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Republic of Senegal

Republique du Senegal


 
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© 1996-2006
Bob Starkgraf

INTRODUCTION

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.
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GEOGRAPHY

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:
14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
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
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 resources:
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 11.58%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 88.23% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
710 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
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PEOPLE

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)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
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
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.37 years
male: 54.83 years
female: 57.95 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.93 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,500 (2001 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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
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