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Republic of
Senegal
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Did You Know?
  • Gorée Island near Dakar was a major auction site for the colonial-era slave trade.
  • Sharing a kola nut (which contains a mild caffeine stimulant) is a gesture of friendship.
  • Rural extended families often live together in compounds with separate dwellings for each family.
  • A favorite dish is rice and chicken covered with a sauce made of sliced onions and spices.

  • Flag
    The flag of Senegal was most recently adopted on 20 August 1960. It consists of Ethiopia's pan-African colors. The green symbolizes the abundance of the land, yellow the sun, and red sacrifice and power. Senegal's openness to the world is shown by the five points of the star, each representing a continent.

    Flag of Senegal
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    Official Name Anthem
    Hear the name of the country Hear the name of the country. The common name of the country is Senegal. The official name is the Republic of Senegal (République du Sénégal).
    Hear the national anthem Hear the national anthem.  The national anthem of Senegal is “Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons.” Koras and balafons are instruments that may be used to play this anthem. Adopted in 1960. Lyrics by Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor; music by Herbert Pepper.
    Country and Development Data
    Capital: Dakar
       Current Time: 11:29 PM
       Latitude: 14.40
       Longitude: -17.26
    Population: 12,853,259 (rank=68)
    Area, sq. mi.: 75,749 (rank=85)
    Area, sq. km.: 196,180
    Human Dev. Index rank: 156 of 177 countries
    Adjusted for women: 134 of 156 countries
    Real GDP per capita: $1,792
    Adult literacy rate: 51% (male); 29% (female)
    Infant mortality rate: 77 per 1,000 births
    Life expectancy: 60 (male); 64 (female)
    Currency: CFA franc




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