Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal
Senegal: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 48.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal stood at 48.9%.
The figure is up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal peaked at 49.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 17.7%, in 1950.
Senegal ranks 57th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17.7% | — |
| 1955 | 20.7% | +17.1% |
| 1960 | 25.7% | +24.1% |
| 1965 | 32.3% | +25.7% |
| 1970 | 37.0% | +14.6% |
| 1975 | 41.9% | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 42.8% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 42.1% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 42.5% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 43.5% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 45.0% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 47.8% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 48.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 49.4% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 48.9% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.2% | 17.7% | 20.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 29.0% | 25.7% | 32.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.5% | 37.0% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 42.5% | 42.1% | 42.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 43.0% | 42.5% | 43.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 46.4% | 45.0% | 47.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 48.7% | 48.0% | 49.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 48.9% | 48.9% | 48.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
More population data for Senegal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.7576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.10 million people (2100)
- Population density 244.19 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4124 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.44 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Senegal was 48.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 49.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.7% in 1950.
- How does Senegal rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Senegal ranks 57th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Senegal data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.