# Demographics of Senegal

Demographic features of the population of Senegal include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
About 42% of Senegal's population is rural. In rural areas, population density varies from about 77 per square kilometer (200/mile²) in the west-central region to 2 per square kilometer (5/mile²) in the arid eastern section. The average population density for the country is 68 people per square kilometer (180 people/sq mi). French is the official language but is used regularly only by the literate minority. Almost all Senegalese speak an indigenous language, of which Wolof has the largest usage. Many Senegalese live in Europe, particularly in France, Italy and Spain.

## Population

According to the 2018 revision of the World Population Review the total population was 16,302,789 in May 2018, compared to only 2,416,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2017 was 41.5%, between 15 and 54 years of age was 31.1%, while 55 years or older was 6.9%.
| | Total population | Population aged 0–14 (%) | Population aged 15–64 (%) | Population aged 65+ (%) |
| 1950 | 2,416,000 | 41.6 | 55.0 | 3.4 |
| 1955 | 2,684,000 | 41.5 | 55.6 | 2.9 |
| 1960 | 3,048,000 | 41.9 | 55.5 | 2.6 |
| 1965 | 3,505,000 | 43.0 | 54.6 | 2.4 |
| 1970 | 4,096,000 | 44.3 | 53.5 | 2.3 |
| 1975 | 4,786,000 | 45.3 | 52.5 | 2.2 |
| 1980 | 5,414,000 | 47.2 | 50.5 | 2.2 |
| 1985 | 6,232,000 | 47.7 | 50.0 | 2.3 |
| 1990 | 7,242,000 | 47.2 | 50.4 | 2.4 |
| 1995 | 8,369,000 | 46.2 | 51.3 | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 9,506,000 | 45.4 | 52.1 | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 10,872,000 | 44.4 | 53.1 | 2.5 |
| 2010 | 12,434,000 | 43.7 | 53.9 | 2.4 |
| 2017 | 14,668,522 | 41.5 | 55.5 | 2.9 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (Estimates 1.VII.2020) (Data refer to national projections.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 8 456 486 | 8 504 040 | 16 960 525 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 1 373 744 | 1 294 257 | 2 668 002 | 15.73 |
| 5–9 | 1 219 736 | 1 146 769 | 2 366 505 | 13.95 |
| 10–14 | 1 066 780 | 1 005 257 | 2 072 037 | 12.22 |
| 15–19 | 919 100 | 893 599 | 1 812 700 | 10.69 |
| 20–24 | 762 949 | 805 877 | 1 568 826 | 9.25 |
| 25–29 | 640 669 | 694 125 | 1 334 794 | 7.87 |
| 30–34 | 527 920 | 562 852 | 1 090 772 | 6.43 |
| 35–39 | 433 152 | 466 088 | 899 240 | 5.30 |
| 40–44 | 335 430 | 374 282 | 709 711 | 4.18 |
| 45–49 | 278 289 | 309 644 | 587 933 | 3.47 |
| 50–54 | 244 474 | 259 784 | 504 259 | 2.97 |
| 55–59 | 200 080 | 208 825 | 408 905 | 3.41 |
| 60–64 | 149 832 | 154 155 | 303 986 | 1.79 |
| 65–69 | 112 949 | 116 334 | 229 284 | 1.35 |
| 70–74 | 80 355 | 84 366 | 164 721 | 0.97 |
| 75-79 | 52 036 | 58 255 | 110 292 | 0.65 |
| 80+ | 58 988 | 69 570 | 128 558 | 0.76 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 3 660 260 | 3 446 283 | 7 106 543 | 41.90 |
| 15–64 | 4 491 898 | 4 729 232 | 9 221 130 | 54.37 |
| 65+ | 304 328 | 328 525 | 632 853 | 3.73 |

## Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in Senegal is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.
| | Mid-year population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Total fertility rate (TFR) | Infant mortality (per 1000 births) | Life expectancy (in years) |
| 1950 | 2,496,065 | 128,935 | 70,149 | 58,786 | 51.7 | 28.1 | 23.5 | 6.79 | 148.6 | 36.43 |
| 1951 | 2,561,152 | 131,813 | 71,373 | 60,440 | 51.5 | 27.9 | 23.6 | 6.79 | 146.4 | 36.92 |
| 1952 | 2,628,508 | 134,812 | 72,658 | 62,154 | 51.3 | 27.7 | 23.7 | 6.79 | 144.4 | 37.36 |
| 1953 | 2,698,414 | 137,960 | 73,519 | 64,441 | 51.2 | 27.3 | 23.9 | 6.80 | 142.3 | 37.81 |
| 1954 | 2,771,247 | 141,384 | 74,406 | 66,978 | 51.1 | 26.9 | 24.2 | 6.82 | 140.3 | 38.20 |
| 1955 | 2,847,262 | 144,935 | 75,134 | 69,801 | 51.0 | 26.4 | 24.5 | 6.83 | 138.4 | 38.63 |
| 1956 | 2,926,572 | 148,593 | 75,940 | 72,653 | 50.8 | 26.0 | 24.9 | 6.86 | 136.7 | 39.04 |
| 1957 | 3,008,862 | 151,951 | 76,951 | 75,000 | 50.6 | 25.6 | 25.0 | 6.89 | 135.3 | 39.36 |
| 1958 | 3,093,941 | 155,903 | 78,330 | 77,573 | 50.5 | 25.3 | 25.1 | 6.92 | 134.3 | 39.55 |
| 1959 | 3,182,056 | 160,368 | 79,820 | 80,548 | 50.5 | 25.1 | 25.3 | 6.96 | 133.7 | 39.74 |
| 1960 | 3,273,177 | 164,735 | 81,546 | 83,189 | 50.4 | 24.9 | 25.4 | 7.00 | 133.3 | 39.88 |
| 1961 | 3,367,082 | 169,342 | 83,613 | 85,729 | 50.4 | 24.9 | 25.5 | 7.04 | 133.3 | 39.92 |
| 1962 | 3,463,524 | 173,826 | 86,017 | 87,809 | 50.3 | 24.9 | 25.4 | 7.08 | 133.4 | 39.86 |
| 1963 | 3,562,469 | 178,101 | 88,190 | 89,911 | 50.1 | 24.8 | 25.3 | 7.12 | 133.7 | 39.88 |
| 1964 | 3,664,599 | 182,552 | 90,465 | 92,087 | 49.9 | 24.7 | 25.2 | 7.16 | 133.9 | 39.89 |
| 1965 | 3,770,874 | 187,663 | 92,996 | 94,667 | 49.8 | 24.7 | 25.1 | 7.19 | 134.0 | 39.84 |
| 1966 | 3,881,994 | 192,917 | 95,105 | 97,812 | 49.8 | 24.5 | 25.2 | 7.22 | 133.9 | 39.96 |
| 1967 | 3,997,869 | 198,287 | 97,316 | 100,971 | 49.7 | 24.4 | 25.3 | 7.24 | 133.5 | 40.08 |
| 1968 | 4,117,659 | 203,618 | 99,372 | 104,246 | 49.5 | 24.2 | 25.4 | 7.25 | 132.9 | 40.27 |
| 1969 | 4,240,859 | 209,482 | 101,478 | 108,004 | 49.5 | 24.0 | 25.5 | 7.26 | 132.0 | 40.46 |
| 1970 | 4,367,744 | 215,753 | 103,029 | 112,724 | 49.5 | 23.6 | 25.9 | 7.26 | 130.7 | 40.83 |
| 1971 | 4,498,616 | 222,237 | 104,511 | 117,726 | 49.5 | 23.3 | 26.2 | 7.26 | 128.9 | 41.22 |
| 1972 | 4,633,452 | 228,423 | 105,472 | 122,951 | 49.4 | 22.8 | 26.6 | 7.26 | 126.6 | 41.75 |
| 1973 | 4,772,039 | 234,397 | 105,414 | 128,983 | 49.2 | 22.1 | 27.1 | 7.26 | 124.0 | 42.56 |
| 1974 | 4,911,421 | 240,854 | 105,802 | 135,052 | 49.0 | 21.5 | 27.5 | 7.25 | 121.0 | 43.21 |
| 1975 | 5,047,922 | 247,687 | 105,209 | 142,478 | 49.0 | 20.8 | 28.2 | 7.25 | 117.5 | 44.10 |
| 1976 | 5,181,195 | 254,743 | 104,054 | 150,689 | 49.1 | 20.0 | 29.0 | 7.26 | 113.7 | 45.10 |
| 1977 | 5,308,297 | 260,572 | 102,502 | 158,070 | 48.9 | 19.2 | 29.7 | 7.27 | 109.7 | 46.15 |
| 1978 | 5,433,225 | 264,864 | 100,615 | 164,249 | 48.6 | 18.5 | 30.1 | 7.28 | 105.9 | 47.20 |
| 1979 | 5,564,474 | 268,813 | 98,791 | 170,022 | 48.2 | 17.7 | 30.5 | 7.29 | 102.3 | 48.20 |
| 1980 | 5,703,869 | 273,843 | 97,249 | 176,594 | 47.9 | 17.0 | 30.9 | 7.29 | 99.3 | 49.14 |
| 1981 | 5,852,029 | 279,093 | 96,624 | 182,469 | 47.6 | 16.5 | 31.1 | 7.28 | 96.7 | 49.85 |
| 1982 | 6,008,392 | 284,059 | 96,003 | 188,056 | 47.2 | 15.9 | 31.2 | 7.25 | 94.4 | 50.56 |
| 1983 | 6,171,874 | 288,732 | 95,783 | 192,949 | 46.7 | 15.5 | 31.2 | 7.19 | 92.1 | 51.15 |
| 1984 | 6,341,801 | 292,559 | 94,444 | 198,115 | 46.0 | 14.9 | 31.2 | 7.11 | 89.5 | 52.02 |
| 1985 | 6,520,705 | 296,683 | 93,381 | 203,302 | 45.4 | 14.3 | 31.1 | 7.01 | 86.7 | 52.76 |
| 1986 | 6,710,885 | 299,038 | 90,601 | 208,437 | 44.5 | 13.5 | 31.0 | 6.90 | 83.1 | 53.93 |
| 1987 | 6,909,837 | 303,194 | 88,930 | 214,264 | 43.8 | 12.9 | 31.0 | 6.79 | 79.8 | 54.82 |
| 1988 | 7,113,636 | 304,428 | 86,919 | 217,509 | 42.8 | 12.2 | 30.5 | 6.58 | 76.8 | 55.77 |
| 1989 | 7,321,832 | 309,505 | 86,161 | 223,344 | 42.2 | 11.8 | 30.5 | 6.48 | 74.5 | 56.44 |
| 1990 | 7,536,001 | 316,620 | 86,250 | 230,370 | 42.0 | 11.4 | 30.5 | 6.40 | 72.9 | 56.95 |
| 1991 | 7,754,289 | 320,601 | 87,599 | 233,002 | 41.3 | 11.3 | 30.0 | 6.27 | 72.1 | 57.14 |
| 1992 | 7,974,514 | 325,946 | 89,871 | 236,075 | 40.8 | 11.3 | 29.6 | 6.15 | 71.9 | 57.11 |
| 1993 | 8,196,551 | 332,147 | 92,654 | 239,493 | 40.5 | 11.3 | 29.2 | 6.05 | 72.1 | 57.00 |
| 1994 | 8,416,997 | 335,891 | 95,143 | 240,748 | 39.8 | 11.3 | 28.6 | 5.92 | 72.5 | 56.96 |
| 1995 | 8,632,681 | 342,324 | 97,963 | 244,361 | 39.6 | 11.3 | 28.3 | 5.82 | 73.0 | 56.84 |
| 1996 | 8,843,423 | 348,436 | 101,013 | 247,423 | 39.3 | 11.4 | 27.9 | 5.72 | 73.4 | 56.67 |
| 1997 | 9,051,539 | 356,266 | 103,620 | 252,646 | 39.3 | 11.4 | 27.8 | 5.64 | 73.2 | 56.59 |
| 1998 | 9,261,526 | 363,901 | 106,679 | 257,222 | 39.2 | 11.5 | 27.7 | 5.58 | 72.6 | 56.42 |
| 1999 | 9,478,564 | 374,758 | 108,241 | 266,517 | 39.4 | 11.4 | 28.0 | 5.57 | 71.4 | 56.61 |
| 2000 | 9,704,287 | 381,017 | 108,766 | 272,251 | 39.2 | 11.2 | 28.0 | 5.50 | 69.2 | 56.94 |
| 2001 | 9,938,027 | 387,416 | 107,728 | 279,688 | 38.9 | 10.8 | 28.1 | 5.41 | 66.4 | 57.56 |
| 2002 | 10,180,950 | 394,576 | 106,349 | 288,227 | 38.7 | 10.4 | 28.2 | 5.31 | 63.1 | 58.23 |
| 2003 | 10,434,504 | 403,780 | 103,869 | 299,911 | 38.6 | 9.9 | 28.7 | 5.25 | 59.5 | 59.12 |
| 2004 | 10,698,691 | 411,222 | 101,255 | 309,967 | 38.4 | 9.4 | 28.9 | 5.18 | 55.9 | 60.03 |
| 2005 | 10,974,057 | 422,547 | 98,881 | 323,666 | 38.4 | 9.0 | 29.4 | 5.19 | 52.7 | 60.92 |
| 2006 | 11,263,387 | 436,406 | 96,823 | 339,583 | 38.7 | 8.6 | 30.1 | 5.20 | 49.5 | 61.75 |
| 2007 | 11,563,869 | 442,235 | 94,763 | 347,472 | 38.2 | 8.2 | 30.0 | 5.11 | 46.8 | 62.54 |
| 2008 | 11,872,929 | 450,758 | 93,168 | 357,590 | 37.9 | 7.8 | 30.1 | 5.05 | 44.3 | 63.24 |
| 2009 | 12,195,029 | 465,658 | 91,835 | 373,823 | 38.1 | 7.5 | 30.6 | 5.08 | 42.1 | 63.92 |
| 2010 | 12,530,121 | 473,819 | 90,265 | 383,554 | 37.7 | 7.2 | 30.6 | 5.06 | 40.0 | 64.62 |
| 2011 | 12,875,880 | 483,824 | 88,945 | 394,879 | 37.5 | 6.9 | 30.6 | 5.04 | 38.2 | 65.26 |
| 2012 | 13,231,833 | 493,250 | 89,885 | 403,365 | 37.2 | 6.8 | 30.4 | 5.01 | 36.4 | 65.46 |
| 2013 | 13,595,566 | 501,507 | 88,577 | 412,930 | 36.8 | 6.5 | 30.3 | 4.96 | 34.7 | 66.07 |
| 2014 | 13,970,308 | 508,203 | 88,400 | 419,803 | 36.3 | 6.3 | 30.0 | 4.91 | 33.1 | 66.45 |
| 2015 | 14,356,181 | 508,147 | 87,797 | 420,350 | 35.4 | 6.1 | 29.2 | 4.78 | 31.5 | 66.88 |
| 2016 | 14,751,356 | 511,960 | 86,228 | 425,732 | 34.7 | 5.8 | 28.8 | 4.68 | 29.9 | 67.50 |
| 2017 | 15,157,793 | 519,212 | 86,790 | 432,422 | 34.2 | 5.7 | 28.5 | 4.62 | 28.5 | 67.75 |
| 2018 | 15,574,909 | 529,314 | 86,967 | 442,347 | 34.0 | 5.6 | 28.4 | 4.58 | 27.2 | 68.10 |
| 2019 | 16,353,000 | 497,000 | 98,000 | 399,000 | 30.4 | 6.0 | 24.4 | 4.10 | 27.1 | 67.7 |
| 2020 | 16,789,000 | 503,000 | 102,000 | 401,000 | 29.9 | 6.1 | 23.9 | 4.00 | 26.0 | 67.5 |
| 2021 | 17,221,000 | 512,000 | 109,000 | 403,000 | 29.7 | 6.1 | 23.4 | 3.94 | 25.1 | 66.9 |
| 2022 | 17,651,000 | 520,000 | 104,000 | 416,000 | 29.5 | 5.9 | 26.7 | 3.86 | 25.1 | 67.8 |
| 2023 | 18,078,000 | 532,000 | 101,000 | 431,000 | 29.4 | 5.6 | 23.8 | 3.82 | 24.1 | 68.7 |

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | Total | Total | Urban | Urban | Rural | Rural |
| Year | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR |
| 1980-82 | — | 7.4 | — | 6.3 | — | 7.9 |
| 1983-85 | — | 6.6 | — | 5.4 | — | 7.1 |
| 1992-93 | 40.8 | 6.03 (5.1) | 37.4 | 5.06 (3.8) | 42.9 | 6.74 (5.9) |
| 1997 | 37 | 5.67 (4.6) | 31 | 4.29 (3.2) | 42 | 6.74 (5.6) |
| 1999 | 36 | 5.2 | 30 | 3.9 | 40 | 6.1 |
| 2005 | 39.3 | 5.3 (4.5) | 33.4 | 4.1 (3.3) | 44.0 | 6.4 (5.7) |
| 2008–2009 | 37.3 | 4.9 | 33.4 | 4.0 | 40.1 | 5.8 |
| 2010–2011 | 37.4 | 5.0 (3.2) | 32.3 | 3.9 (2.6) | 41.6 | 6.0 (3.8) |
| 2012–2013 | 38.6 | 5.3 | 32.9 | 4.1 | 42.7 | 6.3 |
| 2014 | 37.6 | 5.0 (3.7) | 33.4 | 4.0 (3.1) | 41.6 | 6.3 (4.4) |
| 2015 | 35.7 | 4.9 (4.3) | 28.1 | 3.5 (3.1) | 41.5 | 6.1 (5.4) |
| 2016 | 34.6 | 4.7 (4.2) | 27.2 | 3.5 (3.1) | 40.8 | 5.9 (5.2) |
| 2017 | 33.7 | 4.6 (4.0) | 27.1 | 3.4 (3.0) | 39.2 | 5.9 (5.1) |
| 2018 | 32.7 | 4.4 (4.0) | 27.2 | 3.2 (3.0) | 37.0 | 5.5 (5.0) |
| 2019 | 34.0 | 4.7 | 29.2 | 3.8 | 37.8 | 5.6 |
| 2020–2021 | 28.7 | 3.9 | 24.7 | 3.1 | 31.8 | 4.7 |
| 2023 | 29.6 | 4.0 (3.6) | 26.0 | 3.3 (2.9) | 32.7 | 4.7 (4.2) |
Fertility data by region (DHS Program):
| Region | TFR (2005) | TFR (2010/11) | TFR (2017) | TFR (2023) |
| Dakar | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Thiès | 5.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 3.9 |
| Diourbel | 6.2 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 4.1 |
| Kaolack | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 4.3 |
| Kaffrine | | 6.5 | 6.2 | 6.0 |
| Louga | 5.6 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.0 |
| Fatick | 6.8 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 4.6 |
| Ziguinchor | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 3.7 |
| Sédhiou | | 6.9 | 6.4 | 5.5 |
| Kolda | 6.3 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 4.9 |
| Matam | 3.7 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.5 |
| Saint-Louis | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 3.6 |
| Kédougou | | 6.1 | 6.4 | 5.2 |
| Tambacounda | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 4.4 |

### Life expectancy

| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 35.47 |
| 1955–1960 | 37.49 |
| 1960–1965 | 38.62 |
| 1965–1970 | 38.41 |
| 1970–1975 | 40.91 |
| 1975–1980 | 46.50 |
| 1980–1985 | 51.27 |
| 1985–1990 | 56.05 |
| 1990–1995 | 57.59 |
| 1995–2000 | 57.25 |
| 2000–2005 | 58.93 |
| 2005–2010 | 62.41 |
| 2010–2015 | 65.71 |

## Ethnic groups

    Wolof 37.1%, Pular 26.2%, Serer 17%, Mandinka 5.6%, Jola 4.5%, Soninke 1.4%, Other 8.3% (2017)
Population of Senegal according to ethnic group in 1976 and 1988 :
| Ethnic group | census 1976 | census 1976 | census 1988 | census 1988 |
| Ethnic group | Number | % | Number | % |
| Wolof | 2,001,416 | 41.0% | 2,890,402 | 42.7% |
| Serer | 716,919 | 14.7% | 1,009,921 | 14.9% |
| Peul | 605,584 | 12.4% | 978,366 | 14.4% |
| Toucouleur | 528,490 | 10.8% | 631,892 | 9.3% |
| Diola | 265,353 | 5.4% | 357,672 | 5.3% |
| Mandingue | 179,050 | 3.7% | 245,651 | 3.6% |
| Soce | 179,050 | 3.7% | 42,751 | 0.6% |
| Sarakhole | 84,102 | 1.7% | 113,184 | 1.7% |
| Bambara | 65,096 | 1.3% | 91,071 | 1.3% |
| Maure | 59,784 | 1.2% | 67,726 | 1.0% |
| Mandjaag | 41,628 | 0.9% | 66,605 | 1.0% |
| Lebou | 94,837 | 1.9% | 56,758 | 0.8% |
| Balant | 33,915 | 0.7% | 54,398 | 0.8% |
| Malinke | 202,472 | 4.1% | 28,643 | 0.4% |
| Mancagne | 202,472 | 4.1% | 23,180 | 0.3% |
| Laobe | 202,472 | 4.1% | 18,250 | 0.3% |
| Bassari | 202,472 | 4.1% | 6,195 | 0.1% |
| Khassonke | 202,472 | 4.1% | 1,752 | 0.0% |
| Coniagui | 202,472 | 4.1% | 1,119 | 0.0% |
| Fula | 202,472 | 4.1% | 108 | 0.0% |
| Other | 202,472 | 4.1% | 87,773 | 1.3% |
| Total | 4,879,103 | 4,879,103 | 6,773,417 | 6,773,417 |

## Languages

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Hassaniya Arabic, Serer, Jola, Mandinka, Soninke, Arabic

## Religion

The religious beliefs of the 2016 population of Senegal are: Muslim 96.1% (mostly Sunni), Christian 3.6% (mostly Roman Catholic), animist 0.3%.

## Emigration

Senegal was historically a destination country for neighboring economic migrants, but in recent decades West African migrants more often use Senegal as a transit point to North Africa, or as a stop before continuing illegally onward to Europe. The country also has been host to several thousand black Mauritanian refugees since they were expelled from Mauritania during the 1989 border conflict with Senegal. The country's economic crisis in the 1970s stimulated emigration; departures accelerated from the 1990s. Destinations shifted from neighboring countries to Libya and Mauritania, because of their booming oil industries, and to France, Italy and Spain.