What is the capital of Senegal?
Dakar occupies the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa, about 22 metres above sea level.
Dakar is the capital and seat of government of Senegal, a role it has held since 1902. Senegal itself has an estimated population of 18,931,966 (2025).
Dakar is also the largest city in Senegal, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Dakar at a glance
| City population | 1,278,469 (2023 census, Dakar department) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 4,004,427 (2023) |
| Country | 🇸🇳 Senegal |
| Founded | 15th century |
| Capital since | 1902 |
| Largest city in Senegal | Dakar |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (GMT) |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
About Dakar
The Portuguese colonised Cap-Vert in the early 15th century and used the island of Gorée off the coast as a base for the Atlantic slave trade; France took the island in 1677.
Dakar has been the capital of Senegal since 1902, when Dakar replaced Saint-Louis as the capital of French West Africa, having grown into a major regional port after France annexed the mainland in the 19th century.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Dakar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Senegal?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Senegal on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.