Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal
Senegal: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 17,259 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal, 1963–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Senegal recorded 17,259 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 45.8% on the previous year and up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal peaked at 90,000 in 1974 and was at its lowest, 4,000, in 1981.
That places Senegal 84th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 6,000 | — |
| 1964 | 30,000 | +400.0% |
| 1965 | 50,000 | +66.7% |
| 1966 | 61,400 | +22.8% |
| 1967 | 59,870 | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 57,210 | -4.4% |
| 1969 | 68,400 | +19.6% |
| 1970 | 67,060 | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 80,000 | +19.3% |
| 1972 | 82,000 | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 84,000 | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 90,000 | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 46,000 | -48.9% |
| 1976 | 38,000 | -17.4% |
| 1977 | 5,000 | -86.8% |
| 1978 | 5,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 5,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4,000 | -20.0% |
| 1982 | 5,250 | +31.2% |
| 1983 | 5,140 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 5,200 | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 5,500 | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 5,510 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 5,180 | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 5,203 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 53,345 | +925.3% |
| 1990 | 58,113 | +8.9% |
| 1991 | 71,908 | +23.7% |
| 1992 | 71,620 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 73,001 | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 72,994 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 66,762 | -8.5% |
| 1996 | 65,042 | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 57,220 | -12.0% |
| 1998 | 60,822 | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 21,537 | -64.6% |
| 2000 | 20,762 | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 20,703 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 20,706 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 20,722 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 20,802 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 20,706 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 20,587 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 20,417 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 33,189 | +62.6% |
| 2009 | 22,143 | -33.3% |
| 2010 | 20,670 | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 20,640 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 14,229 | -31.1% |
| 2013 | 14,241 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 14,267 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 14,383 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 14,575 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 14,646 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 14,359 | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 14,467 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 14,361 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 14,479 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 11,802 | -18.5% |
| 2023 | 11,856 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 11,836 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 17,259 | +45.8% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 17,259 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8,620, 2.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 17,259 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35,241, 49% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +925.3% | 5,203 | 53,345 |
| 1964 | +400.0% | 6,000 | 30,000 |
| 1977 | -86.8% | 38,000 | 5,000 |
| 1965 | +66.7% | 30,000 | 50,000 |
| 1999 | -64.6% | 60,822 | 21,537 |
| 2008 | +62.6% | 20,417 | 33,189 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47,554 | 6,000 | 68,400 | 7 |
| 1970s | 50,206 | 5,000 | 90,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,933 | 4,000 | 53,345 | 10 |
| 1990s | 61,902 | 21,537 | 73,001 | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,074 | 20,417 | 33,189 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,648 | 14,229 | 20,670 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,599 | 11,802 | 17,259 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
More population data for Senegal
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.7576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,563 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.44 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4124 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.346 (2100)
- Population density 244.19 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.10 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Senegal was 17,259 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 90,000 in 1974.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,000 in 1981.
- How does Senegal rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Senegal ranks 84th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Senegal data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).