Dakar Region (French: Région de Dakar) is the smallest and most populated Region of Senegal, encompassing the capital city of the country, Dakar, and all its suburbs along the Cap–Vert Peninsula, Africa's most westerly point.

Dakar Region
Région de Dakar (French)
Diiwaanu Ndakaaru (Wolof)
Official seal of Dakar Region
Dakar Region highlighted in red inside Senegal
Dakar Region highlighted in red inside Senegal
Coordinates: 14°45′N 17°20′W / 14.750°N 17.333°W / 14.750; -17.333
CountrySenegal
CapitalDakar
Departments
Government
 • Regional presidentAbdoulaye Faye (PDS; since 2002)
Area
 • Total547 km2 (211 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)
 • Total4,004,427
 • Rank1st
 • Density7,300/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
  • Rank1st
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
ISO 3166-2
SN-DK
Arrondissements10[1]
Communes7,[1] plus 2 communautés rurales
Communes d'arrondissement43[1]
HDI (2021)0.607[2]
medium · 1st

Administration

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The Dakar region is divided into five départements (administrative structures without political power, unlike the French départements). The départements had the following areas and populations at the Census of 2023:

Département Area (km2) Population
Census 2023[3]
Dakar 80 1,278,469
Guédiawaye 13 372,708
Keur Massar 46 770,314
Pikine 42 764,597
Rufisque 356 818,337
Total Région de Dakar 547 4,004,427

Keur Massar Department was formed in May 2021.[4]

Dakar department

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Dakar Department is also a commune (city). This is a situation comparable to Paris which is both a department and a commune. The department/commune of Dakar is further divided into:

  • 4 arrondissements, which are administrative structures without much power. The arrondissements are further divided into:
    • 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "communes of arrondissement"). The communes d'arrondissement have a lot of power, unlike the arrondissements of Paris, and are more comparable to the London boroughs.

Guédiawaye department

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Guédiawaye Department is also a commune (city). This department has only one arrondissement, so that Guédiawaye is both a department and an arrondissement. The department /arrondissement/commune of Guédiawaye is further divided into:

  • 5 communes d'arrondissement

Pikine department

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Pikine Department is also a commune (city). The department /commune of Pikine is further divided into:

  • 3 arrondissements, which are further divided into:
    • 16 communes d'arrondissement

Rufisque department

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Rufisque Department is made up of two arrondissements and six urban communes:

  • Rufisque arrondissement, which is also a commune (city). The arrondissement/commune of Rufisque is divided into 3 communes d'arrondissement:
    • Rufisque Centre (Nord)
    • Rufisque Est
    • Rufisque Ouest
  • Bambylor arrondissement, which, administratively speaking, is the only rural part of the Dakar region. The Bambylor arrondissement is divided into 3 communautés rurales (i.e. "rural communities"):
    • Yène
    • Bambylor
    • Tivaouane Peulh-Niaga
  • The six communes of Bargny, Sébikotane, Diamniadio, Jaxaay-Parcelle-Niakoul Rap, Sangalkam and Sendou

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18711,600—    
18918,737+8.86%
190418,447+5.92%
191825,468+2.33%
192132,440+8.40%
192633,679+0.75%
1961374,700+7.13%
1969581,000+5.64%
19901,405,000+4.29%
19951,688,000+3.74%
20002,029,000+3.75%
20052,434,000+3.71%
20133,137,196+3.22%
20233,896,564+2.19%

Table of Administrative Sub-divisions

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Administrative Divisions of the Dakar Region
Département Commune Arrondissement Commune d'arrondissement Communauté rurale
Department/ County / State City Borough Neighborhood Rural Borough
Dakar Dakar Almadies Mermoz-Sacré-Cœur
Ngor
Ouakam
Yoff
Dakar Plateau Fann-Point E-Amitié
Gorée
Gueule Tapée-Fass-Colobane
Médina
Plateau
Grand Dakar Biscuiterie
Dieuppeul-Derklé
Grand Dakar
Hann-Bel Air
HLM
Sicap-Liberté
Parcelles Assainies Cambérène
Grand Yoff
Parcelles Assainies
Patte d'Oie
Guédiawaye Guédiawaye Guédiawaye Golf Sud
Médina Gounass
Ndiarème Limoulaye
Sam Notaire
Wakhinane Nimzatt
Pikine Pikine Dagoudane Dalifort
Djidah-Thiaroye Kaw
Guinaw Rail Nord
Guinaw Rail Sud
Pikine Est
Pikine Nord
Pikine Ouest
Niayes Keur Massar
Malika [fr]
Yeumbeul Nord
Yeumbeul Sud
Thiaroye Diamaguène Sicap Mbao
Mbao
Thiaroye Gare
Thiaroye Sur Mer
Tivaouane Diaksao
Rufisque Rufisque Rufisque Rufisque Est
Rufisque Nord
Rufisque Ouest
Sangalkam Bargny
Diamnadio
Jaxaay-Parcelle-Niakoul Rap
Sangalkam
Sébikotane
Sendou -
Bambylor Bambylor
Yène
Tivaouane Peulh-Niaga

Conclusion

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Within the Dakar 'region, the only politically significant units (i.e. those who have elected officials and wield a significant power) are: the 7 communes, the 2 communautés rurales, and the 43 communes d'arrondissement.

References

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  1. ^ a b c As of December 2005
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. ^ "Dakar (Region, Senegal) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  4. ^ Ndarinfo. "La création du département de Keur Massar officialisée". NDARINFO.COM | Les News du Sénégal et de l'Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2022-06-02.
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