Part 731

Coastline: 531 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m

Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore

Land use: arable land : 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 54% other: 18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geography - note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal

@Senegal:People

Population: 9,403,546 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,259,765; female 2,270,363) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,190,263; female 2,418,385) 65 years and over: 3% (male 130,742; female 134,028) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.35% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 44.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.93 years male: 54.15 years female: 59.79 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.24 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality: noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese

Ethnic groups: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%

Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)

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

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2% (1995 est.)