EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Senegal vs Zambia
Side-by-side comparison of Senegal and Zambia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Senegal scores 34.8 in the NationsTree Index (147th in the world) and Zambia scores 31.3 (160th), a gap of 3.5 points. Their trees are 5.6 m and 5.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Zambia has 16% more people than Senegal. Zambia is 3.8 times larger than Senegal by land area. Senegal and Zambia have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Senegal 18.9 million and Zambia 21.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $5,463 in Senegal and $4,379 in Zambia (2025, international dollars). People in Senegal live on average 2.4 years longer (68.9 vs 66.5 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Senegal ranks higher in the world on 19 and Zambia on 13. Senegal is clearly stronger in tourism, military and economy. Zambia is clearly stronger in environment & energy and natural resources.
As a nation, Senegal is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Zambia (since 1964). Over the last five years Zambia improved faster (direction score 71 vs 24 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Senegal and Zambia.
Senegalbetter
1.5%
47th of 180
Zambia
13.9%
165th of 180
UnemploymentEconomy
Senegalbetter
2.7%
30th of 187
Zambia
5.9%
108th of 187
Income inequality (Gini)Society & health
Senegalbetter
36.2
69th of 108
Zambia
51.5
106th of 108
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Senegal
41.6
180th of 200
Zambiabetter
20.2
120th of 200
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Senegal
35.4%
68th of 212
Zambiabetter
83.0%
10th of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Senegal overtook Zambia in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Senegal overtook Zambia in GDP (PPP) in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Senegal overtook Zambia in GDP per person (PPP) in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Senegal in population in 1999 and has stayed ahead since.
Senegal has been ahead of Zambia in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
SenegalZambia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Senegal | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 196,71087th/216 · 2024 | 752,61238th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 192,53086th/216 · 2024 | 743,39037th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 18.9 m68th/217 · 2025 | 21.9 m61st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.30%35th/217 · 2025 | 2.77%19th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 96.1111th/216 · 2024 | 28.7175th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 55.8%141st/217 · 2025 | 45.9%159th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 37.7%35th/217 · 2025 | 41.0%18th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.6%175th/217 · 2025 | 2.0%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $37.01 bn108th/210 · 2025 | $28.88 bn116th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $103.43 bn102nd/199 · 2025 | $95.97 bn103rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $88.38 bn101st/199 · 2025 | $82.01 bn104th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,955177th/210 · 2025 | $1,318187th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $5,463163rd/199 · 2025 | $4,379173rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,780169th/201 · 2025 | $1,200180th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.7%23rd/210 · 2025 | 3.8%86th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.5%47th/180 · 2025 | 13.9%165th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.7%30th/187 · 2025 | 5.9%108th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 71.4%39th/55 · 2021 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 127.7%180th/189 · 2025 | 100.6%170th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.4%167th/192 · 2025 | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 17.1%41st/197 · 2025 | 4.1%113th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 26.1%74th/200 · 2025 | 35.3%31st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.2%60th/192 · 2025 | 8.7%114th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 46.3%164th/200 · 2025 | 57.0%106th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $12.02 bn103rd/182 · 2025 | $8.85 bn115th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $14.28 bn106th/182 · 2025 | $6.97 bn128th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.5%101st/183 · 2025 | 35.0%97th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 38.6%106th/183 · 2025 | 27.6%145th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 71.1%111th/183 · 2025 | 62.5%122nd/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 32.7%29th/170 · 2024 | 2.7%90th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 22.3%100th/171 · 2024 | 14.1%121st/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 21.6%69th/171 · 2024 | 8.7%122nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.9%47th/171 · 2024 | 73.0%2nd/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.0%117th/168 · 2024 | 1.5%143rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 | -5.5%144th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.1%172nd/196 · 2025 | 4.5%46th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.4%77th/209 · 2021 | 35.3%5th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%89th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.23%23rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 2.90%32nd/209 · 2021 | 28.25%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.50%43rd/209 · 2021 | 6.78%11th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 19.9%55th/206 · 2024 | 5.1%138th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,462111th/183 · 2022 | 3,98070th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.4 m84th/194 · 2017 | 502,000122nd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $557.0 m92nd/175 · 2018 | — |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 10.5%56th/168 · 2018 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 68.9161st/217 · 2024 | 66.5181st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 36.5147th/196 · 2024 | 48.4165th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.11162nd/174 · 2023 | 0.32132nd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.7131st/145 · 2019 | 2.02010 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 14.7%148th/153 · 2023 | 44.1%118th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 44.1%161st/173 · 2023 | 56.8%149th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 33.9%40th/55 · 2021 | 2.3%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.2%174th/217 · 2025 | 3.5%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.3%147th/193 · 2023 | 6.0%105th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 50.4%93rd/98 · 2023 | 71.8%77th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 15.3%128th/150 · 2024 | 4.0%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.530169th/193 · 2023 | 0.595154th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 36.269th/108 · 2021 | 51.5106th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 17.9%88th/108 · 2021 | 71.7%107th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 82.9%168th/215 · 2024 | 53.6%197th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 27.2%133rd/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 30.1%110th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 60.1%139th/186 · 2024 | 17.1%180th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12480th/210 · 2024 | 109122nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 4.0146th/208 · 2024 | 0.8173rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.22130th/164 · 2018 | 2.30117th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 9062004 | 1,24862nd/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.1 m97th/161 · 2023 | 321,739124th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.7755th/203 · 2024 | 0.5445th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 35.4%68th/212 · 2021 | 83.0%10th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 41.6180th/200 · 2023 | 20.2120th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 45.0%66th/214 · 2024 | 60.5%31st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 324141st/149 · 2024 | 812103rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 57.583rd/205 · 2025 | 44.4136th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 51.182nd/207 · 2025 | 38.9129th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 55.5111th/207 · 2025 | 50.5135th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 62.7129th/207 · 2025 | 64.6121st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 51.0117th/205 · 2025 | 47.7132nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 60.793rd/205 · 2025 | 52.1120th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.32015 | 5.22015 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $566.9 m101st/156 · 2025 | $405.9 m111th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%85th/156 · 2025 | 1.3%102nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.2%76th/154 · 2025 | 4.5%92nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 19,000108th/170 · 2020 | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.37%134th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%150th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 79.0 m54th/163 · 2024 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 2.0 m1990 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.58%2015 | 0.28%2008 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 1892nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 490102nd/197 · 2023 | 367112th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Senegal or Zambia?
Zambia has the larger population: 21.9 m (2025) compared with 18.9 m for Senegal (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Senegal or Zambia?
Zambia is larger: 752,612 km² (2024) compared with 196,710 km² for Senegal (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Senegal or Zambia?
Senegal has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $103.43 bn intl. (2025) compared with $95.97 bn intl. for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Senegal or Zambia?
Senegal has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $5,463 intl. (2025) compared with $4,379 intl. for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Senegal or Zambia?
Senegal has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.9 years (2024) compared with 66.5 years for Zambia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Senegal or Zambia?
Senegal spends more on the military: $566.9 m (2025) compared with $405.9 m for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Senegal or Zambia?
Senegal: 34.8 points (147th in the world); Zambia: 31.3 points (160th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Mali
Sudan
ZimbabweSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Senegal vs Zambia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/senegal-vs-zambia. Data as of 26 October 2026.