Head to head
Western Gorilla vs Chimpanzee
Gorillas and chimpanzees are both African great apes and both our close relatives, but they sit at opposite ends of the ape spectrum. One is a huge, gentle leaf-eater; the other is a smaller, restless omnivore that makes tools and wages war.
| Western Gorilla | Chimpanzee | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (male) | 140–200 kg | 40–70 kg |
| Diet | Mostly leaves, stems, and fruit | Fruit-based, plus insects and hunted monkeys |
| Society | Stable troop led by one silverback | Large fission–fusion community; alpha male and shifting alliances |
| Tool use | Limited | Extensive — termite rods, nut hammers, spears; varies by culture |
| Aggression between groups | Displays are mostly bluff | Lethal — males patrol and kill rivals |
| Locomotion | Knuckle-walking; rarely climbs as an adult male | Knuckle-walking and agile climbing |
| DNA shared with humans | ~98% | ~98.8% |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered | Endangered |
Gorilla vs Chimpanzee: common questions
Which is stronger, a gorilla or a chimpanzee?
The gorilla, by a large margin. An adult male gorilla weighs three to four times as much as a chimpanzee and has enormous upper-body power. Chimpanzees are still far stronger than a human of the same size, but they are no match for a silverback.
Which is smarter, a gorilla or a chimpanzee?
Both are highly intelligent, but chimpanzees show more flexible problem-solving and a much richer tool-using culture in the wild. Gorillas have demonstrated impressive abilities in captivity, including sign language, but use few tools naturally.
Are gorillas and chimps the same species?
No. They are different genera — Gorilla and Pan — that diverged around nine million years ago. Chimpanzees are actually more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas.