Skip to content

Senegal Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Updated on by Georank team

With a population of 18.5M people, Senegal has a median age of 20.4 years which makes it the 162/196 oldest country. 38.2% of the demographic are children 0-14 years old, 58.2% are working-age people aged 15-64, and 3.62% are older population aged 65+ years.

Senegal demographic data

Senegal World
Population
19281054
69/197
Median age 20.4 years 162/196
Average age 24.5 years 163/196
Age dependency ratio 71.8% 39/196
Young-age dependency ratio 65.6% 36/196
Old-age dependency ratio 6.22% 150/196
Male:Female ratio 50.8:49.2 N/A
Population density 96.1 ppl/mi² 98/197
Fertility rate 3.82 34/196
Life expectancy 69.2 years 142/197

Median age history and projection chart in
Senegal vs World

Senegal
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Median age
Senegal World
1960 18.1 22.5
1961 18 22.5
1962 18 22.4
1963 17.9 22.2
1964 17.9 22
1965 17.9 21.8
1966 17.8 21.7
1967 17.9 21.6
1968 17.9 21.5
1969 17.9 21.5
1970 17.9 21.4
1971 17.9 21.4
1972 17.9 21.5
1973 17.9 21.5
1974 17.8 21.6
1975 17.7 21.7
1976 17.6 21.9
1977 17.4 22
1978 17.2 22.2
1979 17 22.3
1980 16.8 22.5
1981 16.7 22.6
1982 16.5 22.7
1983 16.4 22.9
1984 16.3 23
1985 16.3 23.2
1986 16.3 23.3
1987 16.3 23.4
1988 16.4 23.6
1989 16.5 23.8
1990 16.6 23.9
1991 16.7 24.1
1992 16.8 24.3
1993 16.9 24.5
1994 17 24.7
1995 17.1 25
1996 17.2 25.2
1997 17.3 25.4
1998 17.4 25.7
1999 17.5 25.9
2000 17.6 26.1
2001 17.7 26.3
2002 17.8 26.5
2003 18 26.7
2004 18.1 27
2005 18.2 27.2
2006 18.2 27.4
2007 18.3 27.6
2008 18.4 27.8
2009 18.4 28
2010 18.5 28.2
2011 18.5 28.4
2012 18.5 28.6
2013 18.5 28.9
2014 18.6 29.1
2015 18.6 29.3
2016 18.7 29.5
2017 18.9 29.8
2018 19 30
2019 19.2 30.3
2020 19.4 30.6
2021 19.7 30.8
2022 19.9 31
2023 20.1 31.3
2024 20.4 31.6
2025 20.6 31.9
2026 20.8 32.1
2027 21.1 32.3
2028 21.3 32.6
2029 21.6 32.8
2030 21.8 33
2031 22 33.2
2032 22.3 33.4
2033 22.5 33.6
2034 22.8 33.8
2035 23 34
2036 23.3 34.2
2037 23.5 34.4
2038 23.8 34.6
2039 24 34.8
2040 24.2 35
2041 24.5 35.2
2042 24.7 35.4
2043 24.9 35.6
2044 25.2 35.8
2045 25.4 36
2046 25.6 36.2
2047 25.9 36.4
2048 26.1 36.6
2049 26.3 36.8
2050 26.6 37.1

In 1960, the median age in Senegal was 18.1 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 20.4 years compared to the world's average of 31.6 years. Ranked 142nd for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Senegal ranks 162nd currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Senegal is expected to increase to around 26.6 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Senegal demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Senegal
Male

Female
Age range Share of population
Senegal
Male Female
0-4 6.91% 6.57%
5-9 6.58% 6%
10-14 6.31% 5.81%
15-19 5.73% 5.35%
20-24 4.9% 4.78%
25-29 4.21% 4.2%
30-34 3.43% 3.49%
35-39 2.86% 2.95%
40-44 2.41% 2.4%
45-49 1.96% 1.93%
50-54 1.54% 1.57%
55-59 1.27% 1.25%
60-64 0.97% 0.99%
65-69 0.73% 0.79%
70-74 0.51% 0.55%
75-79 0.29% 0.3%
80+ 0.24% 0.22%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Senegal has high demographic potential with 74.3% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 31/196).

Age dependency chart

Senegal
Young

Old
World
Young

Old
Year Age dependency ratio
Senegal World
Total Young Old Total Young Old
1960 88.6% 83.3% 5.33% 73.5% 64.9% 8.62%
1961 88.9% 83.6% 5.28% 73.8% 65.1% 8.67%
1962 88.9% 83.7% 5.24% 74.1% 65.4% 8.73%
1963 88.9% 83.7% 5.2% 74.9% 66.1% 8.79%
1964 89% 83.8% 5.17% 75.5% 66.6% 8.85%
1965 88.9% 83.8% 5.15% 75.8% 66.8% 8.93%
1966 88.8% 83.7% 5.12% 75.9% 66.9% 9%
1967 88.6% 83.6% 5.1% 75.9% 66.8% 9.07%
1968 88.5% 83.4% 5.08% 75.8% 66.6% 9.14%
1969 88.3% 83.3% 5.06% 75.7% 66.5% 9.2%
1970 88.2% 83.2% 5.05% 75.5% 66.2% 9.26%
1971 88.2% 83.2% 5.04% 75.2% 65.9% 9.33%
1972 88.3% 83.3% 5.04% 74.9% 65.6% 9.39%
1973 88.5% 83.4% 5.05% 74.6% 65.1% 9.46%
1974 88.9% 83.8% 5.06% 74.4% 64.9% 9.54%
1975 89.5% 84.4% 5.08% 74.2% 64.6% 9.64%
1976 90.5% 85.4% 5.12% 74% 64.3% 9.72%
1977 91.9% 86.7% 5.18% 73.5% 63.7% 9.79%
1978 93.5% 88.3% 5.24% 72.4% 62.5% 9.84%
1979 95% 89.7% 5.31% 71.3% 61.4% 9.88%
1980 96.4% 91.1% 5.38% 70.4% 60.5% 9.89%
1981 97.7% 92.2% 5.45% 69.5% 59.6% 9.85%
1982 98.7% 93.2% 5.52% 68.7% 58.9% 9.79%
1983 99.6% 94% 5.58% 67.9% 58.1% 9.72%
1984 100.2% 94.6% 5.64% 67% 57.3% 9.68%
1985 100.6% 94.9% 5.7% 66.3% 56.6% 9.68%
1986 100.6% 94.9% 5.75% 65.7% 55.9% 9.71%
1987 100.4% 94.6% 5.8% 65.2% 55.4% 9.75%
1988 99.9% 94% 5.85% 64.8% 54.9% 9.81%
1989 99.2% 93.3% 5.89% 64.4% 54.5% 9.89%
1990 98.5% 92.5% 5.94% 64.2% 54.3% 9.97%
1991 97.6% 91.6% 5.97% 64% 53.9% 10.1%
1992 96.6% 90.6% 6.01% 63.7% 53.6% 10.2%
1993 95.5% 89.4% 6.04% 63.5% 53.2% 10.3%
1994 94.4% 88.4% 6.06% 63.1% 52.7% 10.4%
1995 93.4% 87.3% 6.08% 62.7% 52.2% 10.5%
1996 92.5% 86.4% 6.1% 62.1% 51.5% 10.6%
1997 91.6% 85.5% 6.11% 61.5% 50.8% 10.7%
1998 90.8% 84.7% 6.12% 60.7% 50% 10.7%
1999 90% 83.9% 6.12% 60% 49.2% 10.8%
2000 89.3% 83.2% 6.11% 59.3% 48.4% 10.9%
2001 88.6% 82.5% 6.1% 58.5% 47.6% 11%
2002 87.8% 81.7% 6.16% 57.8% 46.7% 11.1%
2003 87.1% 80.9% 6.25% 57% 45.9% 11.1%
2004 86.8% 80.5% 6.32% 56.3% 45.1% 11.2%
2005 86.4% 80.1% 6.38% 55.6% 44.3% 11.3%
2006 86.2% 79.7% 6.43% 55% 43.6% 11.4%
2007 86% 79.5% 6.48% 54.5% 43.1% 11.4%
2008 85.9% 79.4% 6.53% 54.1% 42.6% 11.5%
2009 85.9% 79.3% 6.59% 53.8% 42.2% 11.6%
2010 86% 79.4% 6.64% 53.5% 41.9% 11.6%
2011 86.1% 79.4% 6.67% 53.4% 41.6% 11.8%
2012 86.2% 79.5% 6.69% 53.3% 41.4% 11.9%
2013 86.1% 79.4% 6.66% 53.4% 41.2% 12.1%
2014 85.6% 79% 6.59% 53.5% 41.1% 12.4%
2015 84.8% 78.3% 6.51% 53.6% 40.9% 12.7%
2016 83.8% 77.4% 6.45% 53.7% 40.7% 13%
2017 82.7% 76.3% 6.39% 53.9% 40.6% 13.3%
2018 81.3% 74.9% 6.34% 54.1% 40.4% 13.7%
2019 79.8% 73.4% 6.31% 54.2% 40.1% 14%
2020 78.1% 71.8% 6.28% 54.2% 39.8% 14.4%
2021 76.4% 70.1% 6.25% 54.2% 39.5% 14.7%
2022 74.6% 68.4% 6.22% 54% 39% 15%
2023 73.1% 66.9% 6.21% 53.9% 38.5% 15.4%
2024 71.8% 65.6% 6.22% 53.7% 38% 15.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Senegal decreased from 86.8% to 71.8% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Senegal working age demographic chart

Senegal
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Working age population share
Senegal World
1960 53% 57.6%
1961 52.9% 57.5%
1962 52.9% 57.4%
1963 52.9% 57.2%
1964 52.9% 57%
1965 52.9% 56.9%
1966 53% 56.8%
1967 53% 56.9%
1968 53.1% 56.9%
1969 53.1% 56.9%
1970 53.1% 57%
1971 53.1% 57.1%
1972 53.1% 57.2%
1973 53.1% 57.3%
1974 52.9% 57.3%
1975 52.8% 57.4%
1976 52.5% 57.5%
1977 52.1% 57.7%
1978 51.7% 58%
1979 51.3% 58.4%
1980 50.9% 58.7%
1981 50.6% 59%
1982 50.3% 59.3%
1983 50.1% 59.6%
1984 49.9% 59.9%
1985 49.8% 60.1%
1986 49.8% 60.4%
1987 49.9% 60.5%
1988 50% 60.7%
1989 50.2% 60.8%
1990 50.4% 60.9%
1991 50.6% 61%
1992 50.9% 61.1%
1993 51.2% 61.2%
1994 51.4% 61.3%
1995 51.7% 61.5%
1996 52% 61.7%
1997 52.2% 61.9%
1998 52.4% 62.2%
1999 52.6% 62.5%
2000 52.8% 62.8%
2001 53% 63.1%
2002 53.2% 63.4%
2003 53.4% 63.7%
2004 53.5% 64%
2005 53.6% 64.3%
2006 53.7% 64.5%
2007 53.8% 64.7%
2008 53.8% 64.9%
2009 53.8% 65%
2010 53.8% 65.1%
2011 53.7% 65.2%
2012 53.7% 65.2%
2013 53.7% 65.2%
2014 53.9% 65.2%
2015 54.1% 65.1%
2016 54.4% 65.1%
2017 54.7% 65%
2018 55.2% 64.9%
2019 55.6% 64.9%
2020 56.1% 64.8%
2021 56.7% 64.9%
2022 57.3% 64.9%
2023 57.8% 65%
2024 58.2% 65.1%
2025 58.6% 65.2%
2026 59% 65.3%
2027 59.4% 65.4%
2028 59.7% 65.4%
2029 60% 65.4%
2030 60.2% 65.4%
2031 60.4% 65.4%
2032 60.7% 65.4%
2033 60.8% 65.4%
2034 61% 65.3%
2035 61.2% 65.2%
2036 61.4% 65%
2037 61.5% 64.9%
2038 61.7% 64.7%
2039 62% 64.6%
2040 62.2% 64.5%
2041 62.4% 64.4%
2042 62.6% 64.3%
2043 62.9% 64.2%
2044 63.1% 64.1%
2045 63.3% 63.9%
2046 63.5% 63.8%
2047 63.7% 63.7%
2048 63.9% 63.6%
2049 64% 63.4%
2050 64.2% 63.3%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Senegal changed from 53.5% to 58.2% between 2004 and 2024.

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Senegal
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of population 0-14 years old
Senegal World
1960 44.2% 37.4%
1961 44.3% 37.5%
1962 44.3% 37.6%
1963 44.3% 37.8%
1964 44.3% 38%
1965 44.3% 38%
1966 44.3% 38%
1967 44.3% 38%
1968 44.2% 37.9%
1969 44.2% 37.8%
1970 44.2% 37.7%
1971 44.2% 37.6%
1972 44.2% 37.5%
1973 44.3% 37.3%
1974 44.4% 37.2%
1975 44.6% 37.1%
1976 44.8% 36.9%
1977 45.2% 36.7%
1978 45.6% 36.3%
1979 46% 35.9%
1980 46.4% 35.5%
1981 46.7% 35.2%
1982 46.9% 34.9%
1983 47.1% 34.6%
1984 47.2% 34.3%
1985 47.3% 34%
1986 47.3% 33.8%
1987 47.2% 33.6%
1988 47% 33.4%
1989 46.9% 33.2%
1990 46.6% 33%
1991 46.4% 32.9%
1992 46.1% 32.7%
1993 45.8% 32.5%
1994 45.4% 32.3%
1995 45.1% 32.1%
1996 44.9% 31.8%
1997 44.6% 31.5%
1998 44.4% 31.1%
1999 44.2% 30.8%
2000 43.9% 30.4%
2001 43.7% 30%
2002 43.5% 29.6%
2003 43.2% 29.2%
2004 43.1% 28.8%
2005 42.9% 28.5%
2006 42.8% 28.1%
2007 42.7% 27.9%
2008 42.7% 27.6%
2009 42.7% 27.5%
2010 42.7% 27.3%
2011 42.7% 27.1%
2012 42.7% 27%
2013 42.7% 26.9%
2014 42.6% 26.8%
2015 42.4% 26.6%
2016 42.1% 26.5%
2017 41.8% 26.4%
2018 41.3% 26.2%
2019 40.9% 26%
2020 40.3% 25.8%
2021 39.8% 25.6%
2022 39.2% 25.3%
2023 38.6% 25%
2024 38.2% 24.7%
2025 37.7% 24.4%
2026 37.3% 24.1%
2027 36.9% 23.8%
2028 36.6% 23.4%
2029 36.2% 23.1%
2030 35.9% 22.8%
2031 35.6% 22.6%
2032 35.4% 22.3%
2033 35.1% 22.1%
2034 34.9% 21.9%
2035 34.6% 21.7%
2036 34.4% 21.6%
2037 34.1% 21.5%
2038 33.9% 21.4%
2039 33.5% 21.3%
2040 33.2% 21.2%
2041 32.9% 21.1%
2042 32.6% 21%
2043 32.2% 21%
2044 31.9% 20.9%
2045 31.5% 20.8%
2046 31.2% 20.7%
2047 30.8% 20.7%
2048 30.5% 20.6%
2049 30.2% 20.5%
2050 29.8% 20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Senegal decreased from 43.1% to 38.2% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+)

Senegal
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of population 65+ years old
Senegal World
1960 2.82% 4.97%
1961 2.8% 4.99%
1962 2.77% 5.01%
1963 2.75% 5.02%
1964 2.74% 5.04%
1965 2.72% 5.08%
1966 2.71% 5.12%
1967 2.7% 5.16%
1968 2.69% 5.2%
1969 2.69% 5.24%
1970 2.68% 5.28%
1971 2.68% 5.32%
1972 2.68% 5.37%
1973 2.68% 5.42%
1974 2.68% 5.47%
1975 2.68% 5.53%
1976 2.69% 5.59%
1977 2.7% 5.65%
1978 2.71% 5.71%
1979 2.72% 5.77%
1980 2.74% 5.81%
1981 2.76% 5.81%
1982 2.78% 5.8%
1983 2.8% 5.79%
1984 2.82% 5.8%
1985 2.84% 5.82%
1986 2.87% 5.86%
1987 2.9% 5.91%
1988 2.93% 5.95%
1989 2.96% 6.01%
1990 2.99% 6.07%
1991 3.02% 6.14%
1992 3.06% 6.21%
1993 3.09% 6.29%
1994 3.12% 6.37%
1995 3.15% 6.45%
1996 3.17% 6.53%
1997 3.19% 6.61%
1998 3.21% 6.68%
1999 3.22% 6.76%
2000 3.23% 6.84%
2001 3.23% 6.92%
2002 3.28% 7.01%
2003 3.34% 7.1%
2004 3.38% 7.18%
2005 3.42% 7.26%
2006 3.45% 7.34%
2007 3.49% 7.41%
2008 3.52% 7.47%
2009 3.54% 7.52%
2010 3.57% 7.58%
2011 3.58% 7.66%
2012 3.59% 7.78%
2013 3.58% 7.92%
2014 3.55% 8.08%
2015 3.52% 8.26%
2016 3.51% 8.45%
2017 3.5% 8.65%
2018 3.5% 8.88%
2019 3.51% 9.1%
2020 3.53% 9.33%
2021 3.54% 9.53%
2022 3.56% 9.74%
2023 3.59% 9.98%
2024 3.62% 10.2%
2025 3.65% 10.4%
2026 3.68% 10.6%
2027 3.71% 10.8%
2028 3.76% 11.1%
2029 3.81% 11.5%
2030 3.86% 11.7%
2031 3.92% 12%
2032 3.98% 12.3%
2033 4.05% 12.6%
2034 4.11% 12.8%
2035 4.18% 13.1%
2036 4.25% 13.4%
2037 4.33% 13.7%
2038 4.41% 13.9%
2039 4.5% 14.1%
2040 4.6% 14.3%
2041 4.7% 14.5%
2042 4.81% 14.7%
2043 4.93% 14.9%
2044 5.05% 15%
2045 5.18% 15.2%
2046 5.32% 15.4%
2047 5.47% 15.7%
2048 5.62% 15.9%
2049 5.79% 16.1%
2050 5.96% 16.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Senegal increased from 3.38% to 3.62% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in life expectancy.

Religion demographics

Senegal
Religion Share of population
Islam 97.6%
Christianity 2.4%
Atheism 0.02%
Buddhism 0.0003%
Judaism 0.0003%
All other 0.02%

Median age map

Median age

Demographics comparisons

Demographics vs Senegal
Afghanistan Compare
Albania Compare
Algeria Compare
Andorra Compare
Angola Compare
Antigua Compare
Argentina Compare
Armenia Compare
Australia Compare
Austria Compare
Azerbaijan Compare
Bahamas Compare
Bahrain Compare
Bangladesh Compare
Barbados Compare
Belarus Compare
Belgium Compare
Belize Compare
Benin Compare
Bhutan Compare
Bolivia Compare
Bosnia Compare
Botswana Compare
Brazil Compare
Brunei Compare
Bulgaria Compare
Burkina Faso Compare
Burundi Compare
Cambodia Compare
Cameroon Compare
Canada Compare
Cape Verde Compare
Cayman Islands Compare
CAR Compare
Chad Compare
Chile Compare
China Compare
Colombia Compare
Comoros Compare
Congo Compare
Costa Rica Compare
Croatia Compare
Cuba Compare
Curacao Compare
Cyprus Compare
Czech Republic Compare
DR Congo Compare
Denmark Compare
Djibouti Compare
Dominica Compare
Dominican Republic Compare
East Timor Compare
Ecuador Compare
Egypt Compare
El Salvador Compare
Equatorial Guinea Compare
Eritrea Compare
Estonia Compare
Eswatini Compare
Ethiopia Compare
Fiji Compare
Finland Compare
France Compare
Gabon Compare
Gambia Compare
Georgia Compare
Germany Compare
Ghana Compare
Greece Compare
Grenada Compare
Guatemala Compare
Guinea Compare
Guinea-Bissau Compare
Guyana Compare
Haiti Compare
Honduras Compare
Hungary Compare
Iceland Compare
India Compare
Indonesia Compare
Iran Compare
Iraq Compare
Ireland Compare
Israel Compare
Italy Compare
Ivory Coast Compare
Jamaica Compare
Japan Compare
Jordan Compare
Kazakhstan Compare
Kenya Compare
Kiribati Compare
Kuwait Compare
Kyrgyzstan Compare
Laos Compare
Latvia Compare
Lebanon Compare
Lesotho Compare
Liberia Compare
Libya Compare
Liechtenstein Compare
Lithuania Compare
Luxembourg Compare
Madagascar Compare
Malawi Compare
Malaysia Compare
Maldives Compare
Mali Compare
Malta Compare
Marshall Islands Compare
Mauritania Compare
Mauritius Compare
Mexico Compare
Moldova Compare
Monaco Compare
Mongolia Compare
Montenegro Compare
Morocco Compare
Mozambique Compare
Myanmar Compare
Namibia Compare
Nauru Compare
Nepal Compare
Netherlands Compare
New Zealand Compare
Nicaragua Compare
Niger Compare
Nigeria Compare
North Korea Compare
North Macedonia Compare
Norway Compare
Oman Compare
Pakistan Compare
Palau Compare
Palestine Compare
Panama Compare
Papua New Guinea Compare
Paraguay Compare
Peru Compare
Philippines Compare
Poland Compare
Portugal Compare
Qatar Compare
Romania Compare
Russia Compare
Rwanda Compare
Saint Kitts Compare
Saint Lucia Compare
Saint Vincent Compare
Samoa Compare
San Marino Compare
Sao Tome Compare
Saudi Arabia Compare
Serbia Compare
Seychelles Compare
Sierra Leone Compare
Singapore Compare
Slovakia Compare
Slovenia Compare
Solomon Islands Compare
Somalia Compare
South Africa Compare
South Korea Compare
South Sudan Compare
Spain Compare
Sri Lanka Compare
Sudan Compare
Suriname Compare
Sweden Compare
Switzerland Compare
Syria Compare
Taiwan Compare
Tajikistan Compare
Tanzania Compare
Thailand Compare
Togo Compare
Tonga Compare
Trinidad Compare
Tunisia Compare
Turkey Compare
Turkmenistan Compare
Tuvalu Compare
Uganda Compare
Ukraine Compare
UAE Compare
United Kingdom Compare
United States Compare
Uruguay Compare
Uzbekistan Compare
Vanuatu Compare
Venezuela Compare
Vietnam Compare
Yemen Compare
Zambia Compare
Zimbabwe Compare