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Senegal vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 172 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Senegal
sen
Leads on 60 of 172 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 102 of 172 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 3.4 times as many people as Senegal (65.49 million vs 19.36 million). South Africa's economy is 11.6 times the size of Senegal's ($424.75 billion vs $36.56 billion GDP).

Comparing Senegal and South Africa: Senegal leads on Televisions (361,000) against South Africa (6); Senegal leads on Electricity Installed Capacity (977,000) against South Africa (50.02); South Africa leads on People Living With HIV/AIDS (7.80) against Senegal (39,000). Across 172 compared metrics, Senegal wins on 60 and South Africa wins on 102.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration4.04 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)60.12 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)60.61 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 61% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed4.04 Mbps5.35 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score59.43 points75.71 points★
Radios1.2417★
Televisions361,000★6
Waterways897NA

Economy

65 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country5.84B $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars36.56B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)37.48 %★14.07 %
Apple Import Volume18.11M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate76.46 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0.25 %5.75 %★
Coal Revenue02.4★
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)5.4 %10.38 %★
Corporate Tax Rate Trends30 %★28 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index60.9★59.6
Electricity Consumption3.5207.1★
Electricity Exports016.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels8285★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants7★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables11★10
Electricity Imports010.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity977,000★50.02
Electricity Production4.17234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)8.3 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate39.18 %55.4 %★
Gender Pay Gap Percentage24.77 %★9.52 %
Gender Wage Gap24.77 %9.52 %★
Gini Index Coefficient36.263★
Gross Fixed Investment24.8★19.5
Gross National Saving21.2★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage10.98 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries4,668.54 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)20 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate1.46 %★3.21 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)0.8 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.6 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption59.46★5.07
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production59.46906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption41,000553,000★
Oil Exports4,55054,930★
Oil Imports36,290521,400★
Oil Production65192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty Line46.7 people★55.5 people
Private Investment (% of GDP)25.26 % of GDP★11.46 % of GDP
Public Debt47.8★76.2
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.58 %0.73 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)6.9 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends4.3 %★3.28 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption48,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports4,063105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports32,050195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production17,590487,100★
Remittances10.6★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million572.42 researchers★466.56 researchers
Robotics Research Funding0.58 USD0.73 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)53.5742.11★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)19.54 %★25.4 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)19.54 % of GDP25.4 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues19.526★
Top Exporting Countries8.10B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)6.27 %★0.58 %
Unemployment Rate3 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate52.02 %★55.58 %
Youth Unemployment Rate3.62 %★59.93 %

Environment

12 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)9,989★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-15,539.84 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature28.52 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions10.37★446.7
Continental Shelfedge of continental margin or 200 nm;200
Global Precipitation Distribution577.89 mm652.17 mm★
Population Distributionthe population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural, as shown in this population distribution mapthe population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation27.23 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage27.5 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country3.5 Cubic meters per year4.8 Cubic meters per year★
Total Renewable Water Resources38.9751.35★
Total Threatened Mammal Species21 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization2 %★1.94 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)44.2585.66★
Agricultural land96,942 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km192,5301.21M★
Coastline Length (km)531 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita12.6 cubic meters per inhabitant464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★
Irrigated Land1,20016,700★

Government

9 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country38.89 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions14★9
Corruption Perception Index45 index41 index★
Corruption Perceptions Index Score45 index★41 index
Independence431★
LGBT Rights Index Score-0.4310.94★
Prison Population Rate76 per 100,000★286 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception4541★
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water27.19 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults21.8 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate87 %★76 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)3.87.2★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders68.92 years★66.31 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.8 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita223.33 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score48 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.4 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Highest Male Life Expectancy68.92 years★66.31 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %★18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density0.3 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence17.25 %16.64 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate36.78 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)237 %118 %★
Mean Age at First Birth21.422.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density0.43 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)8.8 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending44.33 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS39,0007.8★
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People0 per 100,000 people2 per 100,000 people★
Total Number of Doctors0.120.79★
Underweight Children Under 516.24.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel14,000 personnel74,000 personnel★
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.56 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)19,00089,000★

People and Society

40 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)65.84 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.44★0.42
Life expectancy at birth72.09 years★71.98 years
Median age of population19.85 years29 years★
Population Change429,217.9 persons673,269.7 persons★
Population density100.55 per sq. km53.74 per sq. km★
Total population19.36M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.760.83★
Beer Consumption per Capita0.16 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)29.54 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate26.9 %54.6 %★
Crude Birth Rate29.18 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)4.85 %★6.56 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.2 % of GDP★6 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age4.92M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)16.46 %29.84 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate4.04 %5.35 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.49 male/female103.52 male/female★
Human Development Index0.290.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate5.7627.77★
Learning-adjusted years of school5.1 years★4.88 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population3.34 people10.32 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)173.14★166.68
Mean Years of Schooling4.4 years10.47 years★
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio6.21 %★9.65 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization71.97 %79.63 %★
Physician Density0.11 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate2.4 %★1.06 %
Population living in slums38.57 %★23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio32.0930.33★
Total deaths99,557.7 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)33.75 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate3.66 per woman★2.17 per woman
Total net-migration-29,112.2 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate31.36 per live births28.89 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate3.25 %★1.34 %
Voting Age Population45.65 millions★39.64 millions

Transportation

3 metrics
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)00.37★
Airports20573★
Civil Air Travel390★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇸🇳 Senegal🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita649.69M USD5.96B USD★

Frequently Asked Questions About Senegal vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Senegal or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 3.4 times as many people as Senegal (65.49 million vs 19.36 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Senegal or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 11.6 times the size of Senegal's ($424.75 billion vs $36.56 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Senegal or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $1,888 in Senegal (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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