Dakar region () 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.
Administration 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) Populationcensus 2023 Dakar 801,278,469 Guédiawaye 13372,708Keur Massar46770,314 Pikine42764,597 Rufisque356818,337 Total Région de Dakar 5474,004,427 Keur Massar department was formed in May 2021.
Dakar department 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 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 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 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
Table of administrative sub-divisions Administrative divisions of the Dakar regionDépartementCommune Arrondissement Commune d'arrondissement Communauté ruraleDepartment / county / state CityBorough 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 AssainiesCambérène Grand Yoff Parcelles Assainies Patte d'Oie Guédiawaye Guédiawaye Guédiawaye Golf Sud Médina Gounass Ndiarème Limoulaye Sam Notaire Wakhinane Nimzatt Pikine Pikine DagoudaneDalifort Djidah-Thiaroye Kaw Guinaw Rail Nord Guinaw Rail SudPikine Est Pikine Nord Pikine Ouest NiayesKeur Massar Yeumbeul Nord Yeumbeul Sud ThiaroyeDiamaguène 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
Within the Dakar region, the 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
External links Regional Council of Dakar official website Collectivités locales de Dakar from Republic of Senegal Government site, l'Agence de l'informatique de l'État (ADIE). Décret fixant le ressort territorial et le chef lieu des régions et des départements , décret n°2002-166 du 21 février 2002. Code des collectivités locales , Loi n° 96-06 du 22 mars 1996.