Total population (thousands) in Senegal
Senegal: Total population (thousands) was 18,716 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
18,716 thousands
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
68th
of 233 countries
All-time high
18,716 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
4,400 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Senegal, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Senegal stood at 18,716 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Senegal peaked at 18,716 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4,400 thousands, in 1970.
That places Senegal 68th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Senegal, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,400 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 4,533 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 4,671 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 4,813 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 4,958 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 5,101 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 5,241 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 5,377 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 5,502 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 5,634 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 5,772 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 5,919 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 6,075 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 6,239 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 6,410 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 6,588 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 6,778 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 6,978 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 7,185 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 7,394 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 7,610 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 7,831 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 8,055 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 8,282 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 8,511 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 8,737 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 8,959 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 9,175 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 9,392 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 9,614 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 9,848 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 10,089 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 10,337 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 10,595 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 10,847 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 11,104 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 11,366 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 11,634 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 11,907 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 12,191 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 12,484 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 12,787 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 13,131 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 13,490 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 13,932 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 14,373 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 14,814 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 15,255 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 15,695 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 16,134 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 16,572 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 17,007 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 17,435 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 17,867 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 18,288 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 18,716 thousands | +2.3% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 18,716 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 18,716 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5,023 thousands | 4,400 thousands | 5,634 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,534 thousands | 5,772 thousands | 7,394 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 8,617 thousands | 7,610 thousands | 9,614 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,992 thousands | 9,848 thousands | 12,191 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,209 thousands | 12,484 thousands | 16,134 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,647 thousands | 16,572 thousands | 18,716 thousands | 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)
- 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 total population in Senegal?
- Total population in Senegal was 18,716 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 18,716 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,400 thousands in 1970.
- How does Senegal rank for total population?
- Senegal ranks 68th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Senegal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release