01
Physical geography
Generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast.
Local timeDakar ·
Africa / Western Africa · Card 045
Senegal
Senegal is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Dakar.
Find Senegal
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Dakar
- Languages
- French
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Population
- 18.9 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 196,722 km²75,955 square miles
- Independence
- 1960from France
Senegal in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Dakar; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include French.
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Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania.
Flag
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
History & independence
Senegal became independent from France as part of the Mali Federation on 20 June 1960. It withdrew from that federation in August 1960. Dakar has long served as a major Atlantic port and regional center.
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Independence and withdrawal from the Mali Federation
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The Senegambia confederation links Senegal and The Gambia
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An election brings a peaceful change of governing party
Economy
Main activities
Services, agriculture, fishing, mining and industry contribute to the economy. Dakar is an important transport and commercial hub. Petroleum and gas production have added new activities to the export base.
Industry and production
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people18.92025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,466,328 | 4.466 |
| 1980 | 5,845,638 | 5.846 |
| 1990 | 7,720,523 | 7.721 |
| 2000 | 9,968,260 | 9.968 |
| 2010 | 12,635,413 | 12.635 |
| 2020 | 16,789,219 | 16.789 |
| 2025 | 18,931,966 | 18.932 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars30.02025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7,649,320,651 | 7.649 |
| 1991 | 7,852,789,724 | 7.853 |
| 1992 | 7,956,464,848 | 7.956 |
| 1993 | 8,064,689,718 | 8.065 |
| 1994 | 8,060,857,301 | 8.061 |
| 1995 | 8,501,672,123 | 8.502 |
| 1996 | 8,673,403,962 | 8.673 |
| 1997 | 8,937,561,243 | 8.938 |
| 1998 | 9,464,741,444 | 9.465 |
| 1999 | 10,059,440,324 | 10.059 |
| 2000 | 10,450,471,991 | 10.450 |
| 2001 | 10,900,976,316 | 10.901 |
| 2002 | 10,908,464,913 | 10.908 |
| 2003 | 11,518,679,089 | 11.519 |
| 2004 | 12,053,525,217 | 12.054 |
| 2005 | 12,573,060,905 | 12.573 |
| 2006 | 12,866,110,160 | 12.866 |
| 2007 | 13,229,850,431 | 13.230 |
| 2008 | 13,719,774,159 | 13.720 |
| 2009 | 14,097,356,679 | 14.097 |
| 2010 | 14,575,382,432 | 14.575 |
| 2011 | 14,769,831,309 | 14.770 |
| 2012 | 15,361,066,999 | 15.361 |
| 2013 | 15,731,635,117 | 15.732 |
| 2014 | 16,710,783,797 | 16.711 |
| 2015 | 17,774,766,696 | 17.775 |
| 2016 | 18,904,543,056 | 18.905 |
| 2017 | 20,304,894,471 | 20.305 |
| 2018 | 21,565,674,311 | 21.566 |
| 2019 | 22,560,634,320 | 22.561 |
| 2020 | 22,863,414,676 | 22.863 |
| 2021 | 24,359,596,784 | 24.360 |
| 2022 | 25,297,546,478 | 25.298 |
| 2023 | 26,374,572,022 | 26.375 |
| 2024 | 28,078,951,138 | 28.079 |
| 2025 | 29,955,264,558 | 29.955 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.530Low human developmentRank 169 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.377
20000.398
20100.477
20200.522
20230.530
68.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
2.9 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Senegal.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Senegal?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.