Official Name

République du Sénégal

Capital

Dakar (including Pikine) - population: 2,0m (1998)

Head of State

President  Abdoulaye Wade ( Elected March 2000)

National Currencies and current exchange rates

CFA franc (CFAfr) Average exchange rate in 1999 - CFAfr615.7: US$1; Exchange rate on 22 February 2002: FCFA 748.88 to US$ 1

National Day and other important days

1 January, 1 February (Confederation Day), 4 April (National Day), 1 May, 15 August (Assumption), 1 November (All Saints'), 25 December. Variable dates: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension, Whit Monday, Eid Al-Fitr (Korite), Eid Al-Adha (Tabaski), Prophet's Birthday (Maouloud).

System Of Government

Unitary republic

Ethnic groups

 Wolof 43%, Pular 24%, Serer 15%, Diola 4%, Mandink 3%, Soninke 1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9%

Languages:

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo

Religions

Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2%

Mo kle: Senegal, information