African Nations Chamber of Commerce

SENEGAL

RAPID INFORMATION DATA SHEET
(Actually based on the year 2007 estimates)
Geography
Official language: French
Other key languages: Wolof, Mande, Fulani, Serer
Major religious groups: Sunni Muslim, Christian, Ethnic
Capital: Dakar
Population: 12.4 m
Land area: 196,192 km²
Population density (people/km²): 63.2

Key economic data
GDP: US$ 10.8 bn
GDP per capita: US$ 871
PPP GDP per capita: US$ 1,848
Average Real GDP growth 2000-06: 4.5%
Currency: CFA Franc
Key exports: Fish & fish products, phosphates, phosphoric acid
& fertilisers, groundnuts & products
Key imports: Food, petroleum products

Senegal is in the western most part of the Africa continent. It is limited in the West by the Atlantic Ocean, in the North by Mauritania, in the East by Mali and in the South by bissau Guinea and the Republic of Guinea. Its southern region of Casamance shares a border with the Republic of The Gambia.

Senegal has the required assets for a blooming tourism industry. It is only a few hours away from major tourist markets; five hours away from Western Europe and about seven hours away from the East Coast of the United States. Besides it is a sunny country. All forms of tourism can be experienced in Senegal seaside resorts (leisure, aquatic sports, horseback riding, discovery and more), cultural tourism, bird watching, sport tourism (hunting, scuba diving), ecotourism, historic museums, gorgeous natural sites, six major game parks and reserves, diversified fauna and flora to name a few.

Its weather is tropical, hot and humid:
- the rainy season (May to November) has some strong southeast winds;
- the dry season (December to April) is dominated by hot, dry, humid and harmattan winds.
Senegal is home to some of the most photographed beaches in the world.
The reefs and cays of the coastal are heaven for divers, holding out the promise of such extraordinary sightings of the underworld.

Dakar, the melting pot capital city, is one of the busiest cruise ships port in Africa and boasts an exciting restaurant and club scene, as well as duty-free shopping.

Tax indicators

Companies:
• Company tax: Resident companies: 25%
• Company tax: Non-resident companies: 20% (Withholding tax)
• Secondary Tax on Companies (STC): n/a
• General sales tax; n/a
• Value-added tax: 18%

Individuals:
• Fiscal year end 31 December
• Individual marginal tax rate (maximum): 50%
• Basis of taxation: Sourced-based or Residence-based: 0, 8 or16% Interest
• Dividends: 10%
• Royalties: 20%
Exchange controls: Exist
Double tax treaties: Exist
Capital gains tax: 25% (with possible reduction of the base)