Updated
Overview
Senegal has 8.4 times the population of Guinea-Bissau: 18.93 million people against 2.25 million (2025).
Senegal's economy is 15 times the size of Guinea-Bissau's, at $37.01B versus $2.53B.
Per person, Senegal is the wealthier of the two: $1,955 against $1,124 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Senegal | Guinea-Bissau | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $37.01B | $2.53B | 2025 | $32.27B / $2.12B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,955 | $1,124 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.7% | 5.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.5% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 0.8% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | 2.7% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 36 | 34 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $279 | $141 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $106 | $31 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 18.93 million | 2.25 million | 2025 | 18.85 million / 2.13 million |
| Population growth | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 19.6 yrs | 19.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.71 | 3.68 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 68.9 yrs | 64.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 47% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 60% | 30% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 196,722 km² | 36,125 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 96.2/km² | 62.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 14 Mt | Lower: 0.34 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.8 t | Lower: 0.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $514.94M | $25.29M | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 19,000 | 4,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Senegal is growing faster: 6.7% annual GDP growth versus 5.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Senegal and 0.9% in Guinea-Bissau.
Average monthly earnings favour Senegal: $279 against $141 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 19.6 (Senegal) and 19.4 (Guinea-Bissau).
Life expectancy is 4.7 years longer in Senegal (68.9 vs 64.3).
Internet adoption is higher in Senegal (60% vs 30% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Senegal is 5.4 times the size of Guinea-Bissau: 196,722 km² versus 36,125 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Senegal spends 20 times as much on defence as Guinea-Bissau: $514.94M versus $25.29M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Senegal fields the larger armed forces: 19,000 personnel against 4,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Senegal bigger than Guinea-Bissau?
- Senegal is larger by land area. Senegal covers 196,722 km² while Guinea-Bissau covers 36,125 km², so Senegal is 5.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Senegal or Guinea-Bissau?
- Senegal has the larger population: 18.93 million versus 2.25 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Senegal richer than Guinea-Bissau?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Senegal is richer: $1,955 against $1,124. Total GDP tells the same story: $37.01B for Senegal versus $2.53B for Guinea-Bissau.
- Who spends more on their military, Senegal or Guinea-Bissau?
- Senegal spends more: $514.94M versus $25.29M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).