Senegal vs US size comparison
How Big Is Senegal Compared to the US?
The US is about 50 times the size of Senegal. Senegal is about 2.77 times as densely populated. Drag Senegal over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Senegal vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: Senegal laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of Senegal
- 196,722 km² (75,955 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 50 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- South Dakota (199,729 km²)
- Population (2025)
- Senegal 18,931,966; the US 341,784,857
- Senegal's rank by area
- 86th-largest of 197
How big Senegal is compared with the US
The US is about 50 times the size of Senegal: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 196,722 km² (75,955 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold Senegal about 41 times. Senegal is bigger than 33 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 17; the state closest in size is South Dakota (199,729 km²). It is the 86th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 34th-largest of 54 in Africa; the US is the third-largest.
Senegal has about 19 million people (2025), the 69th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 96 people per km² it is about 2.77 times as crowded as the US (35 per km²), the 97th-most densely populated country.
Senegal and the US on a world map
Senegal reaches from 12°N to 17°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws Senegal about 1.07 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 107 times the size of Senegal, when it is really about 50 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where Senegal is
Senegal's capital, Dakar, is 6,370 km (3,960 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. Senegal borders 5 countries: Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania.
Senegal and US in numbers
| Senegal | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 196,722 km² 75,955 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 50× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 18,931,966 | 341,784,857 | The US has 18× more |
| Rank by area | 86th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 96 | 35 | Senegal is 2.77× denser |
| Capital | Dakar | Washington, D.C. | 6,370 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 5 | 2 |
Senegal compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is Senegal bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 50 times the size of Senegal: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 196,722 km² (75,955 sq mi).
How many times would Senegal fit into the US?
About 50 times (49.99). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 41 times.
Which US state is Senegal closest in size to?
South Dakota (199,729 km²). Senegal is about the same size as South Dakota.
Is Senegal bigger than Texas?
No. Texas is about 3.5 times the size of Senegal.
Which has more people, Senegal or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 18 times the 19 million in Senegal.
Why does Senegal look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than Senegal, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 107 times the size of Senegal, not 50.
Where does Senegal rank by size?
Senegal is the 86th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 34th-largest in Africa. The US is the third-largest.
How far is Senegal from the US?
Senegal's capital, Dakar, is 6,370 km (3,960 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.