Language
French is the official language. The main local languages are Wolof, Peul and Ful.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	12.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	12.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	11.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	11.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	11.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	11.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	10.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	10.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	10.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
26.1 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Wolof 42 percent, Serer 15 percent, Diola 10 percent, Fulani 9 percent. There is also a Malinke minority, as well as small numbers of French, Syrian and Lebanese.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Islam (94 percent). Around 5 percent are Christian and some Senegalese also practise traditional African religions.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	42.0 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	41.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	41.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	41.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	41.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	41.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	40.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	40.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1945
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
72 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	42.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	43.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	43.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT

Climate description
Variable from hot, swampy and forested in the south to arid savannah in the north.

Currency
CFA Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 221

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	62.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	56.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	55.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	52.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	52.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	53.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	60.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	54.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	54.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	50.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	50.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	51.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	64.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	57.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	56.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	54.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	54.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	59 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	60 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	77 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	78 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	78 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	114 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	116 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	136 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	137 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2000	139 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	58 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	58 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2002	58 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	51 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	50 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	980 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	690 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	156	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	156	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	157	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	157	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	156	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	154	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	17 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	17 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	17 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	23 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	23 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	23 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	18 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	18 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	26 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	20 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	23 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	77 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	76 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	72 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	78 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	28 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	57 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	52 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Literacy - average

2004	39.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	39.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	38.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	37.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	51.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	51.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	49.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	48.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	47.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	29.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	29.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	29.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	28.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	27.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	20 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	21 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	21 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	441 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	305 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	258 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	153 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	102 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	73 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	53 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	80 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	66 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	55 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	46 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	42 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	20 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	85 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	71	Transparency International 2007
2006	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	78 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	85 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	76	Transparency International
2002	66	Transparency International
2001	65 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	52 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	17.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	22.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	26.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	26.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	26.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	830 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	770 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	740 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	640 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	530 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	450 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	490 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	11.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	9.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	8.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	8.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	6.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	5.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	4.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.3  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	5.6  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	5.9  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	6.7  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	0.7  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.6  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	5.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
33.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	6 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	6 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	10 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	10 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	1.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. There is less risk from January through June in the central western areas. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	272 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	266 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	261 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	256 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	251 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	246 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	241 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	237 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	16006	UNHCR
2007	15896	UNHCR
2006	15163	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	8671	UNHCR
2004	8332	UNHCR
2003	8351	UNHCR
2002	12069	UNHCR
2001	8559	UNHCR
2000	11088	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	33193	UNHCR
2007	20421	UNHCR
2006	20591	UNHCR
2005	20712	UNHCR
2004	20804	UNHCR
2003	20726	UNHCR
2002	20711	UNHCR
2001	20707	UNHCR
2000	20766	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2008	10000-70000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2007	14000 - 22000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2005	64000	IDMC 2005

Landmine casualties per year

2007	1	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	18	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	17	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	19	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	4.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003