Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gambia instead of Guinea-Bissau, you would:

Health

be 40.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Guinea-Bissau, 3.0% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 3.9 years longer

In Guinea-Bissau, the average life expectancy is 64 years (61 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 68 years (66 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 20.8% more money

Guinea-Bissau has a GDP per capita of $2,400 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 2.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Guinea-Bissau, 3.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 11.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Guinea-Bissau, 47.7% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

be 36.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Guinea-Bissau, approximately 725.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 24.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Guinea-Bissau, approximately 49.0 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.

have 25.1% fewer children

In Guinea-Bissau, there are approximately 36.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 74.9% more likely to have access to electricity

In Guinea-Bissau, approximately 37% of people have electricity access (60% in urban areas, and 16% 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 22.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Guinea-Bissau, approximately 73% of people have improved drinking water access (91% in urban areas, and 59% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 90% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 86% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 69.0% less on healthcare

Guinea-Bissau spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 2.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 77.1% less coastline

Guinea-Bissau has a total of 350 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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 Guinea-Bissau? See an in-depth size comparison.

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