 Country name conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal Background Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania Area total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km Area - comparative slightly smaller than South Dakota Coastline 531 km Climate tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind Terrain generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m Natural hazards lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts Environment - current issues wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing Geography - note westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal Population 10,580,307 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,330,395; female 2,289,706)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 2,707,195; female 2,929,998)
65 years and over: 3% (male 156,514; female 166,499) (2003 est.) Median age total: 17.8 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18.4 years (2002) Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.) 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% Religions Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic) Languages French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka Internet country code .sn Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.) Government type republic under multiparty democratic rule National holiday Independence Day, 4 April (1960) Legal system based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government"s accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Economy - overview In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal"s currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. 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 5% annually during 1995-2002. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1%, but rose to an estimated 3.3% in 2001 and 3.0% in 2002. Investment rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP. In 2003, GDP will probably again grow at about 5%. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction. Exports - partners India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4% (2002) Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States Currency code XOF Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998) Airports 20 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2002) Disputes - international separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and political instability in Guinea-Bissau |
