Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gambia instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

live 4.2 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 years for men, 76 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 51.5% more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 70.6% more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

Life

have 2.1 times more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 4.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 41.9% less likely to be literate

In North Korea, the literacy rate is 100.0% as of 2015. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

be 67.4% more likely to die during infancy

In North Korea, approximately 22.2 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 19.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 55% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% 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.

Geography

see 96.8% less coastline

North Korea has a total of 2,495 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 North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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