X-ray diffraction measurements on the sphalerite-derivatives ZnGa 2 Se 4 and CdGa 2 S 4 have been performed upon compression up to 23 GPa in a diamond-anvil cell. ZnGa 2 Se 4 exhibits a defect tetragonal stannite-type structure ( I42m ) up to 15.5 GPa and in the range from 15.5 GPa to 18.5 GPa the low-pressure phase coexists with a high-pressure phase, which remains stable up to 23 GPa. In CdGa 2 S 4 , we find the defect * Corresponding author, Email: daniel.errandonea@uv.es, Fax: (34) 96 3543146, Tel.: (34) 96 354 4475 tetragonal chalcopyrite-type structure ( I4 ) is stable up to 17 GPa. Beyond this pressure a pressure-induced phase transition takes place. In both materials, the high-pressure phase has been characterized as a defect-cubic NaCl-type structure ( Fm3m ). The occurrence of the pressure induced phase transitions is apparently related with an increase of the cation disorder on the semiconductors investigated. In addition, the results allow the evaluation of the axial compressibility and the determination of the equation of state for each compound. The obtained results are compared with those previously reported for isomorphic digallium sellenides. Finally, a systematic study of the pressure-induced phase transition in twenty-three different sphalerite-related ABX 2 and AB 2 X 4 compounds indicates that the transition pressure increases as the ratio of the cationic radii and anionic radii of the compounds increases.