Senegal

Information at a Glance

People

Population: 8.263,000 (1994)
Most people live in the less dry part in the West close to Dakar.
41% Urban
Annual Growth in population: 1.2%
Religions: 94% Muslim; 5% Christian; 1% traditional African religions and others

Economy

Currency: CFA Franc
GNP per capita: $600 (1994)
Main Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials
External Debt per capita: $445

Health

Life expectancy: 62.19 years
Infant mortality: 58.08 deaths/1,000 live births.
Average calories consumed: 94% of calories needed
Safe water: 52% of population has access

Self-reliance

Dependent on exporting peanuts and international aid. Indebtness rising.

Literacy

IlIiteracy: 67%
Languages: French is the official language. Widely spoken indigenous languages are Wolof, Peul and Ful

Income Distribution

Inequalities are growing.

Environment

Regions: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast .
Farming: Agriculture is the main occupation with food crops being millet, rice, maize and beans. About 40 per cent of land is taken up with peanuts, the main export crop.
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore Problems: deforestation and desertification.

Politics

Multi-party democratic system.

Freedom & human rights

There is a free press and trade unions do well. No political prisoners reported.

Position of women: Women do most of the farming and have little representation in any power base.