The Human Truth Foundation

Senegal (Republic of Senegal)

https://www.humantruth.info/senegal.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#senegal

Senegal
Republic of Senegal
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index130th best
CapitalDakar
Land Area 192 530km21
LocationAfrica
Population15.9m2
Life Expectancy67.09yrs (2017)3
GNI$3 344 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesSN, SEN, 6865
Internet Domain.sn6
CurrencyFranc (XOF)7
Telephone+2218

1. Overview

The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000. He was reelected in 2007 and during his two terms amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and to weaken the opposition. His decision to run for a third presidential term sparked a large public backlash that led to his defeat in a March 2012 runoff election with Macky SALL.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverSkimming any holiday brochure about Senegal, you´ll sooner or later stumble across the term teranga, meaning `hospitality´. Senegal takes great pride in being the `Land of Teranga´. Senegal may be one of West Africa´s most stable countries, but stability equates to anything but dullness: the capital, Dakar, is a dizzying, street-hustler-rich introduction to the country. Perched on the tip of a peninsula, elegance meets chaos, noise, vibrant markets and glittering nightlife, while nearby Īle de Gorée and the beaches of Yoff and N´Gor tap to slow, lazy beats.

In northern Senegal, the enigmatic capital of Saint-Louis, a Unesco World Heritage site, tempts with colonial architecture and proximity to luscious national parks. Along the Petite Côte and Cap Skiring, wide strips of beaches beckon and the broad deltas of the Casamance River reveal hundreds of bird species, from the gleaming wings of tiny kingfishers to the proud poise of pink flamingos.Whether you want to mingle with the trendsetters of urban Africa or be alone with your thoughts and the sounds of nature, you´ll find your place in Senegal.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Senegal National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
167=Uganda0.525
168Lesotho0.514
169Malawi0.512
170Senegal0.511
171Djibouti0.509
172Sudan0.508
173Madagascar0.501
174Gambia0.500
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
158Cameroon$3 621
159Sudan$3 575
160Benin$3 409
161Senegal$3 344
162Zambia$3 218
163Comoros$3 142
164Vanuatu$3 085
165Congo, (Brazzaville)$2 889
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark26.9
2Norway29.1
3Sweden29.9
...
127Egypt101.1
128Iran101.9
129Bhutan102.1
130Senegal102.6
131Kenya103.0
132Vanuatu104.0
133Tajikistan104.6
134Namibia105.6
Africa Avg119.0
World Avg89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Senegal's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Senegal's population is predicted to rise to 19.96 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 4.31. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account13. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.14

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
67Netherlands17.1m
68Syria16.9m
69Cambodia16.2m
70Senegal15.9m
71Chad15.5m
72Somalia15.0m
73Zimbabwe14.4m
74Guinea12.4m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
138Fiji67.1
139Senegal67.1
140Eritrea66.5
141Tanzania66.2
142Pakistan66.1
143Rwanda66.1
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
15
Pos.202215
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
184Togo4.20
185Zambia4.24
186Guinea4.30
187Senegal4.31
188S. Sudan4.34
189=Ivory Coast4.34
189=Mauritania4.34
191Cameroon4.38
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
16
Pos.2016
Per 10016
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
15=Togo05.4
16=Ivory Coast05.6
16=Malawi05.6
16=Senegal05.6
19Yemen05.7
20=Cameroon05.8
20=Niger05.8
20=Congo, DR05.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.2017
%17
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
136Pakistan1.7%
137Nepal1.7%
138Poland1.7%
139Senegal1.7%
140Comoros1.5%
141Fiji1.5%
142Ghana1.4%
143Niger1.4%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants18
Pos.2010
%18
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
109Guinea5.2%
110Turkmenistan5.0%
111Mozambique5.0%
112Senegal5.0%
113Iraq4.9%
114Denmark4.7%
115Yemen4.7%
116Hungary4.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Senegal's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#antisemitism #equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #senegal #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2025)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Cape Verde66.3
2S. Africa70.7
3Mauritius74.9
...
7Botswana90.0
8Lesotho91.9
9Burkina Faso93.3
10Senegal95.2
11Madagascar98.8
12Rwanda102.5
13Mali102.9
14Gabon103.1
15Mozambique104.8
Africa Avg110.04
q=54.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Sweden7.8
2Netherlands8.7
3Denmark8.8
...
99Nepal92.7
100Nicaragua93.3
101Burkina Faso93.3
102Senegal95.2
103Singapore95.8
104Kosovo96.1
105Venezuela96.2
106Bhutan97.2
World Avg89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark20. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia20.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe20, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia20.

For more, see:

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #senegal #slavery

Press Freedom
Higher is better
21
Pos.202521
1Norway92.31
2Estonia89.46
3Netherlands88.64
...
70Congo, (Brazzaville)60.58
71Central African Rep.60.15
72Guyana60.12
73Senegal59.43
74Comoros59.27
75Malawi59.20
76Cyprus59.04
77Papua New Guinea58.35
Africa Avg52.30
World Avg54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.
Slavery in the 2020s
Lower is better
22
Pos.Total
Per 100022
1=Switzerland0.50
1=Norway0.50
3=Germany0.60
...
28S. Africa2.70
29Hong Kong2.80
30=Tanzania2.90
30=Senegal2.90
30=Ghana2.90
33=Benin3.00
33=Mozambique3.00
35Liberia3.10
Africa Avg6.90
World Avg7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
23
Pos.2014
Rank23
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
109Laos109
110Ivory Coast110
111=Ukraine111
111=Senegal111
111=Colombia111
111=Kuwait111
115=Malaysia115
115=Russia115
Africa Avg114.2
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
74=Poland2.0
74=Ghana2.0
76=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.5
76=Senegal2.5
76=Israel2.5
76=Solomon Islands2.5
76=Colombia2.5
76=Nauru2.5
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
24
Pos.2009
Treaties24
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
25=Bolivia21
25=Australia21
25=France21
25=Senegal21
29=Hungary20
29=Czechia20
29=Georgia20
29=Albania20
Africa Avg14.8
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
25
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty25
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
8Philippines4.19
9Bulgaria4.24
10Panama4.26
11Senegal4.32
12Namibia4.36
13Egypt4.52
14Spain4.60
15Peru4.64
Africa Avg9.88
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Senegal stated simply that 'freedom of assembly and expression were restricted. Forced begging by children continued'26.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Senegal is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women. Traditional Islamic beliefs are to blame.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
27
Pos.202227
1Denmark0.01
2Norway0.01
3Switzerland0.02
...
125Swaziland0.50
126Bangladesh0.50
127Burundi0.50
128Senegal0.51
129Tanzania0.51
130Ghana0.52
131Zimbabwe0.52
132Venezuela0.52
Africa Avg0.53
World Avg0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Total
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
51=Slovenia1945
51=Croatia1945
51=Italy1945
51=Senegal1945
51=Indonesia1945
51=Japan1945
51=Togo1945
58=N. Korea1946
Africa Avg1961
World Avg1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#antisemitism #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

Anti-Semite Opinions
Lower is better
28
Pos.2014
%28
1Laos0
2Philippines3
3Sweden4
...
77Poland45
78Indonesia48
79Panama52
80=Senegal53
80=S. Korea53
82Iran56
83Armenia58
84Malaysia61
Africa Avg45.9
World Avg36.8
q=101.
LGBT Equality in the 2020s
Higher is better
29
Pos.Total
Score29
1=Germany4.88
1=Spain4.88
3Portugal4.81
...
181Syria-5.08
182=Togo-5.10
182=Egypt-5.10
182=Senegal-5.10
182=Maldives-5.10
186Yemen-5.12
187Oman-5.13
188Uzbekistan-5.24
Africa Avg-3.78
World Avg-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Article 319 criminalizes same-sex acts; imprisonment terms

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Senegal had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
30
Pos.202130
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
45=Liechtenstein2.5
45=Fiji2.5
45=Niger2.5
45=Senegal2.5
45=Kenya2.5
45=Romania2.5
45=Mali2.5
45=Bhutan2.5
Africa Avg3.1
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Senegal's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #senegal #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Mauritius71.1
2Tunisia75.3
3Seychelles77.4
...
17Zimbabwe125.0
18=Namibia125.4
19Lesotho125.5
20Senegal126.3
21=Burundi126.8
22Swaziland127.0
23Djibouti127.8
24Congo, (Brazzaville)129.4
25Tanzania129.7
Africa Avg111.13
q=54.
Health (2025)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Monaco10.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Japan37.3
...
158=Bolivia125.4
158=Namibia125.4
160Lesotho125.5
161Senegal126.3
162Micronesia126.6
163=Burundi126.8
163=Haiti126.8
165Swaziland127.0
World Avg97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan32. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan32.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean32, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia32.

For more, see:

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #senegal #smoking

Senegal has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Senegal comes in the best 20 in terms of its smoking rate33. It does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate34 and in the prevalence of overweight adults35. But unfortunately Senegal gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average when it comes to delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-201536, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s37, its average life expectancy11 (still good for Africa), its adolescent birth rate38 (still good for Africa), childhood mortality in the 2020s39 and in its fertility rate15. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance40 (amongst the worst in Africa). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Senegal improved by +11.6yrs in the 30 years from 1990, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs. Senegal's peak fertility rate was 7.29 in 1980.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
136Kiribati67.4
137India67.2
138Fiji67.1
139Senegal67.1
140Eritrea66.5
141Tanzania66.2
142Pakistan66.1
143Rwanda66.1
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
34
Pos.2016
Per Capita34
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
18=Bhutan0.6
18=Morocco0.6
20=Jordan0.7
20=Senegal0.7
22=Oman0.8
22=Indonesia0.8
22=Azerbaijan0.8
25=Algeria0.9
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
15
Pos.202215
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
184Togo4.20
185Zambia4.24
186Guinea4.30
187Senegal4.31
188S. Sudan4.34
189=Ivory Coast4.34
189=Mauritania4.34
191Cameroon4.38
Africa Avg3.97
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Smoking in the 2020s
Lower is better
33
Pos.Total
%33
1Nigeria3.3%
2Ghana3.4%
3Panama5.2%
4Ethiopia5.2%
5Turkmenistan5.6%
6Benin6.3%
7Togo6.4%
8=Cameroon6.5%
8=Senegal6.5%
10Barbados7.0%
11Peru7.2%
12Chad7.4%
Africa Avg12.4%
World Avg20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
156Libya156
157Papua New Guinea157
158Belize158
159Algeria159
160Senegal160
161Mauritania161
162St Vincent & Grenadines162
163Angola163
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
35
Pos.1976
%35
1Bangladesh4.7
2Vietnam5.1
3Nepal5.4
...
44Equatorial Guinea10.5
45Comoros10.8
46Somalia10.9
47Senegal11.1
48=Cameroon11.2
48=Liberia11.2
50Ghana11.4
51=Ivory Coast11.5
Africa Avg13.4
World Avg27.1
q=191.
Adult Obesity
Lower is better
41
Pos.2022
%41
1Vietnam2.1%
2Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.2%
3Ethiopia2.4%
...
25S. Sudan8.0%
26China8.2%
27Guinea8.3%
28Senegal8.7%
29Philippines8.7%
30Mozambique8.8%
31Zambia9.4%
32Benin9.9%
Africa Avg13.7%
World Avg24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
38
Pos.2022
Per 100038
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
148Nepal63.4
149Ghana63.4
150Eritrea63.6
151Senegal64.6
152Guyana64.6
153Ethiopia66.5
154Swaziland68.4
155Panama68.5
Africa Avg84.6
World Avg43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s)
Higher is better
37
Pos.Total
Avg %37
1=Luxembourg99.0
1=Oman99.0
1=Niue99.0
...
124British Virgin Islands90.9
125=San Marino90.7
125=India90.7
127Senegal90.5
128Slovenia90.4
129Dominica90.1
130=Austria89.9
130=Algeria89.9
Africa Avg82.9
World Avg88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015)
Higher is better
36
Pos.2015
Avg %36
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
119Nepal90.1
120Montenegro89.9
121Zimbabwe89.7
122Senegal89.5
123Peru89.3
124Ireland89.2
125Sudan89.2
126Honduras88.8
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.
Infant Mortality (2020s)
Lower is better39
Pos.Total
Per 100039
1San Marino2.11
2Finland2.59
3Luxembourg2.60
...
151Papua New Guinea52.31
152Namibia52.36
153Myanmar52.96
154Senegal53.83
155Ghana54.29
156Congo, (Brazzaville)54.48
157Laos55.34
158Tanzania56.34
Africa Avg71.63
World Avg32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Senegal was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19).

6. Senegal's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Morocco46.5
2Burundi47.8
3Mali51.0
...
15Cameroon62.6
16Burkina Faso63.1
17Gambia63.3
18Senegal63.4
19Lesotho66.1
20Guinea67.1
21Ivory Coast70.8
22Togo71.1
23Congo, DR73.0
Africa Avg80.07
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
39Ireland63.1
40Burkina Faso63.1
41Gambia63.3
42Senegal63.4
43Hong Kong64.6
44Cyprus64.8
45Dominican Rep.65.0
46Ecuador65.6
World Avg84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"43. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Senegal ranks 42nd in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is computed from 21 data sets. Senegal does better than average in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person44, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in energy to GDP efficiency45 (but bad for Africa). Senegal still has work to do. Senegal does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population46, its environmental performance47 (still high for Africa) and in its forested percent change 2000-202048.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
48
Pos.Total48
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
190Israel-8.4%
191Haiti-8.8%
192Kenya-8.9%
193Senegal-9.1%
194Indonesia-9.2%
195Ecuador-9.2%
196Ghana-9.7%
197Brazil-10.1%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2010 to 2020, Senegal destroyed 5% of its forest cover, falling from 8468 thousand hectares to 8068.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
47
Pos.201847
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
123Libya49.8
124Ghana49.7
125Timor-Leste (E. Timor)49.5
126Senegal49.5
127Malawi49.2
128Guyana47.9
129Tajikistan47.9
130Kenya47.3
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
45
Pos.2022
Avg45
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
55Mali0.86
56Morocco0.86
57Turkey0.86
58Senegal0.87
59Sao Tome & Principe0.88
60Germany0.91
61Palestine0.91
62Cyprus0.92
Africa Avg0.83
World Avg1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
42Luxembourg68%
43Netherlands68%
44Kenya68%
45Senegal67%
46France67%
47Nepal67%
48Niger67%
49Pakistan67%
Africa Avg56.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
46
Pos.2011
%46
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
94Guyana30.1%
95Egypt30.1%
96Macedonia30.1%
97Senegal29.6%
98Comoros28.3%
99Ireland27.9%
100Israel27.6%
101Palestine27.5%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
44
Pos.2021
kg44
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
36Zambia18.3
37Indonesia18.6
38Pakistan18.6
39Senegal19.3
40Sudan19.9
41=Myanmar20.0
41=Angola20.0
43S. Sudan20.2
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Senegal's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #metric #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)49
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank49
1S. Africa58.2
2Tunisia63.4
3Seychelles64.9
...
21Swaziland116.9
22Congo, (Brazzaville)118.1
23Ivory Coast118.3
24Senegal118.4
25Comoros118.5
26Benin119.5
27Burkina Faso121.6
28Madagascar122.4
29Mali123.2
Africa Avg119.28
q=54.
Modernity & Learning (2025)49
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank49
1Vatican City1.0
2Finland4.8
3Belgium8.5
...
146Nepal117.4
147Congo, (Brazzaville)118.1
148Ivory Coast118.3
149Senegal118.4
150Comoros118.5
151Benin119.5
152Bangladesh120.0
153Burkina Faso121.6
World Avg80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium50. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia50. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots51.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)52

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe50, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia50.

For more, see:

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2953
2Israel4.1153
3Japan3.5853
...
55=Gabon0.5854
55=Argentina0.5855
57=Mexico0.5453
57=Senegal0.5456
59UAE0.4957
60=Uganda0.4856
60=Cyprus0.4858
62=Costa Rica0.4757
Africa Avg0.36
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
66Namibia66
67India67
68Lebanon68
69Senegal69
70China70
71Burundi71
72Tunisia72
73Timor-Leste (E. Timor)73
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Metric System Adoption Rate
Higher is better
59
Pos.2025
%59
1=Slovakia100
1=Poland100
1=Portugal100
...
134=Sudan90
134=Sri Lanka90
134=Sierra Leone90
134=Senegal90
134=UK90
134=Sao Tome & Principe90
134=UAE90
134=St Lucia90
Africa Avg90
World Avg92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Senegal officially adopted metric in 196060. Progression:

Religiosity
Lower is better
61
Pos.2018
%61
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
99Afghanistan92
100=Burkina Faso93
100=Tanzania93
100=Indonesia93
103=Mali94
103=Pakistan94
105=Ethiopia98
105=Senegal98
Africa Avg87.0
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better62
Pos.200662
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
129=Haiti67
130=Gambia66
130=Zimbabwe66
130=Senegal66
133=Sierra Leone64
133=Mozambique64
133=Ethiopia64
133=Central African Rep.64
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education
Higher is better
63
Pos.201863
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
154Cambodia21.3%
155Mozambique19.3%
156Mauritania18.8%
157Senegal17.6%
158Sudan17.5%
159Ethiopia17.1%
160Rwanda16.3%
161Tanzania14.3%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
64
Pos.2021
Years64
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
181Syria9.2
182Burkina Faso9.1
183Yemen9.1
184Senegal9.0
185Pakistan8.7
186Eritrea8.1
187Central African Rep.8.0
188Chad8.0
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users
Higher is better
65
Pos.201665
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
139Sudan26%
140Sao Tome & Principe26%
141Yemen25%
142Senegal23%
143Angola23%
144Ivory Coast22%
145Honduras22%
146Botswana21%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
66
Pos.202466
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
90Sri Lanka36.3%
91Angola34.9%
92Mongolia34.6%
93Senegal34.4%
94Ivory Coast34.0%
95Pakistan33.5%
96Algeria33.2%
97Bolivia33.1%
Africa Avg32.3%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. Senegal's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #senegal #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics #senegal

World Giving Index
Higher is better
67
Pos.2022
%67
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
58=Nepal40.0
58=Malaysia40.0
58=Nicaragua40.0
58=Senegal40.0
58=Estonia40.0
58=Uruguay40.0
58=Turkey40.0
58=Hungary40.0
Africa Avg38.2
World Avg39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.
Corruption
Higher is better
68
Pos.2022
Points68
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
69=Jamaica44.0
69=Oman44.0
69=Bahrain44.0
72=Senegal43.0
72=S. Africa43.0
72=Bulgaria43.0
72=Benin43.0
72=Ghana43.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Thoughout the 2010s, Senegal made serious improvements to its Corruption Perception Index score (+10), sitting amongst the top 10 best-improvers that decade.

Happiness
Higher is better
69
Pos.2024
Score69
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
104Cameroon4.9
105Nigeria4.9
106Azerbaijan4.9
107Senegal4.9
108Palestine4.8
109Pakistan4.8
110Niger4.7
111Ukraine4.7
Africa Avg4.42
World Avg5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
84Cape Verde84
85Morocco85
86Jamaica86
87Senegal87
88Indonesia88
89Cambodia89
90Peru90
91Jordan91
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Passport Reach (2020s)
Higher is better70
Pos.Total
Q70
1Singapore192.2
2Japan192.0
3S. Korea190.7
...
146Tajikistan58.5
147Gabon58.0
148Ivory Coast57.3
149Senegal56.8
150Madagascar56.5
151Togo56.2
152Papua New Guinea55.8
153Equatorial Guinea55.7
Africa Avg62.9
World Avg108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
56Luxembourg56
57Mali57
58El Salvador58
59Senegal59
60Kyrgyzstan60
61Qatar61
62USA62
63Congo, DR63
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
71
Pos.2023
Score71
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
49Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.80
50Uruguay1.80
51Ghana1.80
52Senegal1.83
53Indonesia1.83
54Argentina1.84
55Madagascar1.85
56Namibia1.86
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
40China40
41Canada41
42Azerbaijan42
43Senegal43
44Switzerland44
45Bolivia45
46Burkina Faso46
47Philippines47
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
40
Pos.2017
Rank40
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
97Russia97
98Papua New Guinea98
99Mexico99
100Senegal100
101Georgia101
102Timor-Leste (E. Timor)102
103Barbados103
104Armenia104
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
72
Pos.2019
Score72
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
55Taiwan1.01
56Laos1.03
57Armenia1.17
58Senegal1.19
59Morocco1.22
60Guatemala1.33
61Georgia1.34
62Papua New Guinea1.36
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s)
Lower is better
73
Pos.Total
%73
1Malaysia0.01%
2Bhutan0.01%
3Cyprus0.02%
...
83Honduras16.37%
84Syria16.47%
85Kosovo17.25%
86Senegal17.89%
87Ivory Coast20.90%
88Gambia22.00%
89Cameroon26.69%
90Benin27.22%
Africa Avg41.51%
World Avg11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better74
Pos.201974
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
130Rwanda19.50
131India19.70
132Madagascar21.10
133Senegal21.20
134Eritrea21.40
135Timor-Leste (E. Timor)21.70
136Namibia22.10
137=Kenya22.50
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
75
Pos.2023
%75
1Slovakia24.1%76
2Slovenia24.3%76
3Belarus24.4%77
...
92=Mali35.7%76
93=Vietnam36.1%78
93=Indonesia36.1%79
95Senegal36.2%76
96=Lithuania36.7%76
96=Yemen36.7%80
98Mauritius36.8%81
99Dominican Rep.37.0%78
Africa Avg40.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Senegal - only for 6 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
82
Pos.2018
Severity82
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
81Sudan.279
82Angola.282
83Gambia.286
84Senegal.288
85Nigeria.291
86Sierra Leone.297
87Liberia.320
88Guinea.336
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)61
Pos.Lower is better
%61
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
91=Honduras90
91=Cameroon90
91=Rwanda90
91=Liberia90
95=Morocco91
95=Guinea-Bissau91
95=Philippines91
95=Zambia91
99Afghanistan92
100=Burkina Faso93
100=Tanzania93
100=Indonesia93
103=Mali94
103=Pakistan94
105=Ethiopia98
105=Senegal98
World Avg54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:83:

20102020
Muslim96.1%97.6%
Christian3.41%2.4%
Unaffiliated<0.1%<0.1%
Other0.466%<0.1%
Jewish<0.1%<0.1%
Buddhist<0.1%<0.1%
HinduNoneNone

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%84.

Links: