Senegal
Africa · Western Africa
One of West Africa's most stable democracies, with a lively Dakar and a growing oil sector.
At a Glance
📈Senegal's Human Development Index
0.517
Low human development#167 of 191 countries worldwide, #32 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 13% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Senegal
Senegal is West Africa's great cultural and musical capital, a country where the city of Dakar crackles with creative energy, the ancient trade city of Saint-Louis carries a faded French colonial elegance, and the coast and river landscapes offer outstanding birdwatching and Atlantic beaches. The Wolof culture is renowned for its teranga, a word meaning hospitality that is taken as a national value. Those who engage with the music, the food, and the people will find it one of the most rewarding destinations in Africa.
- One of Africa's most stable democracies — has never had a military coup.
- Professional wrestling (Laamb) is the national sport, more popular than football.
- Dakar was the finish line of the Paris-Dakar Rally for over 30 years.
Quick Facts
Capital
Dakar
Language
French
Currency
Fr XOF
Area
192,530 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
31Mbps
GDP / Capita
$2K
PPP / Capita
$5K
Inflation
1.5%
Unemployment
2.7%
Innovation (GII)
23.8
GNI / Capita
$2K
Tax Revenue
19.5%
FDI Inflows
6.3%
Education Spend
6.2%
Cost of Living
48.5
Price Level Index
68th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.371 → 0.517 (+0.146)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Senegal for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Senegal head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Senegal's Human Development Index?
Senegal's Human Development Index is 0.517 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #167 of 191 countries.
Is Senegal safe?
Senegal scores 1.94 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #74 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Senegal?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Senegal at 48.5 (New York = 100); that is #93 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Senegal?
Life expectancy at birth in Senegal is 68.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #140 of 195 countries.