Map of Senegal
Senegal is a country in Africa with its capital at Dakar, home to about 18.93 million people across 196,722 km². The interactive map below plots 11 cities and towns, 2 rivers and 5 ports recorded for Senegal in YearMaps.
- Population
- 18.93 million
- Area
- 196,722 km²
- Capital
- Dakar
- Continent
- Africa
Interactive Map of Senegal
Centred on Dakar at 14.7178° N, 17.4751° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Senegal
Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country of mainland West Africa, situated along the Atlantic Ocean coast. It borders Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal nearly surrounds the Gambia, a country occupying a narrow strip of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. It also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. The capital and largest city of Senegal is Dakar.
Senegal is the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia. It owes its name to the Senegal River, which borders it to the north and east. The climate is typically Sahelian, with a rainy season. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 18 million. The state is a semi-presidential republic; since the country's foundation in 1960, it has been recognized as one of the most stable countries on the African continent. On the 2024 V-Dem Democracy Indices, Senegal is ranked 68th in electoral democracy worldwide and 10th in electoral democracy in Africa.
The state was formed as part of the independence of French West Africa from French colonial rule. Because of this history, French is the official language, but it is understood by only a small minority of the population. Over 30 languages are spoken in Senegal. Wolof is the most widely spoken, with 80% of the population speaking it as a first or second language, acting as Senegal's lingua franca alongside French. Arabic and Pulaar also remain popular among certain communities. Like other African nations, the country includes a wide mix of ethnic and linguistic communities, with the largest being the Wolof, Fula, and Serer people. Senegalese people are predominantly Muslim.
As a developing nation, Senegal is classified as a heavily indebted poor country, with a relatively low ranking on the Human Development Index (169th out of 193). Most of the population lives on the coast and works in agriculture or other food industries; other major industries include mining, tourism, and services. The historic lack of natural resources in Senegal has redirected efforts towards increasing literacy and educational attainment. Senegal is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Community of Sahel–Saharan States.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Senegal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Senegal
Senegal is one of the few countries in the world with evidence of continuous human life from the Paleolithic period to present. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Jolof Empire ruled most of Senegal. Starting in the 15th century, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain traded along the Senegalese coast. Senegal’s location on the western tip of Africa made it a favorable base for the European slave trade. European powers used the Senegalese island of Goree as a base to purchase slaves from the warring chiefdoms on the mainland, and at the height of the slave trade in Senegal, over one-third of the Senegalese population was enslaved. In 1815, France abolished slavery and began expanding inland. During the second half of the 19th century, France took possession of Senegal as a French colony. In 1959, the French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. In 1982, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union dissolved in 1989. Since the 1980s, the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance -- a separatist movement based in southern Senegal -- has led a low-level insurgency. Several attempts at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement have failed. Since 2012, despite sporadic incidents of violence, an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect. Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. The Socialist Party of Senegal ruled for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000 and re-elected in 2007. WADE amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. In 2012, WADE’s decision to run for a third presidential term sparked public backlash that led to his loss to current President Macky SALL. A 2016 constitutional referendum limited future presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE took office in April 2024.
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania.
- Climate
- Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind.
- Terrain
- Generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast.
- Highest point
- Unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m.
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 531 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 2,684 km; border countries: The Gambia 749 km; Guinea 363 km; Guinea-Bissau 341 km; Mali 489 km; Mauritania 742 km.
- Major rivers
- Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Natural resources
- Fish, phosphates, iron ore.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 49.4% (2023 est.); arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.); forest: 45.1% (2023 est.); other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts.
- Geographic note
- Westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal.
- Languages
- French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke.
- Religions
- Muslim 97.2% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 2.7% (mostly Roman Catholic) (2019 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Wolof 39.7%, Pulaar 27.5%, Sereer 16%, Mandinka 4.9%, Jola 4.2%, Soninke 2.4%, other 5.4% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2019 est.)
- Economy
- Lower middle-income, services-driven West African economy; key mining, construction, agriculture, and fishing industries; tourism and exports hit hard by COVID-19; large informal economy; developing offshore oil and gas fields; systemic corruption.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Senegal in Numbers
- Population
- 18.93 million
- GDP
- US$37.0 billion
- GDP per person
- US$1,955
- Life expectancy
- 68.9 years
- Population growth
- 2.30% a year
- Population density
- 96 per km²
- Urban population
- 55.8%
- Surface area
- 196,710 km²
- Forest cover
- 45.0%
- Arable land
- 19.9%
- Access to electricity
- 82.9%
- Internet users
- 60.1%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Senegal in Depth
History
Archaeological findings throughout the area indicate that Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times and has been continuously occupied by various ethnic groups. Some kingdoms were created between the 6th and 14th centuries, such as Takrur in the 6th century, Namandiru, and the Jolof Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries. Eastern Senegal was once part of the Ghana Empire.
Islam was introduced by the Toucouleur and Soninke through their contact with the Almoravid dynasty of the Maghreb, who helped spread it with their Toucouleur allies. This movement faced resistance from ethnicities of traditional religions, the Serers in particular.
In the 13th and 14th centuries, the area came under the influence of empires to the east; the Jolof Empire was also founded during this time.
Geography
Senegal is located on the western coast of Africa. It lies between latitudes 12° and 17°N, and longitudes 11° and 18°W.
Senegal is externally bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south; internally it almost completely surrounds The Gambia, namely on the north, east and south, except for Gambia's short Atlantic coastline.
The Senegalese landscape consists mainly of the rolling sandy plains of the western Sahel, which rise to foothills in the southeast. Here is also found Senegal's highest point, Baunez ridge situated 2.7 km southeast of Nepen Diakha at 648 m (2,126 ft). The northern border is formed by the Senegal River; other rivers include the Gambia and Casamance Rivers.
Economy
The main industries include food processing, mining, cement, artificial fertilizer, chemicals, textiles, refining imported petroleum, and tourism. Exports include fish, chemicals, cotton, fabrics, groundnuts, and calcium phosphate. The largest export markets as of 2020 are Mali (20.4%), Switzerland (12.2%), and India (8.3%).
As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. Senegal is also a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa.
Senegal achieved full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a mini-boom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82 percent of its GDP.
Demographics
Senegal has a population of about 18 million, of whom about 42 percent live in rural areas. Density in these areas varies from about 77 inhabitants per square kilometre (200/sq mi) in the west-central region to 2 per square kilometre (5.2/sq mi) in the arid eastern section.
Senegal ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, as well as the additional protocol.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Senegal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Senegal: Key Facts
| Currency | West African CFA franc |
|---|---|
| Official languages | French, Wolof, Badyara, Balanta |
| Head of state | Bassirou Diomaye Faye |
| Head of government | Bassirou Diomaye Faye |
| Form of government | presidential system |
| Calling code | +221 |
| Internet domain | .sn |
| Highest point | Népin Cliff |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean |
| Established | 1960 |
Facts from Wikidata Q1041 (CC0).
History of Senegal: Empires and States
The atlas records 6 polities whose mapped territory included part of Senegal, from The Mali Empire in 1236 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Mali Empire | 1236–1563 CE | Most |
| French Third Republic | 1880–1939 CE | Most |
| French Africa | 1880–1957 CE | Most |
| The French Colonial Empire | 1880–1957 CE | Most |
| French Fourth Republic | 1945–1957 CE | Most |
| Republic of Senegal | 1961–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Senegal
Senegal on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Senegal
Senegal is a country in West Africa. Formerly a French colony, it is the westernmost country in the Old World.
Senegal is an excellent destination for anyone interested in exploring and learning about African culture. Visitors will be able to experience a huge range of cultures and traditions in this diverse country.
Although Senegal is not usually on most travellers' lists, the country offers plenty of attractions and things to do. Fishing enthusiasts will be interested to know that Senegal is one of the best places in the world to catch fish. The Senegalese are known for their kindness and hospitality, and you can expect to be treated with immense respect as a visitor.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Senegal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Senegal
11 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dakar | 2.60 million | Dakar | National capital |
| 2 | Thiès | 293,001 | Thiès | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Kaolack | 277,812 | Kaolack | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Ziguinchor | 191,716 | Ziguinchor | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Diourbel | 148,024 | Diourbel | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Tambacounda | 89,212 | Tambacounda | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Louga | 85,075 | Louga | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Kolda | 69,267 | Kolda | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Fatick | 24,243 | Fatick | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Kaédi | 21,656 | Matam | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Kédougou | 18,226 | Tambacounda | Populated place |
Rivers in Senegal
2 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Senegal
5 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karabane | 53 m | Very Small | Atlantic Coast of Africa | medium vessels |
| 2 | Rufisque | 49.4 m | Very Small | Atlantic Coast of Africa | point_of_interest |
| 3 | Dakar | 34.7 m | Minor | Atlantic Coast of Africa | medium vessels |
| 4 | M Bao Oil Terminal | — | Very Small | Atlantic Coast of Africa | medium vessels |
| 5 | Lyndiane | — | Very Small | Atlantic Coast of Africa | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Senegal
6 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gorée | 1978 | Cultural | (vi) |
| 2 | Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary | 1981 | Natural | (vii) (x) |
| 3 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | 1981 | Natural | (x) |
| 4 | Island of Saint-Louis | 2000 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 5 | Saloum Delta | 2011 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) (v) |
| 6 | Bassari Country | 2012 | Cultural | (iii) (v) (vi) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Senegal
2 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Africa | 29.41M km² | Continent | Africa |
| 2 | Sahel | 1.02M km² | Plain | Africa |
Sahel
Plain · 1.02M km²
Sahel is a plain in Africa, covering an estimated 1.02M km². It extends across Mauritania, Sudan, Niger, Chad, Mali, Egypt, Senegal, South Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Algeria. It is the 17th-largest of the 231 landforms with a mapped extent in YearMaps.
The Sahel region (; from Arabic ساحل sāḥil [ˈsaːħil], "coast, shore"), or Sahelian acacia savanna, is a biogeographical region in Africa. It is the transition zone between the more humid Sudanian savannas to its south and the drier Sahara to the north. The Sahel has a hot semi-arid climate and stretches across the southernmost latitudes of North Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. Although geographically located in the tropics, the Sahel does not have a tropical climate.
The Sahel has one of the world's fastest-growing populations due to its high human birthrate, with approximately 80 million people in 2018. The western Sahel in particular has experienced frequent food and water shortages due to droughts caused by its semi-arid climate, as well as high levels of government corruption. Since the 2010s, various coups, insurgencies, terrorist incidents, and foreign interventions have taken place across the Sahel and Françafrique, leading to the region being called the Coup Belt. As a result, the Sahel is viewed as both an ecoregion and a geopolitical space shaped by internal instability and external strategic competition.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Sahel (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Plain
- Mapped extent
- 1.02M km²
- Size rank
- #17 of 231 landforms
- Region
- Africa
- Countries
- Mauritania, Sudan, Niger, Chad, Mali, Egypt, Senegal, South Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Algeria
- Coordinates
- 15.5072°, 15.0064°
- Ranges:
- Loma Mountains (Africa), Guinea Highlands (Africa)
More about Sahel
Geography
The Sahel spans 5,900 km (3,670 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east, in a belt several hundred to a thousand kilometers (c. 600 miles) wide. It covers an area of 3,053,200 square kilometers (1,178,850 sq mi).
Representing a climatic and ecological transition zone with hot semi-desert and steppe conditions, the region borders the more humid Sudanian savannas to its south and the dry Sahara desert to the north. This ecoregion is also called the Sahelian acacia savanna in honour of its most prominent and very drought tolerant genus of tree.
The topography is mainly flat; most of the region lies between 200 and 400 meters (660 and 1,310 ft) in elevation.
History
Around 4000 BC, the climate of the Sahara and the Sahel started to become drier at an exceedingly fast pace. This climate change caused lakes and rivers to shrink significantly and caused increasing desertification. This in turn decreased the amount of land conducive to settlements and caused migrations of farming communities to the more humid climate of West Africa.
The larger Sahelian kingdoms emerged from 750 AD and founded several large cities in the Niger valley region, including Timbuktu, Gao and Djenné.
The kingdom of Alodia was a Christian Nubian Kingdom in the eastern Sahel that reached its zenith from the 9th to 12th century. It was first mentioned in 569, its capital Soba located near modern-day Khartoum.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sahel (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Countries Bordering Senegal
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Africa
Senegal: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Senegal?
- The capital of Senegal is Dakar.
- What is the population of Senegal?
- Senegal has a population of about 18.93 million, the #69 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Senegal?
- Senegal covers 196,722 km², ranking #89 by area, with about 96 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Senegal in?
- Senegal is in Africa.
- Which countries border Senegal?
- Senegal shares a land or maritime border with Mali, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania.
- What is the largest city in Senegal?
- Dakar is the largest city in Senegal, with a metropolitan population of about 2.60 million.