Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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.
- Capital
- Dakar
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 18,847,519
- Area
- 196,722 sq km
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds;
- Natural resources
- fish; phosphates; iron ore
- Languages
- French (official); Wolof; Pulaar; Jola…
- Religions
- Muslim 97.2% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods); Christian 2.7% (mostly Roman Catholic)
- Independence
- 4 April 1960 (from France); 20 August 1960 (full independence after federation with Mali i…
- Administrative divisions
- 14 regions (régions, singular - région); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Sai…
- Currency
- Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF)
- Export partners
- Mali 21%; India 12%; Switzerland 11%; China 5%…
- Import partners
- China 19%; France 9%; Nigeria 7%; India 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain