Group sizes are variable ranging from 7 to 200 individuals. This is a diurnal species. The yellow baboon has a multimale-multifemale social system. This species has a promiscuous mating system. There is much aggression between males because of competition for females.
Males disperse from their natal groups, and females are philopatric .
A linear hierarchy exists within the group based on the matriline. Associations between males and females are important because when a male first tries to join a group he might have a difficult time, so an association with a female could help him. This serves to decrease the tension in the situation. This is a submissive display and differs from presenting by the hindquarters being lower. In this species it generally only occurs between same sex individuals.