Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gambia instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

be 51.6% less likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 21.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

be 100.0% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Papua New Guinea, 0.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 1.8 years less

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 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 31.0% less money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

be 2.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 44.3% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

be 2.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 10.7% more likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 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 3.4 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% 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 88.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% 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 100.0% more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 98.4% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 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 Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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