Share of population living in rural areas in Senegal
Senegal: Share of population living in rural areas was 30.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in 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
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Senegal is 30.1%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Senegal peaked at 47.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 29.9%, in 2015.
That places Senegal 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Senegal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 47.5% | — |
| 1955 | 45.3% | -4.8% |
| 1960 | 42.7% | -5.6% |
| 1965 | 40.1% | -6.1% |
| 1970 | 37.4% | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 34.8% | -7.0% |
| 1980 | 34.9% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 35.3% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 35.4% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 33.8% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 32.0% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 31.5% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 30.8% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 29.9% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 30.1% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 46.4% | 45.3% | 47.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 41.4% | 40.1% | 42.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 36.1% | 34.8% | 37.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 35.1% | 34.9% | 35.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 34.6% | 33.8% | 35.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 31.7% | 31.5% | 32.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.4% | 29.9% | 30.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.1% | 30.1% | 30.1% | 1 |
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)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 244.19 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.10 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Senegal?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Senegal was 30.1% 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 rural areas recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 47.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.9% in 2015.
- How does Senegal rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Senegal ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.