NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Republic of Senegal
Republique du Senegal
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania |
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Geographic coordinates:
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14 00 N, 14 00 W |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than South Dakota |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km |
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Coastline:
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531 km |
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Maritime claims:
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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 |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind |
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Terrain:
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generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, phosphates, iron ore |
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Land use:
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arable land: 11.58%
permanent crops: 0.19% other: 88.23% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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710 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: Marine Dumping |
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Geography - note:
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westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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10,580,307 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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.) |
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Median age:
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total: 17.8 years
male: 17.2 years female: 18.4 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.56% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 57.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 61.34 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 56.37 years
male: 54.83 years female: 57.95 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.93 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.5% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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27,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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2,500 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic) |
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Languages:
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French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2% male: 50% female: 30.7% (2003 est.) |