Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 34.0% less likely to be obese

In Malaysia, 15.6% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

be 4.5 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Malaysia, 0.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 8.5 years less

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 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 91.4% less money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $33,600 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 67.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 8.6 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Malaysia, 6.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

have 92.3% more children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 14.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 21.8 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 38.8% less likely to be literate

In Malaysia, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

be 5.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 6.6 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 34.6% less likely to have access to electricity

In Malaysia, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Gambia, 65% of the population do as of 2022.

be 66.0% less likely to have internet access

In Malaysia, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 28.2% less on education

Malaysia spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 36.6% less on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 2.6% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 98.3% less coastline

Malaysia has a total of 4,675 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 Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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