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.

Area
Total: 196,722 km²
Land: 192,530 km²
Water: 4,192 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana

Land boundaries
Total: 2,684 km
Border countries (5): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 49.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 45.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 5.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,200 km² (2012)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Geography
Note: westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

Population
Total: 18,847,519 (2024 est.)
Male: 9,283,314
Female: 9,564,205
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
Growth rate: 2.46% (2024 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.)

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 78.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 72.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 16.4 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 18.4 years
Female: 20 years

Population growth rate: 2.46% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 30.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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, 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.)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 237 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.8 years
Female: 72.4 years

Total fertility rate: 4.06 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 23% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 22.6% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.2% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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 name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar, meaning 'tamarind tree'

Administrative divisions: 14 regions (régions, singular - région); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Legal system: civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single, renewable 5-year term
Most recent election date: 24 March 2024
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%
Expected date of next election: March 2,029

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: 41.2%
Expected date of next election: November 2,029

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red, with a small five-pointed green star centered on the yellow band; green stands for Islam, progress, and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, and red for sacrifice and determination; the star represents unity and hope

National anthem
Title: 'Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons' (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
Lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
History: 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:

Real gdp growth rate: 6.9% (2024 est.); 4.3% (2023 est.); 3.9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 6.9% (2024 est.); 4.3% (2023 est.); 3.9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 65.8% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 16.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 32.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 28.1% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Industry: 25.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 49.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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: 20% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 5.763 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $7.749 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $9.267 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 19.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $7.001 billion (2023 est.); $7.418 billion (2022 est.); $6.78 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, fish, cement (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $14.916 billion (2023 est.); $14.698 billion (2022 est.); $12.278 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rice, garments, wheat (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 1.772 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 7.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 486 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 983 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 67.9% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 96.6%
Access electrification - rural areas: 43.4%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 138,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 181,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 34.646 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 34.604 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 10.373 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 456,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 9.859 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 58,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 8.303 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 399,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 22.4 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 61% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 357,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 20 (2025)

Railways
Total: 906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)
Narrow gauge: 906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 36 (2023)
By type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 30