Senegal
Africa Β· Capital: Dakar
How it is run: Senegal is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Senegal is home to 18.9 million people in Western Africa, where people speak French.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
18.9 million people
That is 0.2% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
196,722 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 96 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
25th most people in Africa
35th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
French
π° Money
West African CFA franc (Fr)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
68.9 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$1,955
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
55.8% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
37.7% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+221
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.sn
π§ People here are called
Senegalese
π·οΈ Name at home
SΓ©nΓ©gal
Also written: Republic of Senegal, RΓ©publique du SΓ©nΓ©gal.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Senegal touches 5 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Senegal
French
SΓ©nΓ©gal
Arabic
Ψ§ΩΨ³ΩΨΊΨ§Ω
Chinese
ε‘ε ε ε°
Japanese
γ»γγ¬γ«
Russian
Π‘Π΅Π½Π΅Π³Π°Π»
Portuguese
Senegal
German
Senegal
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 12.5Γ as many people as Senegal.
- Senegal covers roughly 1,874 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Senegal lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 9,466 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Senegal is Dakar β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Senegal
ποΈ Capital
Dakar
π Region
Africa Β· Western Africa
π€ Country code
SN
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Senegal π
π§ Where on the map
14.0Β° N, 14.0Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-1 β when it is noon in London it is about 11:00 in Dakar.
- Senegal is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Senegal shares its part of the world with Liberia. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Senegal is Dakar β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- πΈπ³ is the flag of Senegal. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is SN.
- Senegal is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Senegal has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Senegal can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Senegal spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Senegal?
Dakar
Which money do people spend in Senegal?
West African CFA franc (Fr)
How many countries share a land border with Senegal?
5 β Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania.
Roughly how many people live in Senegal?
18.9 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.