Senegal population pyramid 2026
19,366,548 people in 2026 (projected). Senegal’s pyramid is still broad-based, but fertility has halved since 1980 and boys outnumber girls at ages 5–19 by an unusually wide margin.
- 2026 population
- 19.4Mrank 68 of 237
- Median age
- 19.8 yearsoldest rank 201
- Fertility rate
- 3.66births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.7% age 65+
Senegal population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Senegal age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 37.3% of the population, while 3.7% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 59.0% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Senegal’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 69.5: about 70 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (63.3 children and 6.2 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Senegal’s population pyramid
A base that is starting to straighten
Senegal’s fertility peaked at about 7.3 children per woman around 1980 and has since roughly halved, to about 3.7 in 2026. The pyramid shows the early part of that change. In 1950 the 0–4 band was more than 40% larger than the 5–9 band, a gap that partly reflects heavy mortality in early childhood: life expectancy was about 37 years and infant mortality about 134 per 1,000 live births. In 2026 the 0–4 band is only about 10% larger than the 5–9 band, and under the medium scenario the three youngest bands are almost the same size by 2050. By 2100 the 0–4 band is slightly smaller than the 10–14 band, the progression described in the demographic transition model.
A puzzling surplus of boys
The overall sex ratio is about 103 males per 100 females, and the male surplus is concentrated in childhood and adolescence. In 2026 there are about 108–109 boys per 100 girls at ages 5–19, well above the sex ratio at birth of about 103; the same excess is already present in the 2023 estimates. The chart alone cannot establish the cause. At older ages the numbers are small enough for single estimates to look odd: the 80–84 band shows more men than women, while women predominate at 70–74 and above 90.
Emigration and the missing men of 2000
Senegal has long been a country of emigration, both within West Africa and to Europe, especially France, Italy and Spain. The UN series records net emigration of about 360,000 in 1950–99 and 430,000 in 2000–23, small against more than 11 million births in the later period but visible in the shape of the adult bands. In 2000 women outnumbered men in every band from 20 upward, a pattern consistent with predominantly male labour emigration, although the chart alone cannot prove it. By 2026 the adult bands are close to balanced, with between 96 and 101 men per 100 women in every band from 25 to 64.
Under the medium scenario births, about 555,000 in 2026, outnumber deaths more than five to one, and the population rises from about 19 million to 30 million by 2050 and 47 million in 2100 without yet peaking. Fertility is projected to fall to about 2.8 by 2050 and to reach replacement level, about 2.1, only around 2100 (the fertility rate ranking shows how that compares). Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar have the most similar age structures in 2026, and The Gambia, almost enclosed by Senegal, is also among the closest.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Senegal’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Senegal is projected to record 554,508 births (about one birth every 57 seconds) and 104,057 deaths, a natural increase of 450,451. Net migration adds −13,429 people, ranking #142 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 11,283,106 births, 2,417,089 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −425,660. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −468,564 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 71.5 years37.0 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 67.4 years36.0 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 13.7 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 21.4per 1,000 births · 134 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 31.6per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.9 yearssex ratio at birth 103.1
Women in Senegal are projected to live 4.1 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 134 to 21.4 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #58 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.9 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Senegal
The median age of 19.8 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.66 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 69.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,366,548 | #68 | Largest first |
| Median age | 19.8 years | #201 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.66 | #33 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +2.3% | #30 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 69.4 years | #181 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.7% | #193 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Senegal
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 2,589,251 | 13.4% | 1.3M / 1.3M |
| 2 | 5–9 | 2,363,984 | 12.2% | 1.2M / 1.1M |
| 3 | 10–14 | 2,274,388 | 11.7% | 1.2M / 1.1M |
| 4 | 15–19 | 2,126,562 | 11.0% | 1.1M / 1M |
| 5 | 20–24 | 1,850,101 | 9.6% | 942.9K / 907.2K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Senegal has 9,826,426 males and 9,540,122 females. That is 103.0 males per 100 females, ranking #38 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.7% of the population and females for 49.3%. There are 286,304 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 92.3 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 103.1 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, slightly below the typical value of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Senegal has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 2,555,369 in 1950 to 19,366,548 in 2026, a change of 658%. Over the same span, median age moved from 17.6 to 19.8 years.
The under-15 share changed from 42.7% to 37.3%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.4% to 3.7%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Senegal’s population is projected to grow by about 57%, reaching 30,364,954 in 2050. The median age changes from 19.8 to 25.6 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.3 percentage points to 6.0%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 29.8%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 47,014,186. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,555,369 | 17.6 | 6.79 | 36.5 | 131,196 | 73,584 | +5,174 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 3,340,907 | 17.0 | 7.00 | 39.7 | 168,244 | 83,510 | +9,337 | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 4,466,328 | 16.8 | 7.26 | 40.8 | 222,846 | 105,586 | +16,168 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 5,845,638 | 15.7 | 7.29 | 48.3 | 282,125 | 102,424 | −32,616 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 7,720,523 | 15.4 | 6.40 | 56.7 | 322,998 | 88,838 | −12,959 | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 9,968,260 | 16.5 | 5.50 | 57.6 | 391,751 | 107,807 | −42,854 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 12,635,412 | 17.4 | 5.05 | 64.2 | 470,714 | 97,790 | −69,888 | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 16,789,219 | 18.4 | 4.00 | 67.5 | 502,517 | 101,604 | +33,848 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 18,077,573 | 19.1 | 3.82 | 68.7 | 531,890 | 100,882 | −9,999 | +2.3% |
| 2024* | 18,501,984 | 19.4 | 3.77 | 68.9 | 539,970 | 101,849 | −10,307 | +2.3% |
| 2026* | 19,366,548 | 19.8 | 3.66 | 69.4 | 554,508 | 104,057 | −13,429 | +2.3% |
| 2030* | 21,163,192 | 20.8 | 3.49 | 70.3 | 582,352 | 109,462 | −13,633 | +2.2% |
| 2040* | 25,797,510 | 23.2 | 3.11 | 72.2 | 612,458 | 130,293 | −21,517 | +1.8% |
| 2050* | 30,364,954 | 25.6 | 2.82 | 73.8 | 639,078 | 161,768 | −23,605 | +1.5% |
| 2060* | 34,822,200 | 28.2 | 2.59 | 75.3 | 666,684 | 205,997 | −27,207 | +1.3% |
| 2070* | 38,922,604 | 30.7 | 2.42 | 76.7 | 669,386 | 261,424 | −32,038 | +1.0% |
| 2080* | 42,337,038 | 32.9 | 2.26 | 78.1 | 656,056 | 322,251 | −32,088 | +0.7% |
| 2090* | 45,032,516 | 35.1 | 2.14 | 79.5 | 642,030 | 376,252 | −34,422 | +0.5% |
| 2100* | 47,014,186 | 37.3 | 2.05 | 80.9 | 618,079 | 416,881 | −38,313 | +0.3% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 1,313,993 | 1,275,258 | 2,589,251 | 13.4% |
| 5–9 | 1,230,087 | 1,133,897 | 2,363,984 | 12.2% |
| 10–14 | 1,187,779 | 1,086,609 | 2,274,388 | 11.7% |
| 15–19 | 1,102,080 | 1,024,482 | 2,126,562 | 11.0% |
| 20–24 | 942,932 | 907,169 | 1,850,101 | 9.6% |
| 25–29 | 825,710 | 822,495 | 1,648,205 | 8.5% |
| 30–34 | 696,034 | 701,299 | 1,397,333 | 7.2% |
| 35–39 | 564,290 | 583,587 | 1,147,877 | 5.9% |
| 40–44 | 477,432 | 486,140 | 963,572 | 5.0% |
| 45–49 | 392,535 | 387,435 | 779,970 | 4.0% |
| 50–54 | 309,536 | 313,920 | 623,456 | 3.2% |
| 55–59 | 246,180 | 251,415 | 497,595 | 2.6% |
| 60–64 | 196,066 | 195,939 | 392,005 | 2.0% |
| 65–69 | 141,825 | 153,457 | 295,282 | 1.5% |
| 70–74 | 100,555 | 112,442 | 212,997 | 1.1% |
| 75–79 | 56,699 | 63,416 | 120,115 | 0.6% |
| 80–84 | 30,587 | 27,767 | 58,354 | 0.3% |
| 85–89 | 10,832 | 11,058 | 21,890 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 1,210 | 2,171 | 3,381 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 66 | 163 | 229 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Senegal’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Sierra Leone99% overlap · median age 19.9
- Guinea-Bissau99% overlap · median age 19.6
- Madagascar98% overlap · median age 19.4
- Liberia98% overlap · median age 19.0
- Gambia98% overlap · median age 18.8
- Kenya98% overlap · median age 20.3
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Senegal.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Senegal Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/senegal/
MLA
“Senegal Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/senegal/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Senegal Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/senegal/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Senegal in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Senegal's population in 2026 is projected at 19,366,548.
What is the median age in Senegal?
The projected median age in Senegal in 2026 is 19.8 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Senegal?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.66 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Senegal's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 57%, from 19.4M to 30.4M.
What share of Senegal is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.7% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 6.0%.
How many babies are born in Senegal each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 554,508 births and 104,057 deaths in 2026, about one birth every 57 seconds. Births exceed deaths by 450,451.
What is life expectancy in Senegal for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 71.5 years for women and 67.4 years for men, a gap of 4.1 years in favour of women.
Does Senegal have more immigrants or emigrants?
Senegal is projected to lose about 13,429 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −425,660.
What is the sex ratio in Senegal?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 103.0 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.