Senegal ( Republique du Senegal) is a country in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. Senegal geographic coordinates 14 00 N, 14 00 W; area 192,000 sq km; area comparative slightly smaller than South Dakota; land boundaries The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km; coastline 531 km; maritime claims 24 n; climate tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (Decembe; terrain generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast; elevation extremes unnamed feature near Nepen Diakh; natural resources fish, phosphates, iron ore; land use 0.21%; 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 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; geography note westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal;

introduction

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. government type republic under multiparty democratic rule; capital Dakar; administrative divisions 11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor; independence 4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960; national holiday Independence Day, 4 April (1960); constitution a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001; legal system based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Senegal population 11,126,832 (July 2005 est.); age structure 3% (male 161,173/female 176,488) (2005 est.); median age 18.7 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 2.48% (2005 est.); birth rate 35.21 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 59.17 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 58.52 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 4.75 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 0.8% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 44,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 3,500 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases dengue fever,; nationality 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 30.7% (2003 est.);

Regions

Cities