Senegal Government

The capital city of Senegal is Dakar, located on the western coast of the country on the Atlantic Ocean. Dakar was settled in the 15th century by the Portuguese Empire and later taken over by France in 1677 after the abolishment of the slave trade. The area became a major city in the French Empire due to location and infrastructure built in the area from past merchants. The city is the most western point of the country and has served as an important trading port for centuries.

The population of Dakar city is estimated at 1.03 million, but the surrounding metropolitan area contains a total of 2.45 million. Population density for the city is 12,510 people per square kilometre (32,400 per square mile) and the majority of citizens are considered Wolof. Approximately 95% of the population are considered practitioners of Islam with the remaining 5% are Christians.

The location of Dakar makes it an ideal location for boating, fishing and hiking across beaches. One of the best outdoor activities in Dakar is the Accrobaobab Adventure centre which combines teamwork activities with challenging outdoor pursuits. The local music scene, cuisine, and libraries offer a glimpse into the everyday life of a Dakarian citizen. There are also many monuments and old French architecture that makes Dakar a unique location for travel.

The environment of Dakar is considered a hot, semi-arid climate with a long dry season and a short rainy season in August and September. The best time of the year to visit Dakar is between December-April when average high temperatures range between 25.4 degrees Celsius (77.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and 27.4 degrees Celsius (81.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Between July-November, average high temperatures are between 30-31 degrees Celsius (86-87.8 degrees Fahrenheit). Dakar is not as hot as the interior areas of Senegal due to coastal winds from the North Atlantic Ocean.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Dakar
Languages	French (official), Wolof, Pular, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke
Ethnic Groups	Wolof 38.7%, Pular 26.5%, Serer 15%, Mandinka 4.2%, Jola 4%, Soninke 2.3%, other 9.3% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2010-11 est.)
Religion	Muslim 95.4% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 4.2% (mostly Roman Catholic), animist 0.4% (2010-11 est.)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
Area	196,722.00 km²
Water Area	4,192.00 km²
Land Area	192,530.00 km²
Population	14,320,055.00
Location	Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
No. Bordering Countries	5
Bordering Countries	The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 km
GDP(PPP)	$39,720,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$2,600.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Mali, Switzerland, and India.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are fish, groundnuts, petroleum products, phosphates, and cotton.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are France, China, and Nigeria.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include food and beverages, capital goods, and fuels.
Climate	In the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)
Terrain	Generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Learn More	Senegal

Senegal Government

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