Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Senegal?
Dakar
The capital of Senegal is Dakar. About 3.3 million people live in the Dakar urban area — 17.6% of the country's population.
3.3 million
Urban area population
UTC0
Time zone
14.73°N
Latitude · 17.63°W
Yes
Largest city
Dakar at a glance
Name origin
The name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar, meaning "tamarind tree".
Time zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
14 44 N, 17 38 W · IANA time zone Africa/Abidjan
Location of Senegal
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Capitals closest to Dakar
Banjul, Gambia — 183 km
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau — 390 km
Nouakchott, Mauritania — 411 km
Praia, Cape Verde — 633 km
Conakry, Guinea — 722 km
Freetown, Sierra Leone — 844 km
Bamako, Mali — 1,066 km
Monrovia, Liberia — 1,198 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Dakar
What is the capital of Senegal?
The capital of Senegal is Dakar. About 3.3 million people live in the Dakar urban area — 17.6% of the country's population.
Is Dakar the largest city in Senegal?
Yes — Dakar is also the largest urban area of Senegal (3.3 million).
What time zone is Dakar in?
Dakar is on UTC0 — UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Dakar come from?
The name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar, meaning "tamarind tree".
Which capital is closest to Dakar?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Banjul (Gambia) is the closest, 183 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).