{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "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": { "Location": { "text": "Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "14 00 N, 14 00 W" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "196,722 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "192,530 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "4,192 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "2,684 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "The Gambia 749 km; Guinea 363 km; Guinea-Bissau 341 km; Mali 489 km; Mauritania 742 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "531 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind" }, "Terrain": { "text": "generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "69 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "fish, phosphates, iron ore" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "46.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "43.8% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "9.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "1,200 sq km (2012)" }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "18,847,519" }, "male": { "text": "9,283,314" }, "female": { "text": "9,564,205 (2024 est.)" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Senegalese (singular and plural)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Senegalese" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "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": { "text": "French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke" }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 97.2% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 2.7% (mostly Roman Catholic) (2019 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

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": { "text": "40.7% (male 3,907,986/female 3,760,594)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "55.9% (male 5,098,038/female 5,437,195)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "3.4% (2024 est.) (male 277,290/female 366,416)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "81.5" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "75.8" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "5.7" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "17.4 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "19.2 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "18.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "20 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "2.46% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "30.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "49.6% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.94 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.76 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "21.9 years (2019 est.)", "note": "note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "261 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "31.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "34.4 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "27.6 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "70.6 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "68.8 years" }, "female": { "text": "72.4 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "4.06 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "1.98 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "26.9% (2019)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 95.9% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 79.3% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 87.3% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 4.1% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 20.7% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 12.7% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "5.2% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physician density": { "text": "0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 94.1% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 55.5% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 74.1% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 5.9% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 44.5% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 25.9% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "8.8% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "6.9% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "13.1% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "0.7% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "14.4% (2019)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "65.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Child marriage": { "women married by age 15": { "text": "8.8%" }, "women married by age 18": { "text": "30.5%" }, "men married by age 18": { "text": "0.7% (2019 est.)" } }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "5.5% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "56.3%" }, "male": { "text": "68.4%" }, "female": { "text": "45.4% (2021)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "9 years" }, "male": { "text": "8 years" }, "female": { "text": "10 years (2021)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; periodic droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental protective laws; wildlife populations threatened by poaching" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "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": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "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": { "text": "46.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "43.8% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "9.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "49.6% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Food insecurity": { "severe localized food insecurity": { "text": "due to localized shortfalls in cereal production and reduced incomes - the latest analysis indicates that about 1.26 million people are projected to be acutely food insecure during the June to August 2023 lean season; this would be a significant deterioration compared to the previous year; the main drivers of acute food insecurity are macroeconomic challenges and high prices of basic food items (2023)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "1.46% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "38.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "10.9 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "11.74 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "2,454,059 tons (2016 est.)" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "260 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "58 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "2.76 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "38.97 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Senegal" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Senegal" }, "local long form": { "text": "République du Sénégal" }, "local short form": { "text": "Sénégal" }, "former": { "text": "Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation" }, "etymology": { "text": "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": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Dakar" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "14 44 N, 17 38 W" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "the Atlantic coast trading settlement of Ndakaaru came to be called \"Dakar\" by French colonialists" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor" }, "Independence": { "text": "4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 4 April (1960)" }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Council" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "previous 1959 (pre-independence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001" }, "amendments": { "text": "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": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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": { "text": "
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": { "text": "National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "unicameral" }, "number of seats": { "text": "165 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "mixed system" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "5 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "11/17/2024" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19)" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "41.2%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "November 2029" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Isidor Marcel SENE (since 31 August 2024)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 234-0540" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 629-2961" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
contact@ambasenegal-us.org

http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau" }, "embassy": { "text": "Route des Almadies, Dakar" }, "mailing address": { "text": "2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C.  20521-2130" }, "telephone": { "text": "[221] 33-879-4000" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
DakarACS@state.gov

https://sn.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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": "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)": { "text": "lion; national colors: green, yellow, red" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons\" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER" }, "note": "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": { "text": "7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "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": { "text": "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)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$78.045 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$74.624 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$71.874 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "4.58% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "3.83% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "6.54% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$4,300 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$4,200 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$4,200 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$30.848 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "5.94% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "9.7% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "2.18% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "Credit ratings": { "Moody's rating": { "text": "Ba3 (2017)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "B+ (2000)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "17.4% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "24.3% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "49.2% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "67% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "13.8% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "34.8% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "9.5% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "23% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-48% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "groundnuts, watermelons, rice, cassava, sugarcane, millet, maize, onions, sorghum, milk (2022)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "3.71% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "5.578 million (2023 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "2.93% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "2.97% (2022 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "3.37% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "4.1% (2023 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "2.9% (2023 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "6.7% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": { "text": "36.2 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3% (2021 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "28.8% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "9.52% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "10.89% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "11.25% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$6.423 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$6.424 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "48.3% of GDP (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "19.44% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$3.327 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "-$2.662 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$1.898 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2021": { "text": "$6.78 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$5.063 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$5.836 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Mali 18%, India 16%, Switzerland 11%, US 8%, China 4% (2022)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "gold, phosphoric acid, refined petroleum, fish, precious metal products (2022)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2021": { "text": "$12.278 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$9.627 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$9.17 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 22%, India 8%, France 7%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4% (2022)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, ships, rice, crude petroleum, plastic products (2022)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$1.827 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$16.004 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "606.57 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "623.76 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "554.531 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "575.586 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "585.911 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "67.9% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "96.6%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "43.4%" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "1.668 million kW (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "7.025 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "326.425 million kWh (2022 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "1.057 billion kWh (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "74.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "10.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "9.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "1.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "consumption": { "text": "502,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "502,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "55,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "54.646 million cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "54.498 million cubic meters (2022 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "9.152 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "1.134 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "7.926 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "92,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": { "text": "7.836 million Btu/person (2022 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "399,000 (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "22.4 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "120 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "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": { "text": "fixed-line is 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": ".sn" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "60% (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "357,000 (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "2 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "2 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "11" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "21,038 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "40,000 (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "6V" }, "Airports": { "text": "19 (2024)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "43 km gas, 8 km refined products (2017)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)" }, "narrow gauge": { "text": "906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "16,665 km" }, "paved": { "text": "6,126 km (includes 241 km of expressways)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "10,539 km (2017)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "1,000 km (2012) (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "36 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 30" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "6 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "0" }, "medium": { "text": "1" }, "small": { "text": "1" }, "very small": { "text": "4" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "4" }, "key ports": { "text": "Dakar, Karabane, Lyndiane, M'bao Oil Terminal, Rufisque, St. Louis" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "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": "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": { "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2019 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "11,518 (Mauritania) (2023)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "8,400 (2022)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

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

" } } }