Kolda Region: population, jobs, poverty, health and schools

Kolda Region is a region of Senegal, number 8 of 14 by population. The Kolda region had 914,798 residents at the 2023 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-5), 467,909 men and 446,889 women: 5.0% of Senegal's 18.13 million people and 7th smallest of 14 regions by population. There were 104.7 men for every 100 women (Senegal: 102.6).

Population (2023 census)

914,798

2023

Household consumption per person per year (CFA francs)

387,934

2021-22

Labour-force participation rate (2023 census)

52.8%

2023

Households lit mainly by electricity (2023 census)

36.3%

2023

Population below the national poverty line

62.5%

2021-22

Life expectancy at birth (2023 census)

62.7 years

2023

Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (2023 census)

101.5

2023

Births in a health facility (2 years before the survey)

88.5%

2023

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Kolda Region: Household consumption in Kolda, including food grown at home, averaged 387,934 CFA francs per person a year in 2021/22, 4th lowest of 14 regions (Senegal: 542,706 CFA francs).
Health in Kolda Region: Life expectancy at birth in Kolda was 62.7 years at the 2023 census (62.3 for men and 63.2 for women), the lowest of 14 regions (Senegal: 68.9).
Education in Kolda Region: 54.8% of people aged 10 and over in Kolda could read and write in some language at the 2023 census (58.9% of men and 50.8% of women), 5th lowest of 14 regions (Senegal: 62.2%).
Poverty and living standards in Kolda Region: 62.5% of people in Kolda lived below the national poverty line in 2021/22, 4th highest of 14 regions (Senegal: 37.5%).

How fast is the population of Kolda growing?

Kolda's population grew from 662,455 at the 2013 census to 914,798 in 2023, an average of 3.2% a year, 7th fastest of 14 regions (Senegal: 2.9% a year).

Source: Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD) · saved copy

How densely populated is Kolda?

Kolda covers 13,752 km², giving 67 people per km² in 2023, 6th least densely populated of 14 regions (Senegal: 92 per km²).

Source: Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD) · saved copy

How many people in Kolda live in towns?

36.2% of Kolda's residents (330,817 people) lived in urban areas at the 2023 census, 7th most urban of 14 regions (Senegal: 54.7%).

Source: Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD) · saved copy

How young is the population of Kolda?

45.0% of Kolda's population was under 15 at the 2023 census and 2.7% was 65 or older; the share of children is 3rd highest of 14 regions (Senegal: 39.1% and 3.8%).

Source: Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD) · saved copy

What are the departments of Kolda region?

The region has 3 departments. The most populous in 2023 was Vélingara with 405,151 residents (44.3% of the region), which was also the fastest-growing since 2013 (up from 278,381).

Source: Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD) · saved copy

How many children do women in Kolda have?

At the birth rates of the three years before the 2023 Continuous Demographic and Health Survey, a woman in Kolda would have 4.9 children on average, 4th highest of 14 regions (Senegal: 4.0).

Source: ANSD with the Ministry of Health and Social Action and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copy

How regions are governed in Senegal

Administrative regions (14). Governor appointed by the president. State administration only since 2013 (regions are no longer local governments).

Every tier of government in Senegal

Other regions of Senegal

Dakar Region 4,004,426
Thiès Region 2,463,677
Diourbel Region 2,080,333
Kaolack Region 1,336,720
Saint-Louis Region 1,202,441
Louga Region 1,125,908
Tambacounda Region 987,152
Fatick Region 906,918
Matam Region 831,630
Kaffrine Region 820,405
Ziguinchor Region 617,567
Sédhiou Region 589,266
Kédougou Region 245,147

Up a level: Senegal · government and power in Senegal · cities

Sources

ANSD with the Ministry of Health and Social Action and ICF (The DHS Program): Senegal Continuous Demographic and Health Survey 2023 (EDS-Continue 2023), tables volume (July 2024): Tables 2.12, 2.18, 5.2, 9.7, 10.4, 11.1 and 12.1 by region, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c1fffc1c6f81…)
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD): RGPH-5 2023 final report, chapter 3: economic characteristics (Tables III-6, III-14, III-19 and III-30 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 730e092da9d6…)
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD): RGPH-5 2023 final report, chapter 2: literacy and schooling (Tables II-5, II-14 and II-27 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7aff3a1e56b3…)
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD): RGPH-5 2023 final report, chapter 8: housing (Tables VIII-4, VIII-10 and VIII-12 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e37b2c844936…)
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD): RGPH-5 2023 final report, chapter 5: mortality (Tables V-18, V-20, V-22 and V-25 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22bfde37cb9b…)
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD): RGPH-5 2023 final report, chapter 1: state and structure of the population (Tables I-9, I-16, I-21, I-22 and I-26 by region and department), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8806140091f5…)
Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD): Harmonised Survey on Household Living Conditions (EHCVM II) 2021/2022, final report: Table III-2 (poverty by region), Table VII-11 (toilets) and section VIII.1 (food insecurity), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 783631557317…)

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