Senegal Rate of Natural Increase

Senegal’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—remains relatively high, reflecting the country’s youthful population and ongoing demographic transition. As of 2023, Senegal’s RNI hovers around 2.6% per year, indicating a robust population growth driven by high birth rates (approximately 33 births per 1,000 population) and declining but still moderate death rates (around 6 per 1,000). Compared to its neighbors, Senegal’s RNI is similar to that of Mali and The Gambia, both of which also experience high birth rates and relatively low death rates, resulting in RNIs above 2.5%. In contrast, Mauritania’s RNI is slightly lower, around 2.4%, while Guinea and Guinea-Bissau exhibit similar or marginally lower rates, reflecting subtle differences in fertility and mortality trends. Overall, Senegal and its neighboring countries share high rates of natural increase, characteristic of West African nations in the earlier stages of demographic transition, though variations exist due to differences in health care, fertility preferences, and socio-economic factors.

Data from US Census International Database