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

Health

be 13.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Bangladesh, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2024.

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live 8.9 years less

In Bangladesh, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be obese

In Bangladesh, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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see 52.6% less spent on your healthcare

Bangladesh spends $199 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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have 87.5% fewer doctors per person

Bangladesh has 7.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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have 11.5% less access to essential health services

Bangladesh scores 52 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gambia scores 46 as of 2021.

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be 71.2% more likely to die by suicide

Bangladesh has a suicide rate of 2.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 4.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 72.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Bangladesh, 3.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2025.

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be 2.9 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Bangladesh, 18.7% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

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make 64.6% less money

Bangladesh has a GDP per capita of $2,597 as of 2025, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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Life

have 49.4% more children

In Bangladesh, there are approximately 20.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gambia, there are 29.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 3.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Bangladesh, approximately 115.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Gambia, 354.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 34.6% less likely to be literate

In Bangladesh, the literacy rate is 79.0% as of 2022. In Gambia, it is 51.6% as of 2021.

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be 34.0% more likely to die during infancy

In Bangladesh, approximately 24.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Gambia, on the other hand, 32.7 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 32.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In Bangladesh, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 67% of people on average (85% in urban areas, and 35% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 11.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Bangladesh, approximately 99% of people have access to drinking water (99% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 87% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 78% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 38.4% more on education

Bangladesh spends 2.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 33.2% more on healthcare

Bangladesh spends 2.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 2.9% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 86.2% less coastline

Bangladesh has a total of 580 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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Safety

be 18.3% more likely to die in a road accident

In Bangladesh, road accidents kill 18.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Gambia, they kill 22.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 61.4% less strain on fresh water

Bangladesh withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gambia withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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find 93.6% less home broadband

Bangladesh has 8.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 75.0% less CO2

Bangladesh emits 0.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gambia emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 36.4% more likely to die from air pollution

In Bangladesh, air pollution causes 66.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gambia, it causes 90.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

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 Bangladesh? See an in-depth size comparison.

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