Senegal
Country on the coast of West Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Senegal,[lower-alpha 6] officially the Republic of Senegal,[lower-alpha 7] is a country in West Africa, on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal nearly surrounds the Gambia, a country occupying a narrow sliver of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country.[14][15] Senegal also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar.
Republic of Senegal | |
|---|---|
| Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi" (French) "One People, One Goal, One Faith" | |
| Anthem: "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" "Everyone, strum your koras, strike the balafons" | |
.svg) Location of Senegal (dark green) | |
| Capital and largest city | Dakar 14°40′N 17°25′W |
| Official languages | French |
| Lingua franca | List:
|
| National languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2019)[4] | |
| Religion (2020)[5] |
|
| Demonym(s) | Senegalese |
| Government | Unitary presidential republic[6] |
| Macky Sall | |
| Amadou Ba | |
| Amadou Mame Diop | |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Independence | |
• Republic established | 25 November 1958 |
• from France[lower-alpha 4] | 4 April 1960 |
| 20 August 1960 | |
• from France[lower-alpha 5] | 20 June 1960 |
• as Senegal | 22 September 1960 |
• dissolution of the Senegambia Confederation | 30 September 1989 |
| Area | |
• Total | 196,712 km2 (75,951 sq mi) (86th) |
• Water (%) | 2.1 |
| Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 18,384,660[7] (67th) |
• Density | 68.7/km2 (177.9/sq mi) (134th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2022 estimate |
• Total |  $72.703 billion[8] (106th) |
• Per capita | $4,113[8] (156th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2022 estimate |
• Total | $27.542 billion[8][9] (111th) |
• Per capita | $1,558[8] (157th) |
| Gini (2011) | 40.3[10] medium |
| HDI (2021) |  0.511[11]low · 170th |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
| Time zone | UTC (GMT) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +221 |
| ISO 3166 code | SN |
| Internet TLD | .sn |
Senegal is notably the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia.[16] It owes its name to the Senegal River, which borders it to the east and north.[17] The climate is typically Sahelian, though there is a rainy season. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 17 million.[18][19] The state is a unitary presidential republic; since the country's foundation in 1960, it has been recognized as one of the most stable countries on the African continent.[20]
The state was formed as part of the independence of French West Africa from French colonial rule. Because of this history, French is the official language, but it is understood by only a minority of the population.[21] Over 30 languages are spoken in Senegal, and Wolof is the most widely spoken one, with 80% of the population speaking it as a first or second language,[22] acting as Senegal's lingua franca alongside French. Like other post-colonial African states, the country includes a wide mix of ethnic and linguistic communities, with the largest being the Wolof, Fula, and Serer people. Senegalese people are predominantly Muslim.[23]
Senegal is classified as a heavily indebted poor country, with relatively low HDI ranked 170th in the Human Development Index. Most of the population is on the coast and works in agriculture or other food industries; other major industries include mining, tourism, and services.[24] The country does not have notable natural resources, but the basis of its development lies in education, where almost half the state's budget is spent.[25] Senegal is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States. Internationally, Senegal is best known in the sporting world for the Paris-Dakar Rally.[26]