Senegal is witnessing population growth alongside a declining birth rate, according to the latest census released by the National Agency of Statistics and Demography this week. In 2002, the population was just under 10 million. Today, it stands at 18 million. Life expectancy has also significantly improved, increasing by four years over the past decade to reach 68.9 years in 2023. However, the birth rate has been steadily decreasing for the past 30 years.
In 1986, Senegalese women had an average of 6.4 children, which dropped to 5.3 in 2002 and further declined to 4.2 in 2023. The primary factor contributing to this trend is the consistently rising enrollment rate of girls in education.
Djiby Diakhaté, a sociology professor at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) and a member of a working group on birth control, highlights that successive governments have addressed birth control through various communication initiatives, such as television messages. Additionally, for the past decade, awareness campaigns have been conducted by community aunts known as “bajenu gox.” Professor Djiby Diakhaté explains:
“The legal age of marriage could further influence this declining trend. Currently, it is set at 16 for girls, but recent judicial consultations have proposed raising it to 18 for everyone.”
This potential change in the legal marriage age, along with ongoing educational and awareness efforts, underscores Senegal’s commitment to addressing demographic trends while supporting the advancement of women in professional careers.