The capital of Senegal, Dakar, is the westernmost point in Africa. The country, slightly smaller than South Dakota, surrounds Gambia on three sides and is bordered on the north by Mauritania, on the east by Mali, and on the south by Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
Country lead by President: Abdoulaye Wade (2000)
Prime Minister: Macky Sall (2004)
Population
11,987,121 (growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 32.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 52.9/1000; life expectancy: 59.2; density per sq mi: 162
Land Area
74,131 sq mi (191,999 sq km); total area: 756,985 sq mi (1,960,582 sq km)
Monetary unit
CFA Franc Language
French (official); Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Ethnicity Wolof 43.3%, Fulani 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%, Mandingo 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religion Islam 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous 1%
Transportation Railways: total: 906 km (2002). Highways: total: 14,576 km; paved: 4,271 km; unpaved: 10,305 km (2000). Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river. Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor. Airports: 20 (2002).
