Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 62.9% less likely to be obese

In Syria, 27.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

be 18.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Syria, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 6.7 years less

In Syria, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 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.

Economy

be 52.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Syria, 13.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

be 35.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Syria, 82.5% live below the poverty line as of 2014. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

Life

have 25.8% more children

In Syria, there are approximately 21.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 15.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Syria, approximately 30.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 32.8% less likely to be literate

In Syria, the literacy rate is 86.4% as of 2015. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

be 2.3 times more likely to die during infancy

In Syria, approximately 15.9 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 26.5% less likely to have access to electricity

In Syria, approximately 89% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 74% 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 29.2% less likely to have internet access

In Syria, approximately 46.6% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

be 10.3% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Syria, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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 45.1% less on education

Syria spends 5.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2009. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 58.5% less coastline

Syria has a total of 193 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 Syria? See an in-depth size comparison.

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