Senegal

Senegal is a country in West Africa, classified by the United Nations under the M49 standard with code 686, ISO alpha-2 code SN and ISO alpha-3 code SEN. The UN groups Senegal in the Africa region and the Sub-Saharan Africa subregion. Senegal is a UN member state. The World Bank capital field lists Dakar as the capital. These classification facts come from the UN Statistics Division and the World Bank country API and are statistical categories, not political or territorial claims.

For country-level metadata, the World Bank API returns Senegal’s ISO codes, region, income level and lending category. Use the endpoint https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SN?format=json and filter for country code “SN”. The response includes the country name, ISO alpha-3 code, region and the income classification in effect at the time of the call; the reference year is stated in the API metadata.

This profile explains how to verify changing data and where to find authoritative sources. Figures for population, economy and other volatile indicators are not frozen here; instead, you get the method for retrieving the latest values from primary sources.

Verify population, languages, currency, government and economy

Figures change yearly. Do not trust a static value you read anywhere. Use the named sources below and note the reference year for each figure.

Population

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes population estimates and projections; the UN M49 overview at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/ provides the regional classification and the list of UN member states. For a population figure, use the UN World Population Prospects or the World Bank country dataset at https://data.worldbank.org/country/senegal. The World Bank API returns population in the indicator SP.POP.TOTL; the reference year is stated in the dataset. National censuses are conducted by the Agence Nationale de Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD), Senegal’s statistical office.

Population data are estimates, not exact counts. Census figures can be several years old and may undercount rural or nomadic communities. Always cite the dataset and reference year.

Languages

The standard compilations for languages are Ethnologue and the CIA World Factbook; both are secondary sources. French is the official language per Senegal’s constitution. National languages include Wolof, Pulaar, Serer, Diola and Mandinka, among others. Wolof is the most widely spoken lingua franca, though its legal status is distinct from French. Verify the language list from the Senegalese government’s published sources or the CIA World Factbook, and note the reference year for any figure. For linguistic data, consult Ethnologue (SIL International) or UNESCO’s education statistics.

Capital

The World Bank capital field for Senegal is Dakar. This is a statistical classification field, not a political or territorial claim. For administrative geography and official names, consult Senegal’s national statistical office or the UN M49 overview.

Currency

The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Exchange rates change daily; check the rate from your bank or a currency data source before making any financial decision. The currency code and monetary policy framework are maintained by the BCEAO.

Government

Senegal is a republic with a president and National Assembly. For the head of state, government composition and election results, use official government portals or the latest edition of the CIA World Factbook. Always name the reference year.

Economy

The World Bank classifies Senegal as a lower-middle-income country. Per capita GNI thresholds change annually; confirm the classification on the World Bank’s country and lending groups page. Economic data such as GDP, GDP per capita and income classification should be pulled from the World Bank API and labeled with the reference year. Do not assume that the latest available figure is from the present calendar year.

Travel and entry information

Visa requirements, passport validity rules, health entry requirements and security conditions change frequently and depend on your nationality. Do not rely on a static profile for this. Check your own government’s foreign ministry travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre before any trip. Entry rules are set by Senegal’s authorities, but your ability to board a flight is determined by airline and transit-country rules, so always verify against published sources immediately before travel.