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Senegal vs Zimbabwe
Side-by-side comparison of Senegal and Zimbabwe from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Zimbabwe
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 46 years
In short
Senegal scores 34.8 in the NationsTree Index (147th in the world) and Zimbabwe scores 25.2 (176th), a gap of 9.5 points. Their trees are 5.6 m and 5.4 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Senegal has 12% more people than Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has 99% more land area than Senegal. Senegal and Zimbabwe have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Senegal 18.9 million and Zimbabwe 17.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $6,470 in Zimbabwe and $5,463 in Senegal (2025, international dollars). People in Senegal live on average 5.9 years longer (68.9 vs 63.1 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Senegal ranks higher in the world on 19 and Zimbabwe on 12. Senegal is clearly stronger in institutions & safety and tourism. Zimbabwe is clearly stronger in environment & energy.
As a nation, Senegal is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Zimbabwe (since 1980). Over the last five years Zimbabwe improved faster (direction score 35 vs 24 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Senegal and Zimbabwe.
Senegalbetter
1.5%
47th of 180
Zimbabwe
104.7%
178th of 180
Government budget balanceEconomy
Senegal
-6.4%
167th of 192
Zimbabwebetter
0.1%
36th of 192
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Senegalbetter
51.1
82nd of 207
Zimbabwe
22.0
186th of 207
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Senegal
41.6
180th of 200
Zimbabwebetter
15.0
82nd of 200
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Senegalbetter
57.5
83rd of 205
Zimbabwe
34.2
175th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Senegal overtook Zimbabwe in the NationsTree Index and population in 2015 and has stayed ahead since.
Zimbabwe overtook Senegal in GDP per person (PPP) in 2011 and has stayed ahead since.
Zimbabwe overtook Senegal in GDP (PPP) in 2010 and has stayed ahead since.
Senegal overtook Zimbabwe in life expectancy in 1992 and has stayed ahead since.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
SenegalZimbabwe 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 | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 196,71087th/216 · 2024 | 390,76062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 192,53086th/216 · 2024 | 386,85061st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 18.9 m68th/217 · 2025 | 17.0 m73rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.30%35th/217 · 2025 | 1.88%54th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 96.1111th/216 · 2024 | 43.0161st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 55.8%141st/217 · 2025 | 40.5%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 37.7%35th/217 · 2025 | 40.3%23rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.6%175th/217 · 2025 | 3.6%177th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $37.01 bn108th/210 · 2025 | $51.22 bn96th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $103.43 bn102nd/199 · 2025 | $109.68 bn100th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $88.38 bn101st/199 · 2025 | $93.72 bn100th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,955177th/210 · 2025 | $3,021163rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $5,463163rd/199 · 2025 | $6,470157th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,780169th/201 · 2025 | $2,660158th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.7%23rd/210 · 2025 | 8.1%10th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.5%47th/180 · 2025 | 104.7%178th/180 · 2022 |
| Unemployment % | 2.7%30th/187 · 2025 | 9.3%146th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 127.7%180th/189 · 2025 | 38.0%54th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.4%167th/192 · 2025 | 0.1%36th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 17.1%41st/197 · 2025 | 9.5%73rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 26.1%74th/200 · 2025 | 37.1%23rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.2%60th/192 · 2025 | 14.9%45th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 46.3%164th/200 · 2025 | 48.2%154th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $12.02 bn103rd/182 · 2025 | $7.50 bn118th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $14.28 bn106th/182 · 2025 | $9.74 bn119th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.5%101st/183 · 2025 | 18.1%152nd/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 38.6%106th/183 · 2025 | 23.4%156th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 71.1%111th/183 · 2025 | 41.5%158th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 32.7%29th/170 · 2024 | 2.9%88th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 22.3%100th/171 · 2024 | 6.7%142nd/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 21.6%69th/171 · 2024 | 21.6%68th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.9%47th/171 · 2024 | 33.8%13th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.0%117th/168 · 2024 | 2.8%124th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 | 3.6%46th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.1%172nd/196 · 2025 | 1.9%107th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.4%77th/209 · 2021 | 6.4%64th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.05%84th/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 | 0.29%19th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 2.90%32nd/209 · 2021 | 4.24%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.50%43rd/209 · 2021 | 1.82%39th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 19.9%55th/206 · 2024 | 10.4%101st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,462111th/183 · 2022 | 763142nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.4 m84th/194 · 2017 | 639,000114th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $557.0 m92nd/175 · 2018 | $66.0 m150th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 10.5%56th/168 · 2018 | 1.3%147th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 3.3 m36th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 68.9161st/217 · 2024 | 63.1200th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 36.5147th/196 · 2024 | 64.7180th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.11162nd/174 · 2023 | 0.14158th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.7131st/145 · 2019 | 2.02014 |
| 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 | 64.9%2017 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 44.1%161st/173 · 2023 | 52.4%2013 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 33.9%40th/55 · 2021 | 36.7%38th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.2%174th/217 · 2025 | 6.3%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.3%147th/193 · 2023 | 2.9%179th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 50.4%93rd/98 · 2023 | 93.2%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 15.3%128th/150 · 2024 | 7.7%143rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.530169th/193 · 2023 | 0.598153rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 36.269th/108 · 2021 | 50.32019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 17.9%88th/108 · 2021 | 49.2%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 82.9%168th/215 · 2024 | 62.0%184th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 27.2%133rd/150 · 2024 | 25.5%134th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 30.1%110th/144 · 2024 | 23.6%123rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 60.1%139th/186 · 2024 | 41.6%154th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12480th/210 · 2024 | 94150th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 4.0146th/208 · 2024 | 1.9158th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.22130th/164 · 2018 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 9062004 | 3,12040th/82 · 2020 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.1 m97th/161 · 2023 | 92,494138th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.7755th/203 · 2024 | 0.7756th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 35.4%68th/212 · 2021 | 82.4%13th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 41.6180th/200 · 2023 | 15.082nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 45.0%66th/214 · 2024 | 35.7%93rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 324141st/149 · 2024 | 490121st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 57.583rd/205 · 2025 | 34.2175th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 51.182nd/207 · 2025 | 22.0186th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 55.5111th/207 · 2025 | 38.6181st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 62.7129th/207 · 2025 | 50.3174th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 51.0117th/205 · 2025 | 33.5187th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 60.793rd/205 · 2025 | 33.9175th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.32015 | 6.8105th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $566.9 m101st/156 · 2025 | $159.6 m133rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%85th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%141st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.2%76th/154 · 2025 | 5.3%2005 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 19,000108th/170 · 2020 | 51,00069th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.37%134th/168 · 2020 | 0.88%78th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 79.0 m54th/163 · 2024 | 20.0 m90th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 4.0 m2001 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.58%2015 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 2688th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 490102nd/197 · 2023 | 52096th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Senegal has the larger population: 18.9 m (2025) compared with 17.0 m for Zimbabwe (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is larger: 390,760 km² (2024) compared with 196,710 km² for Senegal (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $109.68 bn intl. (2025) compared with $103.43 bn intl. for Senegal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $6,470 intl. (2025) compared with $5,463 intl. for Senegal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Senegal has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.9 years (2024) compared with 63.1 years for Zimbabwe (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Senegal spends more on the military: $566.9 m (2025) compared with $159.6 m for Zimbabwe (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Senegal or Zimbabwe?
Senegal: 34.8 points (147th in the world); Zimbabwe: 25.2 points (176th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Mali
Sudan
ZambiaSources
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 Zimbabwe — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/senegal-vs-zimbabwe. Data as of 26 October 2026.