Capital of Senegal: Dakar
The capital of Senegal is Dakar. Senegal sits in Africa, has a population of 17,316,449, and uses the XOF. Official languages include French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Dakar
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~17,316,449
- Area: 196,722 km²
- Population density: 88.0 people per km²
- Official language: French
- Currency: XOF
- ISO code: SN
How big is Senegal?
By population, Senegal ranks 72nd in the world, holding roughly 0.22% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 86th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Senegal has 88.0 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Senegal is the 25th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Senegal in population are Netherlands (17,564,014) and Somalia (17,597,511).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Kyrgyzstan (199,951 km²) and Belarus (207,600 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
French is spoken officially in 30 countries in this dataset, including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cameroon, and 24 others.
The XOF is not unique to Senegal — it is also used by Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast, and 3 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Senegal in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Senegal belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Senegal and a page on the flag of Senegal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Senegal?
The capital of Senegal is Dakar.
What is the population of Senegal?
About 17,316,449, making it the 72nd most populous country in the world.
How big is Senegal?
196,722 square kilometres, ranking 86th by land area, at a density of 88.0 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Senegal use?
The XOF, shared with 7 other countries.