Geographical Position      
West African coast line between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Area    
196.722 km2 (76,000 sq mi)

Government
Semi-presidential republic
until 1960 French Colony
Member of "West African Economic Monetary Union" (WAEMU)

Capital
Dakar

Languages
French, Wolof, Pular, Mandinka

Currency
CFA Franc; 1 Euro = 981 CFA (May 2010)

Climate                
tropical, warm, humid;
Rainy season:
May until November; Temperature: 26-38° Celsius

Ressources            
Fish, Calcium Phosphate, Iron

Population        
13,711,597 (2009)

Ethnical Groups        
Wolof 43,3%, Pular 23,8%, Serer 14,7%, Diola 3,7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1,1%, Europeans and Libanese 1%, Other 9,4%

Religions              
Moslems 94%, Christians 5%, Other 1%

Average Age        
17.8 years

Age Structure        
0-14 years: 43,7%                
15-64 years: 53,3%
over 65 years: 3%

Growth Rate         
2,56% (2003)
Born Children per woman: 4,93 (2003)
Death rate: 57,57 per 1000 births

Rate of Illiteracy      
59,8% (over 15 years) | men: 50%, women: 70%

Economy            
Agriculture, fish processing (18%), mining, production of artificial fertilizer, refining imported petroleum, cement production (27%), provision of services (55%)

Unemployment Rate
48%, of which 40% live in city regions (2001) which results in a high crime rate and drug consume

54% of Senegal's population live below the poverty line