Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 6.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Laos, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

be 94.3% more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 65.5% less money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 5.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 2.9 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

have 37.9% more children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 33.3% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

Basic Needs

be 34.6% less likely to have access to electricity

In Laos, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 93% 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 46.8% less likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 21.7% more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education 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 Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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