Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 83.8% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zambia, 11.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 1.3 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 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 27.2% more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 11.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

make 21.6% less money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,900 as of 2023.

Life

be 3.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 135.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gambia, 458.0 women do as of 2020.

be 33.0% less likely to be literate

In Zambia, the literacy rate is 86.7% as of 2018. In Gambia, it is 58.1% as of 2021.

have 19.9% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 27.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 36.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zambia, approximately 48% of people have electricity access (86% 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 57.1% more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gambia, about 33.0% do as of 2021.

be 25.0% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access (90% in urban areas, and 57% 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 24.3% less on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 53.6% less on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 2.6% of GDP as of 2020.

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 Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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