodities |
Fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton |
| Export Partners |
India 13.8%, France 10.6%, Mali 10%, Italy 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.7%, Spain 4% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Food and beverages, capital goods, fuels |
| Import Partners |
France 26.2%, Nigeria 12.1%, Thailand 5.3%, Belgium 5%, Spain 4.2% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
906 km |
| Highways |
14,576 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 564 km (2004) |
| Airports |
20 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+221 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.sn |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries
was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982.
Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping. |
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