Senegal

Senegal

Introduction

Background

The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February 2007 and has amended Senegal’s constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and to weaken the opposition, part of the president’s increasingly autocratic governing style. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation.

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
country comparison to the world: 88 land:192,530 sq km
water:4,192 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries

total: 2,640 km
border countries:The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 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 extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:unnamed elevation southwest of Kedougou 581 m

Natural resources

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Land use

arable land: 12.51%
permanent crops:0.24%
other:87.25% (2005)

Irrigated land

1,200 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

39.4 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.22cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita:190cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards

lowlands seasonally flooded

periodic droughts

Environment – current issues

wildlife populations threatened by poaching

deforestation

overgrazing

soil erosion

desertification

overfishing

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

westernmost country on the African continent

The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: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%

Languages

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Religions

Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%

Population

12,643,799 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.3% (male 2,748,457/female 2,722,633)
15-64 years:53.9% (male 3,200,056/female 3,611,173)
65 years and over:2.9% (male 166,577/female 194,903) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18 years
male:17.2 years
female:18.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.557% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Birth rate

36.73 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Death rate

9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Net migration rate

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Urbanization

urban population: 42% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

DAKAR (capital) 2.777 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.87 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

410 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34

Infant mortality rate

total: 56.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 37 male:62.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female:49.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.78 years
country comparison to the world: 187 male:57.85 years
female:61.77 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.78 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Health expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 118

Physicians density

0.059 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 172

Hospital bed density

0.34 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 178

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 52% of population
total: 69% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 48% of population
total: 31% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 69% of population
rural: 38% of population
total: 51% of population
unimproved:
urban: 31% of population
rural: 62% of population
total: 49% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

59,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

HIV/AIDS – deaths

2,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.5% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 56

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:39.3%
male:51.1%
female:29.2% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 8 years
male:8 years
female:7 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 14.8%
country comparison to the world: 77 male:11.9%
female:20.1% (2006)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form:Senegal
local long form:Republique du Senegal
local short form:Senegal
former:Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation

Government type

republic

Capital

name: Dakar
geographic coordinates:14 40 N, 17 26 W
time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

14 regions (regions, singular – region)

Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, 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)

Constitution

adopted 7 January 2001

amended many times

Legal system

civil law system based on French law

judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government:Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1 May 2009)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) under new constitution

election last held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Abdoulaye WADE reelected president

percent of vote – Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate, reinstituted in 2007, (100 seats

35 members indirectly elected and 65 members appointed by the president) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats

90 members elected by direct popular vote and 60 elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate – last held on 19 August 2007 (next to be held – NA)

National Assembly – last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

note – the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006

legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25 February 2007 presidential elections and later for 3 June 2007

the election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party, which resulted in a record-low 35% voter turnout
election results:Senate results – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – PDS 34, AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president

National Assembly results – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – SOPI Coalition 131, other 19

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court

Council of State

Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation

Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders

African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]

Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar [Macky SALL]

Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]

And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE]

Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]

Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE]

Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]

Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]

Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA]

National Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF]

People’s Labor Party or PTP [El Hadji DIOUF]

Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]

Rewmi Party [Idrissa Seck]

Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]

Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]

SOPI Coalition [Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS)

Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: labor

students

Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes

teachers

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Fatou Danielle DIAGNE
chancery:2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 234-0540
FAX:[1] (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general:Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUKENS
embassy:Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address:B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone:[221] 33-829-2100
FAX:[221] 33-822-2991

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 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

the lyrics were written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal’s first president

the anthem is sometimes played incorporating the Koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and Balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title

Economy

Economy – overview

Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance. The country’s key export industries are phosphate mining, fertilizer production, and commercial fishing. The country is also working on iron ore and oil exploration projects. In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during 1995-2007. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the single digits. The country was adversely affected by the global economic downturn in 2009 and GDP growth fell below 2%. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Under the IMF’s Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program which was completed in 2010. Senegal received its first disbursement from the $540 million Millennium Challenge Account compact it signed in September 2009 for infrastructure and agriculture development. In 2010, the Senegalese people protested against frequent power cuts. The government pledged to expand capacity by 2012 and to promote renewable energy but until Senegal has more capacity, more protests are likely and economic activity will be hindered. During the year, bakers protested government price controls on bread. Foreign investment in Senegal is constrained by Senegal’s business environment, which has slipped in recent years, and by perceptions of corruption.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.88 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114 $22.91 billion (2009 est.)
$22.42 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.88 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93 2.2% (2009 est.)
3.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190 $1,900 (2009 est.)
$1,900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 15.9%
industry:21.7%
services:62.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.532 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 77.5%
industry and services:22.5% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate

48% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Population below poverty line

54% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%:30.1% (2005)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

41.3 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 55 41.3 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Budget

revenues: $2.829 billion
expenditures:$3.5 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Public debt

33.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 31.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32 -1.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62 14.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.163 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 $2.987 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.186 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $4.882 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.771 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 $3.511 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables

cattle, poultry, pigs

fish

Industries

agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining

iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity – production

2.232 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity – consumption

1.763 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

65 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Oil – consumption

41,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Oil – exports

4,550 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Oil – imports

36,290 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas – production

50 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas – consumption

50 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Current account balance

-$1.209 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142 -$1.261 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$2.053 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 $1.892 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Exports – partners

Mali 21.6%, India 9.6%, France 4.5%, Gambia, The 4.2% (2010)

Imports

$4.45 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $4.543 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports – partners

France 15.9%, UK 13.6%, China 8.6%, Nigeria 8.6%, Netherlands 5.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.048 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119 $2.123 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$3.858 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 $3.503 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
481.83 (2007)
522.89 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

20 (2010)
country comparison to the world:135

Airports – with paved runways

total: 10
over 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:7
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 43 km

refined products 8 km (2010)

Railways

total: 906 km
country comparison to the world: 92 narrow gauge:906 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 14,008 km
country comparison to the world: 125 paved:4,099 km (includes 7 km of expressways)
unpaved:9,909 km (2006)

Waterways

1,000 km (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 64

Merchant marine

total: 1
country comparison to the world: 159 by type:passenger/cargo 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Dakar

Military

Military branches

Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l’Air du Senegal) (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

20 years of age for selective conscript service

service obligation – 2 years

women have been accepted into military service since 2008 (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,699,196
females age 16-49:3,018,565 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,788,493
females age 16-49:2,133,370 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 145,509
female:145,064 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal’s Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict

2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 19,630 (Mauritania)
IDPs:22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in 2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America

illicit cultivator of cannabis