Senegalese: Data

1. Senegalese make up a very small percentage of the US population, so much so that the actual number is unclear.

2. There are 18,000 Senegalese immigrants in New York

3. Stats for Sub-Saharan African Immigrants:
Median Income: $42,306
Poverty Rate: 22.9% in poverty, 42.9% in or near poverty
English proficiency: 72% have very good English, 9.4% have terrible English

4. Populations of Senegalese people are concentrated around New York City. Some of the most well known Senegalese enclaves are “Little Senegal” in Harlem, “Fuuta Town” in Brooklyn,

5. The Major Push Factors:
· High poverty in Senegal
· Corrupt government
· Lack of Jobs/poor economy
· Conflict between ethnic groups
· Lack of Freedom

6. The major Pull Factors:
· The American Dream
· Free Market
· Full Democracy
· Better Living conditions
· Easier access to food
· Freedom to create wealth
· Marriage/Family reasons
· Education

7. Timeline:
- Senegal French colonies & French Sudan merged in 1959. They were given independence as the Mali Federation in 1960.
- 1990 - 1999 the gross domestic product per head sank by 28.1%
- roughly half of the population is under the age of 18
- The largest group of immigrants in Senegal from Guinea - fled the repression of President Sékou Touré (1958-1984). 75,000 persons came from that country to Senegal at the beginning of the 1970s
- colonial times - 100,000 persons migrated from Mauritania to Senegal.
- In 1985 France introduced a compulsory visa for Senegal.
-only visa-free entry for citizens of the Community ---- the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment – was signed in 1979
- in 1984 & 1989 Senegal tightened naturalizing process
- September 2005 - several thousand migrants attempted to get over the border fences: 14 deaths.
- In 2005, the World Bank stated 463,000 Senegalese (or 4% of the population) were living abroad.
- energy crisis caused widespread blackouts in 2006 and 2007?
- Senegal ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until President Abdoulaye Wade (current) was elected in 2000
- In 2007, Senegal signed agreements with foreign companies for new mining concessions for iron, zircon, and gold
- Population of 13 million.
- Literacy rate is just over 40% (30% for women and 50% for men).

8. Niches the Senegalese occupy:
- Street vendors
-Restaurants
- Stores : nail salonzzzzzz

9. The Senegalese natives have created institutions such as the Association des Senegalais d'Amerique and they created a Senegalise Embassy (Consulate General of Senegal) located in Harlem, New York.

10. There Harlem community Le Petit Senegal is very strong culturally, and while it bonds though food and language ( restaurants line the streets, and rapid-fire French is heard from every corner), the main way the community comes together is religion. Nearly all of the Senegalese population is Sufi Muslim, and they celebrate all the important Muslim holidays (Ramadan, Ied). Besides that, Senegalese music is played often, and is widely celebrated.