Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gambia instead of Botswana, you would:

Health

be 91.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 2.0 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 68 years (66 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

be 45.5% less likely to be obese

In Botswana, 18.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 72.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 23.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

make 83.4% less money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $17,500 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 3.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

have 39.3% more children

In Botswana, there are approximately 19.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 186.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 34.4% less likely to be literate

In Botswana, the literacy rate is 88.5% as of 2015. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

be 47.7% more likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 25.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Gambia, on the other hand, 37.2 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 13.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 76% of people have electricity access (93% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 65% of people on average (82% in urban areas, and 31% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 55.4% less likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 74.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 67.8% less on education

Botswana spends 8.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 58.1% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 2.6% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Gambia: At a glance

Gambia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 10,120 sq km. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.
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How big is Gambia compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

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