Senegal
Dakar · West Africa
Senegal is a country in Africa. Its capital city is Dakar, the official currency is the West African CFA Franc, and the main language is French.
With a population of roughly 17.8 million people spread over 196,722 km², Senegal is the 70th most populous country in the world and the 86th largest by area. That works out at about 90 people per square kilometre.
Senegal shares land borders with Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia — 5 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Dakar, Touba and Thiès. The highest point in the country is Sambangalou, at 648 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Kyrgyzstan, while its population is closest to that of Netherlands.
- Capital
- Dakar
- Region
- West Africa
- Population
- 17,800,000
- Area
- 196,722 km²
- Currency
- West African CFA Franc
- Main language
- French
- Highest point
- Sambangalou
648 m - Land borders
- 5
Senegal: things worth knowing
- Senegal almost completely surrounds The Gambia, which follows its river inland.
- Dakar sits on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa.
- Gorée Island off Dakar is a memorial to the Atlantic slave trade.
Senegal in context
Africa has 54 sovereign countries in total. Senegal ranks 25th among them by population.
See the full list of Africa countries, or browse all 195 countries.