CapitalDakar
Population18,847,519
Area196,722 km²
GDP per capita$4,500
LanguagesOfficial languages include French, along with Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, and Soninke.
CurrencyCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs
Life Expectancy70.6 yr
Governmentpresidential republic
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
Area
land
192,530 sq km
water
4,192 sq km
total
196,722 sq km
Climate
tropical climate characterized by hot and humid conditions; the rainy season lasts from May to November and is influenced by strong southeast winds, while the dry season extends from December to April, marked by the hot, dry harmattan wind
Terrain
predominantly low, undulating plains that ascend to foothills in the southeastern region
Land use
other
5.5% (2023 est.)
forest
45.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
49.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Location
located in Western Africa, adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean, situated between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Coastline
531 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
an unnamed elevation of 2.8 km located southeast of Nepen Diaka at 648 m
mean elevation
69 m
Irrigated land
1,200 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
2,684 km
border countries
The Gambia shares borders measuring 749 km with Senegal; 363 km with Guinea; 341 km with Guinea-Bissau; 489 km with Mali; and 742 km with Mauritania
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
lowland areas that experience seasonal flooding; occurrences of periodic droughts
Geography - note
the westernmost nation on the African continent; The Gambia is nearly encircled by Senegal
Natural resources
resources include fish, phosphates, and iron ore
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota; marginally larger than twice the area of Indiana
Geographic coordinates
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated in the western region, with Dakar serving as a central hub; approximately 70% of the populace resides in rural areas, as depicted in this population distribution map
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Senegal (bordering with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m]) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (bordering with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km
note: [s] following the country name signifies river source; [m] following the country name signifies river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
61.5% (2023 est.)
female
41.5% (2023 est.)
total population
50.4% (2023 est.)
Languages
Official languages include French, along with Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, and Soninke.
Religions
Muslims constitute 97.2% of the population (predominantly belonging to one of the four principal Sufi orders), while Christians make up 2.7% (mainly Roman Catholic) according to estimates from 2019.
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
total population
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
Birth rate
29.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
18.4 years
total
19.4 years (2025 est.)
female
20 years
Population
male
9,283,314
total
18,847,519 (2024 est.)
female
9,564,205
Nationality
noun
Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective
Senegalese
Tobacco use
male
10.5% (2025 est.)
total
5.4% (2025 est.)
female
0.5% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
49.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
Wolof accounts for 39.7%, Pulaar for 27.5%, Sereer for 16%, Mandinka for 4.9%, Jola for 4.2%, Soninke for 2.4%, with other groups comprising 5.4% (including Europeans and individuals of Lebanese origin) based on 2019 estimates.
Child marriage
men married by age 18
0.7% (2019)
women married by age 15
8.8% (2019)
women married by age 18
30.5% (2019)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
78.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
72.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
16.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
6.1 (2024 est.)
Physician density
0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
3.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.96 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 77% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 23% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
6.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
20.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
34.4 deaths/1,000 live births
total
30.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.4% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.93 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The demographic is primarily located in the western region, with Dakar serving as a central hub; around 70% of the populace resides in rural areas, as indicated by this population distribution map.
Life expectancy at birth
male
68.8 years
female
72.4 years
total population
70.6 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
237 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 77.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 22.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.8% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.9 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65.5% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.2% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
8 years (2023 est.)
total
9 years (2023 est.)
female
10 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; characterized by hot and humid conditions; the rainy season from May to November experiences powerful southeast winds; the dry season, occurring from December to April, is influenced by the hot, dry harmattan wind
Land use
other
5.5% (2023 est.)
forest
45.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
49.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
49.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
89.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
37 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
258.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
2.454 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
11.9% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; excessive grazing; soil degradation; desert expansion; periods of drought; seasonal inundation; overfishing; inadequate environmental regulations; illegal hunting
Total water withdrawal
municipal
261 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
1.416 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
2.759 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
10.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
456,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
9.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
42.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
38.97 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: three vertical bands of equal width in green (on the left), yellow, and red, featuring a small centered green five-pointed star on the yellow band; green symbolizes Islam, progress, and hope, yellow represents natural wealth and development, while red signifies sacrifice and determination; the star embodies unity and hope
history: incorporates colors from the Pan-African movement
Capital
name
Dakar
etymology
the term originates from the Wolof word n'dakar, which translates to "tamarind tree"
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
14 44 N, 17 38 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal
dual citizenship recognized
no, however, Senegalese nationals do not automatically forfeit their citizenship upon acquiring citizenship in another country
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previously 1959 (pre-independence), 1963; most recent version adopted via referendum on 7 January 2001, promulgated on 22 January 2001
amendment process
initiated by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; enactment requires Assembly approval and a referendum; the president has the option to bypass a referendum and present an amendment directly to the Assembly, which necessitates a minimum three-fifths majority vote; the republican structure is not subject to amendment
Country name
former
Senegambia (together with The Gambia), Mali Federation
etymology
named after the Senegal River, which delineates the northern border of the nation; the river's name may stem from "Azenegue," the Portuguese term for the Berber Zenaga community residing north of the river, or it could derive from a local term meaning "navigable"
local long form
République du Sénégal
local short form
Sénégal
conventional long form
Republic of Senegal
conventional short form
Senegal
Independence
4 April 1960 (from France); 20 August 1960 (complete independence following the dissolution of federation with Mali)
Legal system
civil law system based on French legal principles; legislative acts are reviewed by the Constitutional Council
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (comprises the court president and 12 judges, 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)
subordinate courts
High Court of Justice (for high treason offenses by the president); Courts of Appeal; Court of Auditors; assize courts; regional and district courts; Labor Court
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president of the republic based on recommendations from the Superior Council of the Magistrates, presided over by the president and the minister of justice; judges serve varying tenures, with mandatory retirement at either 65 or 68 years; members of the Constitutional Council are appointed, with 5 by the president and 2 by the speaker of the National Assembly; judges serve 6-year terms, with 2 members renewed every 2 years
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)
election results
2024: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in the first round; vote percentages - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54%, Amadou BA (APR) 36%, others 10%
2019: Macky SALL reelected president in the first round; vote percentages - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%, others 5.5%
head of government
Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)
most recent election date
24 March 2024
election/appointment process
president is directly elected through an absolute-majority popular vote over 2 rounds, if necessary, for a single, renewable term of 5 years
expected date of next election
March 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red
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)
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)
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
165 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/17/2024
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
41.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19)
National anthem(s)
title
"Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
history
adopted in 1960; lyrics penned by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, the inaugural president of Senegal; the anthem is occasionally performed incorporating the koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and balafons (types of xylophones) referenced in the title
lyrics/music
Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
14 regions (régions, singular - région); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 629-2961
chancery
2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 234-0540
chief of mission
Ambassador Abdoul Wahab HAIDARA (since 24 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
[email protected]
http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Route des Almadies, Dakar
telephone
[221] 33-879-4000
mailing address
2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C. 20521-2130
chief of mission
Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
email address and website
[email protected]
https://sn.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with certain reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$7.749 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$9.267 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$6.78 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$7.418 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$7.001 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$12.278 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$14.698 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$14.916 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate extraction, fertilizer manufacturing, oil refining, zircon, and gold extraction, building materials, shipbuilding and repair
Labor force
5.763 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
47.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
11.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
10.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
10.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$14.985 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
a lower middle-income, service-oriented economy in West Africa; significant sectors include mining, construction, agriculture, and fisheries; tourism and exports severely impacted by COVID-19; a large informal economy; development of offshore oil and gas reserves; pervasive corruption
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
2.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Mali 21%, India 12%, Switzerland 11%, China 5%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 19%, France 9%, Nigeria 7%, India 7%, Russia 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$4,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$4,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
6.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, groundnuts, watermelons, millet, cassava, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, onions, milk (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, fish, cement (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rice, garments, wheat (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
-$3.327 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$5.542 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$6.072 billion (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
19.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$32.267 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
65.8% (2024 est.)
government consumption
16.4% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
32.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
28.1% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-43.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.8% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
20% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$74.642 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$77.82 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$83.183 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
3.2% (2024 est.)
total
4.1% (2024 est.)
female
6.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
25.4% (2024 est.)
services
49.1% (2024 est.)
agriculture
15.5% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
28.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
36.2 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
21 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
181,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
138,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
imports
486 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
7.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
1.772 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
983 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
production
34.646 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
34.604 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
43.4%
electrification - urban areas
96.6%
electrification - total population
67.9% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.303 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
61% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
more than 25 privately owned television channels; the state-operated Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) transmits from five urban locations; a diverse selection of independent television is obtainable via satellite; numerous radio stations exist; several international broadcasting services can be received on FM in Dakar.
Internet country code
.sn
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
399,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
22.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
120 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
357,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
1
medium
1
key ports
Dakar, Karabane, Lyndiane, M'bao Oil Terminal, Rufisque, St. Louis
very small
4
total ports
6 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
4
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
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
6V
Military & Security
Military - note
The responsibility for both territorial defense and internal security in Senegal lies with the military, which additionally supports the civilian government in areas such as preventive healthcare, infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and disaster response. The military's primary concerns include a low-intensity insurgency in the southern region of the country, maritime security, and the protection of borders to combat smuggling and Islamist insurgent groups from the Sahel that have ties to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State. Furthermore, the military is involved in international peacekeeping operations and joint exercises with other nations, with France being its closest security ally, maintaining a longstanding military presence in Senegal.
Since 1982, Senegalese security forces have been conducting a low-level counterinsurgency operation against factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MDFC) in the southern Casamance region. This conflict is recognized as one of the longest enduring low-intensity insurgencies globally, resulting in over 5,000 fatalities and displacing approximately 60,000 individuals. In recent years, nearly all MDFC factions have consented to cease hostilities (2025).
Military deployments
190 personnel in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA; alongside approximately 575 police); around 380 police in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
1.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Senegalese Armed Forces (les Forces Armées Sénégalaises, FAS): Army (l’Armée de Terre, AT), Senegalese National Navy (Marine Sénégalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (l'Armée de l'Air du Sénégal, AAS), National Gendarmerie.
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18-28 years old (up to 35 for specialized positions); a service commitment of 24 months (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military is equipped with a combination of older, secondhand, and some more contemporary equipment sourced from various suppliers, including China, France, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Approximately 25,000 personnel serve in the Armed Forces, including the Gendarmerie (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
5,922 (2024 est.)
refugees
13,064 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
The Senegalese Space Study Agency (Agence Sénégalaise d'Etudes Spatiales, abbreviated as ASES) was established in 2023 as a part of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (2025)
Space program overview
This emerging program is primarily dedicated to earth observation and remote sensing capabilities, primarily aimed at enhancing climate resilience, managing environmental issues, conducting research, and fostering socio-economic development. Its research encompasses areas like astronomy and planetary sciences and has engaged in collaborations with space agencies from China, France, Turkey, and the United States, in addition to the ESA (2025)
Key space-program milestones
2023 - entered into a cooperation agreement with ESA to utilize space technology for socio-economic advancement; set up a space control center to support satellite manufacturing and services
2024 - developed the first Earth observation/remote sensing nanosatellite (GaindeSat-1A) with assistance from France, which was launched by the United States; signed a deal with Turkey to enhance space infrastructure; agreed to join China's lunar exploration and research station initiative
2025 - endorsed the US-led Artemis Accords pertaining to space and lunar exploration; signed a partnership with France aimed at capacity building in both space infrastructure and Earth observation projects
