Country profile
Senegal
Republic of Senegal · Western Africa
👥 Population
18,931,966
World Bank · 2025
🏛 Capital
Dakar
🗺 Area
196,722 km²
💹 GDP (nominal)
$37.01B
World Bank · 2025
📈 HDI
0.530
UNDP · 2023
📍 Pop. density
96 /km²
💱 Currency
XOF
West African CFA franc
🗣 Languages
French
About Senegal
Senegal (officially Republic of Senegal) is a country in Western Africa, with Dakar as its capital. It is home to roughly 18.93 million people, giving a population density of about 96 people per square kilometre. The country covers 196,722 km² of land and shares land borders with 5 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $37.01B in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.530. The official currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), and the main language is French.
Key indicators
Latest available data · World Bank & UNDP.
💹 Economy
GDP (PPP)
$93.82B
GDP/capita (PPP)
$5,071
GDP growth
6.7%
Inflation
1.5%
Unemployment
2.7%
👥 People
Life expectancy
68.9 yrs
Fertility rate
3.77
Pop. growth
2.3%
Urban population
55.8%
Infant mortality /1k
28.9
🌍 Quality of Life
Internet users
60.1%
Literacy rate
50.4%
Physicians /1k
0.11
Renewable energy
35.4%
Travel & practical
Capital
Dakar
Currency
XOF
Dialing code
+221
Internet TLD
.sn
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Fun facts about Senegal
- Senegal is the 68th most populous country in the world, with about 18.93 million people.
- By land area it is the 86th-largest country in the world, covering 196,722 km².
- It has the world's 106th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($37.01B).
- Senegal shares land borders with 5 countries.
- It is classed by the UN as a country of low human development, with an HDI of 0.530.
- Senegal has a population density of about 96 people per square kilometre.