Senegal

Republic of Senegal

Capital

Dakar

Official language (s)

French (only about 12% of the population can speak it)
Most people speak their own ethnic (inofficial) language: Wolof, Serer, Alpuular, Mandingo, Diola, and Bassari

Area

196.723 km²

Population

12.855.153

Ethnic groups

43,3% - Wolof 
23,8% - Pular
14,7% - Serer
3,7% - Diola
3,0% - Mandingo
1,1% - Soninke
1,0% - European and Lebanese
9,4% - other Afrifcans

Major cities
(with population)

Dakar - 1.729.800
Thies - 201.400
Kaolack - 179.900
Ziguinchor - 143.800
St. Louis - 125.700

Currency (-ies)

West African CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc (XOF) subdivided into 100 centimes (no centime denominations have been issued)

Main religion (s)

94% - Muslim
5% - Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
1% - indigenous beliefs

Time zone (s)

GTM

Dialing code

+221

Climate

Senegal has a tropical climate with a wet season from June to September and high humidity along the coast. The prevailing winds in the dry season are dust-laden winds from the Sahara Desert. Gale force squalls or tornadoes occur at the beginning and end of the rainy season. Average temperature ranges in Dakar are from 18 to 26°C (64 to 79°F) in January to 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F) in September.

Administrative division

Senegal is subdivided into four levels of Administrative divisions. At the top level are the Regions of Senegal and their elected administrative body, subdivided into Departments. Departments are made up of Arrondissements (purely administrative structures, with Prefects appointed by the central government), and departments further of Communes.

Major airports

Dakar: Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport (DKR)
Cap Skirring: Cap Skirring Airport (CSK)