Skip to content

Population in Senegal compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Senegal was 18,501,984 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Senegal's population is 19,491,599 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 3.37 times bigger than Senegal's.
  • Senegal is ranked the 68th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.03% of the world: 0.24% for Senegal vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Senegal has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Senegal has increased from 11.5M people to 19.5M (69.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Senegal vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Senegal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Senegal South Africa
2100 47,481,703 94,767,727
2099 47,309,204 94,556,931
2098 47,131,505 94,349,546
2097 46,942,831 94,158,472
2096 46,749,318 93,960,605
2095 46,548,519 93,752,736
2094 46,338,777 93,527,902
2093 46,124,372 93,300,398
2092 45,903,819 93,074,837
2091 45,676,277 92,826,204
2090 45,442,218 92,594,033
2089 45,197,486 92,355,184
2088 44,949,158 92,112,914
2087 44,692,601 91,866,024
2086 44,425,160 91,614,165
2085 44,150,556 91,385,350
2084 43,871,406 91,139,318
2083 43,579,072 90,877,425
2082 43,285,560 90,615,359
2081 42,984,866 90,345,492
2080 42,679,614 90,071,835
2079 42,366,808 89,801,998
2078 42,044,826 89,526,224
2077 41,716,837 89,249,206
2076 41,379,705 88,986,114
2075 41,030,232 88,713,215
2074 40,674,683 88,428,616
2073 40,312,726 88,149,885
2072 39,943,067 87,866,246
2071 39,568,028 87,540,177
2070 39,187,711 87,209,425
2069 38,795,322 86,901,512
2068 38,398,147 86,588,742
2067 37,996,983 86,268,392
2066 37,584,328 85,935,310
2065 37,167,637 85,604,376
2064 36,744,279 85,244,950
2063 36,318,015 84,875,503
2062 35,884,713 84,503,237
2061 35,448,776 84,132,885
2060 35,010,231 83,748,999
2059 34,571,669 83,354,923
2058 34,122,702 82,947,675
2057 33,673,448 82,538,045
2056 33,219,406 82,127,477
2055 32,765,741 81,698,196
2054 32,313,613 81,255,867
2053 31,859,051 80,818,632
2052 31,405,418 80,367,409
2051 30,949,633 79,886,672
2050 30,490,614 79,411,977
2049 30,032,811 78,925,493
2048 29,570,773 78,437,677
2047 29,111,688 77,922,211
2046 28,648,672 77,397,298
2045 28,187,838 76,879,838
2044 27,724,585 76,357,155
2043 27,260,926 75,827,709
2042 26,796,927 75,291,615
2041 26,332,270 74,748,408
2040 25,866,240 74,205,530
2039 25,398,425 73,663,047
2038 24,928,471 73,105,930
2037 24,457,649 72,532,742
2036 23,986,892 71,956,247
2035 23,515,497 71,362,555
2034 23,046,885 70,762,815
2033 22,578,286 70,153,205
2032 22,110,230 69,527,410
2031 21,643,047 68,890,002
2030 21,178,414 68,245,372
2029 20,719,234 67,573,179
2028 20,263,713 66,884,377
2027 19,814,138 66,190,258
2026 19,372,006 65,496,277
2025 18,934,809 64,770,314
2024 18,501,984 64,007,187
2023 18,077,573 63,212,384
2022 17,651,103 62,378,410
2021 17,220,867 61,502,603
2020 16,789,219 60,562,381
2019 16,352,922 59,587,885
2018 15,914,498 58,613,001
2017 15,475,002 57,635,162
2016 15,034,521 57,259,551
2015 14,593,331 56,723,537
2014 14,152,102 55,594,838
2013 13,710,849 54,678,791
2012 13,310,495 53,782,567
2011 12,958,897 52,995,205
2010 12,635,413 52,344,051
2009 12,337,389 51,728,516
2008 12,048,959 51,114,599
2007 11,770,344 50,528,584
2006 11,500,094 49,998,277
2005 11,235,472 49,490,033
2004 10,975,704 48,991,421
2003 10,721,176 48,500,348
2002 10,466,214 48,019,415
2001 10,212,942 47,566,800
2000 9,968,260 47,159,719
1999 9,730,887 46,730,335
1998 9,502,952 46,223,880
1997 9,283,495 45,666,838
1996 9,067,014 45,123,018
1995 8,848,101 44,541,554
1994 8,624,078 44,004,139
1993 8,396,288 43,297,156
1992 8,168,395 42,443,509
1991 7,943,085 41,687,898
1990 7,720,523 40,746,268
1989 7,502,207 39,628,575
1988 7,289,618 38,480,649
1987 7,081,530 37,326,190
1986 6,878,192 36,180,515
1985 6,683,287 35,042,093
1984 6,499,364 33,892,788
1983 6,324,504 32,739,304
1982 6,156,961 31,615,339
1981 5,997,160 30,541,044
1980 5,845,638 29,518,857
1979 5,702,895 28,634,162
1978 5,568,096 27,869,507
1977 5,439,549 27,118,952
1976 5,308,564 26,395,450
1975 5,170,810 25,690,940
1974 5,029,437 24,989,108
1973 4,885,181 24,294,263
1972 4,741,631 23,609,456
1971 4,601,864 22,942,143
1970 4,466,328 22,279,984
1969 4,334,974 21,614,676
1968 4,207,587 20,957,287
1967 4,083,870 20,314,066
1966 3,964,299 19,690,087
1965 3,849,788 19,089,380
1964 3,740,535 18,511,361
1963 3,635,876 17,954,564
1962 3,534,686 17,418,522
1961 3,436,375 16,908,035
1960 3,340,907 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/senegal/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Senegal increased by 3,534,427 people (a 30.7% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Senegal gained 4,457,078 people (a 29.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Senegal was ranked 72nd most populous country in 2006 and is 68th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Senegal's population will grow by 56.4% to 30,490,614 people with a rank change from 68th to 63rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Senegal is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 47.5M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Senegal
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Senegal South Africa
2100 0.36% 0.22%
2099 0.38% 0.22%
2098 0.4% 0.2%
2097 0.41% 0.21%
2096 0.43% 0.22%
2095 0.45% 0.24%
2094 0.46% 0.24%
2093 0.48% 0.24%
2092 0.5% 0.27%
2091 0.52% 0.25%
2090 0.54% 0.26%
2089 0.55% 0.26%
2088 0.57% 0.27%
2087 0.6% 0.27%
2086 0.62% 0.25%
2085 0.64% 0.27%
2084 0.67% 0.29%
2083 0.68% 0.29%
2082 0.7% 0.3%
2081 0.72% 0.3%
2080 0.74% 0.3%
2079 0.77% 0.31%
2078 0.79% 0.31%
2077 0.81% 0.3%
2076 0.85% 0.31%
2075 0.87% 0.32%
2074 0.9% 0.32%
2073 0.93% 0.32%
2072 0.95% 0.37%
2071 0.97% 0.38%
2070 1.01% 0.35%
2069 1.03% 0.36%
2068 1.06% 0.37%
2067 1.1% 0.39%
2066 1.12% 0.39%
2065 1.15% 0.42%
2064 1.17% 0.44%
2063 1.21% 0.44%
2062 1.23% 0.44%
2061 1.25% 0.46%
2060 1.27% 0.47%
2059 1.32% 0.49%
2058 1.33% 0.5%
2057 1.37% 0.5%
2056 1.38% 0.53%
2055 1.4% 0.54%
2054 1.43% 0.54%
2053 1.44% 0.56%
2052 1.47% 0.6%
2051 1.51% 0.6%
2050 1.52% 0.62%
2049 1.56% 0.62%
2048 1.58% 0.66%
2047 1.62% 0.68%
2046 1.63% 0.67%
2045 1.67% 0.68%
2044 1.7% 0.7%
2043 1.73% 0.71%
2042 1.76% 0.73%
2041 1.8% 0.73%
2040 1.84% 0.74%
2039 1.89% 0.76%
2038 1.93% 0.79%
2037 1.96% 0.8%
2036 2% 0.83%
2035 2.03% 0.85%
2034 2.08% 0.87%
2033 2.12% 0.9%
2032 2.16% 0.93%
2031 2.19% 0.94%
2030 2.22% 0.99%
2029 2.25% 1.03%
2028 2.27% 1.05%
2027 2.28% 1.06%
2026 2.31% 1.12%
2025 2.34% 1.19%
2024 2.35% 1.26%
2023 2.42% 1.34%
2022 2.5% 1.42%
2021 2.57% 1.55%
2020 2.67% 1.64%
2019 2.75% 1.66%
2018 2.84% 1.7%
2017 2.93% 0.66%
2016 3.02% 0.94%
2015 3.12% 2.03%
2014 3.22% 1.68%
2013 3.01% 1.67%
2012 2.71% 1.49%
2011 2.56% 1.24%
2010 2.42% 1.19%
2009 2.39% 1.2%
2008 2.37% 1.16%
2007 2.35% 1.06%
2006 2.36% 1.03%
2005 2.37% 1.02%
2004 2.37% 1.01%
2003 2.44% 1%
2002 2.48% 0.95%
2001 2.45% 0.86%
2000 2.44% 0.92%
1999 2.4% 1.1%
1998 2.36% 1.22%
1997 2.39% 1.21%
1996 2.47% 1.31%
1995 2.6% 1.22%
1994 2.71% 1.63%
1993 2.79% 2.01%
1992 2.84% 1.81%
1991 2.88% 2.31%
1990 2.91% 2.82%
1989 2.92% 2.98%
1988 2.94% 3.09%
1987 2.96% 3.17%
1986 2.92% 3.25%
1985 2.83% 3.39%
1984 2.76% 3.52%
1983 2.72% 3.56%
1982 2.66% 3.52%
1981 2.59% 3.46%
1980 2.5% 3.09%
1979 2.42% 2.74%
1978 2.36% 2.77%
1977 2.47% 2.74%
1976 2.66% 2.74%
1975 2.81% 2.81%
1974 2.95% 2.86%
1973 3.03% 2.9%
1972 3.04% 2.91%
1971 3.03% 2.97%
1970 3.03% 3.08%
1969 3.03% 3.14%
1968 3.03% 3.17%
1967 3.02% 3.17%
1966 2.97% 3.15%
1965 2.92% 3.12%
1964 2.88% 3.1%
1963 2.86% 3.08%
1962 2.86% 3.02%
1961 2.86% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/senegal/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Senegal grew by 2.35%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Senegal South Africa
Current population
19491599
65683993
Population rank 68/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.24% 0.79%
One net population change
1.24 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
59.3 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
5.21 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,163 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +424,411 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.35% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 35/197 85/197
One migration net change every
41.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -12,636 +146,370
Net migration rank 138/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 281,867 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 100/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 146/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Senegal
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Senegal South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -12,636 - 146,370
2024 - -10,307 - 166,972
2023 431,006 -9,999 602,793 228,222
2022 415,507 16,425 603,636 233,284
2021 403,019 25,519 456,411 458,246
2020 400,910 33,848 595,873 369,901
2019 399,436 38,386 652,130 331,124
2018 405,454 33,567 648,319 318,260
2017 410,366 29,605 645,975 343,146
2016 411,480 29,498 641,365 -879,235
2015 407,008 34,387 668,771 641,150
2014 405,019 36,030 674,754 272,697
2013 406,582 34,878 652,427 232,230
2012 402,243 -42,978 643,723 264,091
2011 387,290 -43,350 601,708 65,166
2010 372,934 -69,888 566,834 68,563
2009 362,238 -69,239 554,115 41,528
2008 351,661 -67,812 595,332 36,869
2007 339,963 -66,580 503,567 36,339
2006 331,364 -64,254 487,584 33,159
2005 323,908 -61,781 464,464 31,286
2004 317,286 -59,879 442,540 58,924
2003 308,856 -57,213 415,018 65,604
2002 298,842 -40,554 430,926 50,313
2001 289,690 -41,422 484,801 -60,793
2000 283,946 -42,854 526,963 -136,794
1999 277,944 -44,284 594,643 -126,011
1998 267,404 -45,189 627,027 -82,722
1997 261,200 -44,506 667,969 -98,181
1996 255,418 -39,162 710,868 -193,007
1995 252,552 -31,001 743,488 -98,403
1994 249,115 -22,633 698,609 -268,849
1993 245,742 -16,649 789,220 194,977
1992 241,482 -14,796 794,415 -71,342
1991 237,713 -13,783 827,296 -39,131
1990 234,155 -12,959 835,421 259,718
1989 227,797 -12,362 884,629 255,605
1988 221,772 -12,036 909,221 246,382
1987 218,522 -12,086 922,330 231,009
1986 212,887 -12,655 903,644 234,378
1985 208,218 -18,644 893,889 244,940
1984 203,125 -24,858 869,011 290,789
1983 197,673 -26,222 837,013 310,172
1982 191,309 -27,672 807,550 293,195
1981 185,917 -29,959 767,833 279,985
1980 179,707 -32,616 738,415 258,127
1979 173,425 -35,022 716,541 56,323
1978 167,744 -36,559 694,341 62,121
1977 161,636 -35,731 680,929 63,739
1976 154,776 -18,716 675,011 27,333
1975 147,311 -7,870 667,862 38,809
1974 139,974 3,347 658,438 38,518
1973 133,834 11,382 651,596 41,125
1972 128,024 13,852 638,754 38,163
1971 122,511 15,131 624,761 32,961
1970 117,264 16,168 605,102 61,514
1969 112,393 16,887 590,794 73,225
1968 108,240 17,264 571,841 78,932
1967 104,824 17,107 553,741 81,932
1966 101,359 15,849 534,862 77,417
1965 97,912 13,913 506,632 82,514
1964 94,797 11,892 490,606 76,298
1963 92,264 10,371 473,821 72,844
1962 89,937 9,809 455,634 69,771
1961 87,322 9,549 437,851 57,728
1960 84,735 9,337 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/senegal/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Senegal is from natural causes (a gain of 4,089,205 people) and 6.13% is from migration (a gain of 267,266 people). In South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 281,867 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Senegal, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Senegal
City Population
Dakar 1.44M
Thies 391K
Rufisque 295K
Saint-Louis 259K
Ziguinchor 205K
Kaolack 172K
Louga 113K
Kolda 62.3K
Fatick 39.4K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/senegal/south-africa | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.