Senegal - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture, which are the primary sources of employment in rural areas. The country's key export industries include phosphate mining, fertilizer production, agricultural products and commercial fishing and it is also working on oil exploration projects. Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. Senegal reached a growth rate of 6.5% in 2015 and surpassed that in 2016-17, due in part to a buoyant performance in agriculture because of higher rainfall...

Continue reading View Factbook for Senegal

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Private Consumption 2022 10,906,325,936,310 10,134,514,000,000 XOF Annual
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 16,946,582,499,584 15,085,108,999,107 XOF Annual
Investment 2022 5,822,332,792,573 5,214,946,999,999 XOF Annual
Real Private Consumption 2017 5,002,364,002,800 4,772,390,743,400 NCU Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 2,390,976,914,200 2,218,919,063,400 NCU Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 2,159,906,796,500 1,983,258,208,300 NCU Annual
Real Investment 2017 1,786,779,824,600 1,588,084,889,100 NCU Annual
Real Government Consumption 2017 758,406,343,400 732,759,752,100 NCU Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2014 115.25 110.05 Index 2005=100 Annual
Government Consumption 2014 1,200 1,133 Bil. XOF Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Oct 2023 136.65 136.62 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Producer Price Index (PPI) Mar 2023 141.32 139.91 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Agriculture Employment 2017 2,767,095 2,683,964 # Annual
Unemployment Rate 2017 4.84 4.85 % of total labor force Annual
Labor Force 2016 5,007,088 4,855,249 # Annual
Wage & Salaries 2016 572,316,884,224 526,124,039,639 NCU Annual
Unemployment 1993 10.17 11.96 Ths. Annual
Labor Force Employment 1991 130.13 Ths. Annual
Total Employment 1991 130.13 Ths. Annual
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Imports of Goods and Services 2022 8,985,739,512,186 6,808,292,000,000 XOF Annual
Exports of Goods and Services 2022 4,984,533,946,127 3,759,465,000,000 XOF Annual
Current Account Balance 2021 -3,327,280,244 -2,662,353,128 USD Annual
Balance of Goods 2021 -2,997,981,004 -2,796,617,859 USD Annual
Exports of Goods 2021 5,490,565,151 4,188,513,933 USD Annual
Imports of Goods 2021 8,488,546,156 6,985,131,793 USD Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2017 2,837,479,738,700 2,650,791,205,500 NCU Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2017 2,067,131,039,000 1,904,017,811,100 NCU Annual
Government Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Government Expenditures 2017 11,029,879,686,000 10,010,457,762,800 NCU Annual
Government Revenues 2016 2,090,298,054,632 1,861,419,474,558 NCU Annual
Government Budget Balance 2011 -599,100,000,000 -474,060,000,000 current LCU Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Lending Rate Mar 2017 2.5 2.5 % - End of period Monthly
Money Market Rate Feb 2017 5.17 5.01 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Industrial Production Mar 2023 144.56 129.22 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Change in Inventories 2017 323,633,272,800 -47,935,278,500 NCU Annual
Real Change in Inventories 2017 -373,126,971,900 -395,173,319,200 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 16,743,930 16,296,362 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 35.6 36.21 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 5.9 6.07 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Net Migration 2012 -99,996 # Annual

Factbook

Background

Background:
The French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s. Several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict, but an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect since 2012. Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000. He was reelected in 2007 and during his two terms amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. His decision to run for a third presidential term sparked a large public backlash that led to his defeat in a March 2012 runoff with Macky SALL, whose term runs until 2019. A 2016 constitutional referendum reduced the term to five years with a maximum of two consecutive terms for future presidents.

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: 196,722 sq km
land: 192,530 sq km
water: 4,192 sq km
country comparison to the world: 89
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,684 km
border countries (5): The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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:
mean elevation: 69 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m
Natural resources:
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
agricultural land: 46.8%
arable land 17.4%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 29.1%
forest: 43.8%
other: 9.4% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (2012)
Population - distribution:
the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

People & Society

Population:
14,668,522 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Nationality:
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:
Wolof 41.6%, Pular 28.1%, Serer 15.3%, Mandinka 5.4%, Jola 3.4%, Soninke 0.8%, other 5.4% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2016 est.)
Languages:
French (official), Wolof, Pular, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke
Religions:
Muslim 96.1% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 3.6% (mostly Roman Catholic), animist 0.3% (2016 est.)
Demographic profile:
Senegal has a large and growing youth population but has not been successful in developing its potential human capital. Senegal’s high total fertility rate of almost 4.5 children per woman continues to bolster the country’s large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Fertility remains high because of the continued desire for large families, the low use of family planning, and early childbearing. Because of the country’s high illiteracy rate (more than 40%), high unemployment (even among university graduates), and widespread poverty, Senegalese youths face dim prospects; women are especially disadvantaged.
Senegal historically was a destination country for economic migrants, but in recent years West African migrants more often use Senegal as a transit point to North Africa – and sometimes illegally onward to Europe. The country also has been host to several thousand black Mauritanian refugees since they were expelled from their homeland during its 1989 border conflict with Senegal. The country’s economic crisis in the 1970s stimulated emigration; departures accelerated in the 1990s. Destinations shifted from neighboring countries, which were experiencing economic decline, civil wars, and increasing xenophobia, to Libya and Mauritania because of their booming oil industries and to developed countries (most notably former colonial ruler France, as well as Italy and Spain). The latter became attractive in the 1990s because of job opportunities and their periodic regularization programs (legalizing the status of illegal migrants).
Additionally, about 16,000 Senegalese refugees still remain in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau as a result of more than 30 years of fighting between government forces and rebel separatists in southern Senegal’s Casamance region.
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.51% (male 3,060,118/female 3,028,975)
15-24 years: 20.33% (male 1,486,393/female 1,496,393)
25-54 years: 31.19% (male 2,102,757/female 2,472,683)
55-64 years: 3.98% (male 251,673/female 332,113)
65 years and over: 2.98% (male 194,491/female 242,926) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 85.4
youth dependency ratio: 79.8
elderly dependency ratio: 5.6
potential support ratio: 18 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 18 years
female: 19.7 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Population growth rate:
2.39% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Birth rate:
33.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Death rate:
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Net migration rate:
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Population distribution:
the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural
Urbanization:
urban population: 44.4% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 3.53% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
DAKAR (capital) 3.52 million (2015)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.5 years
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
315 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.1 years
male: 60 years
female: 64.3 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Total fertility rate:
4.28 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
23.3% (2015)
Health expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 150
Physicians density:
0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density:
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2008)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 92.9% of population
rural: 67.3% of population
total: 78.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7.1% of population
rural: 32.7% of population
total: 21.5% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 65.4% of population
rural: 33.8% of population
total: 47.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 34.6% of population
rural: 66.2% of population
total: 52.4% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
41,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
8.8% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 146
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
15.5% (2015)
country comparison to the world: 40
Education expenditures:
7.1% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 53
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 69.7%
female: 46.6% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 12.7%
male: 8.3%
female: 19% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal
former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
etymology: named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; many theories exist for the origin of the river name; perhaps the most widely cited derives the name from "Azenegue," the Portuguese appellation for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
name: Dakar
geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence:
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:
history: previous 1959 (preindependence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001
amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the prime minister through the president, or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable; amended several times, last in 2016 (2017)
Legal system:
civil law system based on French law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal
dual citizenship recognized: no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Macky SALL (since 2 April 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohammed Abdallah Boun DIONNE (since 4 July 2014)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 26 February 2012 with a runoff on 25 March 2012 (next to be held in 2019); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Macky SALL elected president in second round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 65.8%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 34.2%
Legislative branch:
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (165 seats; 105 members including 15 representing Senegalese diaspora directly elected by plurality vote in single- and multi-seat constituencies and 60 members directly elected by proportional representation vote in single- and multi-seat constituencies)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 2 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)
election results: National Assembly results - percent of vote by party/coalition - BBK 49.5%, CGWS 16.7%, MTS 11.7%, PUR 4.7%, CP-Kaddu Askan Wi 2%, other 15.4%; seats by party/coalition - BBY 125, CGWS 19, MTS 7, PUR 3, CP-Kaddu Askan Wi 2, other 9
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionel (consists of 7 members including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges' appointed by the president of the republic upon recommendation of the Higher Council of the Judiciary, a body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker to serve 6-year terms with the renewal of 2 members every 2 years
subordinate courts: High Court of Justice (for crimes of high treason by the president); Courts of Appeal; Court of Auditors; assize courts; regional and district courts; Labor Court; note - in early 2013, the Extraordinary African Chambers were established by agreement of the African Union and the Government of Senegal to try cases of high-level officials involved in crimes committed in Chad during the period 1982-1990
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR-Yakaar [Macky SALL]
Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]
And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Mamadou DIOP Decriox]
And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS-A [Landing SAVANE]
Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope) [Macky SALL] (coalition includes AFP, APR, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, UNP)
Bokk Gis Gis coalition [Pape DIOP]
Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk [Mansour Sy DJAMIL]
Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Mamadou NDOYE]
Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE]
Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]
Grand Party or GP [Malick GAKOU]
Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Magatte THIAM]
Manko Taxawu Senegaal or MTS [Khalifa SALL] (coalition includes BGC, Du Nakk, FSD/BJ, GP, MCRN/Bes, Rewmi)
National Union for the People or UNP [Souleymane Ndene NDIAYE]
Party for Truth and Development or PVD [Cheikh Ahmadou Kara MBAKE]
Party of Unity and Rally or PUR [El Hadji SALL]
Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi [Abdoulaye BALDE]
Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]
Rewmi Party [Idrissa SECK]
Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]
Tekki Movement [Mamadou Lamine DIALLO]
Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]
Winning Coalition Wattu Senegal or CGWS [Abdoulaye WADE] (includes AJ/PADS, AJ/PADS-A, Bokk Gis Gis, PDS, Tekki Movement)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Catholic clergy; labor; religious groups; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Babacar DIAGNE (since 18 November 2014)
chancery: 2215 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: ambassador Tulinabo S. MUSHINGI (since August 2017); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
embassy: Route des Almadies, Dakar
mailing address: B.P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 33-879-4000
FAX: [221] 33-822-2991
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies natural wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and determination; the star denotes unity and hope
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea
National symbol(s):
lion; national colors: green, yellow, red
National anthem:
name: "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; lyrics written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal's first president; the anthem sometimes played incorporating the Koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and Balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title

Economy

Economy - overview:
Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture, which are the primary sources of employment in rural areas. The country's key export industries include phosphate mining, fertilizer production, agricultural products and commercial fishing and it is also working on oil exploration projects. Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. Senegal reached a growth rate of 6.5% in 2015 and surpassed that in 2016-17, due in part to a buoyant performance in agriculture because of higher rainfall and productivity in the sector.
President Macky SALL, who was elected in March 2012 under a reformist policy agenda, inherited an economy with high energy costs, a challenging business environment, and a culture of overspending. President SALL unveiled an ambitious economic plan, the Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP), which aims to implement priority economic reforms and investment projects to increase economic growth while preserving macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. Bureaucratic bottlenecks and a challenging business climate are among the perennial challenges that may slow the implementation of this plan.
Senegal is receiving technical support from the IMF during 2015-17 under a Policy Support Instrument (PSI) to assist with implementation of the ESP. The PSI implementation continues to be satisfactory as concluded by the IMF’s second review mission in March 2016. Investors have signaled confidence in the country through Senegal’s successful Eurobond issuances in recent years, including in 2014.
The government is focusing on 19 projects under the ESP to continue the structural transformation of the economy. These 19 projects include the Thies-Touba Highway, including the new airport- Mbour-Thies Highway. Senegal increased the national family allowances program and the community development emergency program in 2016. Electricity supply is a chief constraint for Senegal’s development. Electricity prices in Senegal are among the highest in the world. Power Africa, a program led by USAID and OPIC, plans to increase the current 500 MW of generating capacity to over 1,000 mW in the next three to five years. Recent gas discoveries on the Senegal-Mauritanian border, as well as just south of Dakar, will help alleviate some of the energy shortages.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.07 billion (2017 est.)
$40.33 billion (2016 est.)
$37.78 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 114
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.06 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2017 est.)
6.7% (2016 est.)
6.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,700 (2017 est.)
$2,600 (2016 est.)
$2,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 196
Gross national saving:
22% of GDP (2017 est.)
21.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
17.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 76.5%
government consumption: 16.1%
investment in fixed capital: 26.2%
investment in inventories: -2%
exports of goods and services: 28.9%
imports of goods and services: -45.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 16.9%
industry: 24.3%
services: 58.8% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Industries:
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:
8.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Labor force:
6.966 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 77.5%
industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
48% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Population below poverty line:
46.7% (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 31.1% (2011 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.3 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Budget:
revenues: $3.863 billion
expenditures: $4.474 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
24.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Public debt:
61.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
58.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2017 est.)
0.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Central bank discount rate:
0.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
16.3% (31 December 2017 est.)
16.4% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Stock of narrow money:
$5.305 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.736 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Stock of broad money:
$8.035 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.244 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.55 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.15 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Current account balance:
$-817 million (2017 est.)
$-783 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Exports:
$2.546 billion (2017 est.)
$2.498 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:
Mali 18.2%, Switzerland 10.6%, India 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, China 5% (2016)
Imports:
$5.227 billion (2017 est.)
$4.993 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
France 15.9%, China 10.3%, Nigeria 7.8%, India 7.6%, Netherlands 5.3%, Spain 4.9% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$151.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Debt - external:
$6.745 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.327 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
617.4 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 6,400,000
electrification - total population: 55%
electrification - urban areas: 90%
electrification - rural areas: 28% (2013)
Electricity - production:
3.673 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - consumption:
3.014 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
965,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
88.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
7.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
8.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Crude oil - imports:
18,060 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Refined petroleum products - production:
16,850 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Refined petroleum products - exports:
3,892 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - imports:
30,120 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - production:
62 million cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - consumption:
497 million cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - proved reserves:
9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.3 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 285,933
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 15,186,485
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
domestic: generally reliable urban system with a fiber-optic network; about two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar; mobile-cellular service is steadily displacing fixed-line service, even in urban areas
international: country code - 221; the ACE fiber-optic cable connects Senegal to Europe, the SAT-3/WASC provides fiber-optic connectivity to Europe and Asia, and Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2017)
Broadcast media:
state-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) broadcasts TV programs from five cities in Senegal; in most regions of the country, viewers can receive TV programming from at least 7 private broadcasters; a wide range of independent TV programming is available via satellite; RTS operates a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations; at least 7 community radio stations and 18 private-broadcast radio stations are available; transmissions of at least 5 international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar (2017)
Internet country code:
.sn
Internet users:
total: 3,675,209
percent of population: 25.7% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,355
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3,095,523 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
6V (2016)
Airports:
20 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 136
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Pipelines:
gas 43 km; refined products 8 km (2017)
Railways:
total: 906 km (713 km operational in 2017)
narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-m gauge (2017)
country comparison to the world: 95
Roadways:
total: 16,496 km
paved: 5,957 km (includes 72 km of expressways)
unpaved: 10,539 km (2017)
country comparison to the world: 124
Waterways:
1,000 km (primarily on the Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance Rivers) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 64
Merchant marine:
total: 26
by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 1, other 22 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 133
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Dakar

Military & Security

Military expenditures:
1.89% of GDP (2017 est.)
1.73% of GDP (2016)
1.58% of GDP (2015)
1.57% of GDP (2014)
1.6% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 51
Military branches:
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese National Navy (Marine Senegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2017)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 20 years of age for selective conscript service; 2-year service obligation; women have been accepted into military service since 2008 (2013)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
cross-border trafficking in persons, timber, wildlife, and cannabis; rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance find refuge in Guinea-Bissau
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 13,683 (Mauritania) (2017)
IDPs: 22,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2017)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

Economic Indicators for Senegal including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Senegal economy.