Senegal
Leading cause: Cancer · 78% plant-based · 68.5 yr life expectancy · UHC 48/100
What People Eat
Traditional West African plant-forward diet (millet, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, leafy greens) shows cardiovascular protection in observational studies.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Cancer · 99 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Senegal's plant-forward diet (millet, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, leafy greens) is associated with very low cardiovascular disease, but cancer (99/100k) and respiratory disease lead mortality under very low health spending (~$70/person) and limited coverage. Diet is a strength; access to care is the constraint.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Preserve the protective traditional West African diet as urbanization advances.
- The priority lever is expanding healthcare access and screening (UHC index ~48), not dietary change.
- Address respiratory risks from indoor cooking smoke and infection.
Explore the evidence: Cancer
Interheart Africa · Yusuf et al., 2004
→ Plant-forward traditional diet = very low CVD