Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 2.4 years longer

In Mauritania, the average life expectancy is 65 years (63 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 18.9% less likely to be obese

In Mauritania, 12.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

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

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

Economy

be 38.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Mauritania, 10.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

make 54.0% less money

Mauritania has a GDP per capita of $6,300 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 67.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Mauritania, 31.8% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

be 27.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Mauritania, approximately 51.0 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.

be 13.3% less likely to be literate

In Mauritania, the literacy rate is 67.0% as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

Basic Needs

be 33.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Mauritania, approximately 49% of people have electricity access (90% in urban areas, and 1% 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 44.1% less likely to have internet access

In Mauritania, approximately 59.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 23.5% less on healthcare

Mauritania spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 2.6% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 47.4% more on education

Mauritania spends 1.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 89.4% less coastline

Mauritania has a total of 754 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 Mauritania? See an in-depth size comparison.

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