Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Senegal: Dakar — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

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.

How to remember Senegal

D for Dakar, D for 'Dot on the end': Dakar is on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the bump that pokes furthest west out of Africa into the Atlantic. For the flag, Senegal is the green-yellow-red tricolour with a green star in the middle; Mali's has no star.

The flag of Senegal: green, yellow and red, with a green star

🇸🇳 The flag is three vertical stripes of green, yellow and red with a green five-pointed star in the centre. These are the Pan-African colours shared by many African flags. Green stands for Islam, progress and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, red for sacrifice and determination, and the star for unity and hope.

Region and neighbours

Senegal is the westernmost country of mainland Africa, on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia.

Three facts about Senegal

  1. Dakar is on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa.
  2. Senegal almost completely surrounds The Gambia, which follows the Gambia River inland from the coast.
  3. Gorée Island, just off Dakar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of remembrance for the Atlantic slave trade.

Sources: Wikipedia: Senegal, Wikipedia: Flag of Senegal, Wikipedia: Dakar, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Senegal

Senegal capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Senegal 🇸🇳?

    • Algiers
    • Dakar
    • Malabo
    • Khartoum
    Show answer

    Dakar

  2. What is the capital of Somalia 🇸🇴?

    • Kigali
    • Dakar
    • Mogadishu
    • Brazzaville
    Show answer

    Mogadishu

  3. What is the capital of Chad 🇹🇩?

    • Gitega
    • N'Djamena
    • Freetown
    • Tripoli
    Show answer

    N'Djamena

  4. What is the capital of Zimbabwe 🇿🇼?

    • Windhoek
    • Gaborone
    • Harare
    • N'Djamena
    Show answer

    Harare

  5. What is the capital of Zambia 🇿🇲?

    • Lilongwe
    • Kampala
    • Libreville
    • Lusaka
    Show answer

    Lusaka

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.

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.

What are the colours of the Senegal flag?

The flag of Senegal is three vertical stripes of green, yellow and red with a green five-pointed star in the centre. These are the Pan-African colours shared by many African flags. Green stands for Islam, progress and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, red for sacrifice and determination, and the star for unity and hope.

Which countries border Senegal?

Senegal shares land borders with Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia.

How can I remember the capital of Senegal?

D for Dakar, D for 'Dot on the end': Dakar is on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the bump that pokes furthest west out of Africa into the Atlantic. For the flag, Senegal is the green-yellow-red tricolour with a green star in the middle; Mali's has no star.

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