Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 91.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 19.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

live 2.0 years longer

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 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 45.5% less likely to be obese

In Botswana, 18.9% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 86.2% less money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $16,000 as of 2020, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,200 as of 2020.

be 2.5 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Botswana, 19.3% live below the poverty line as of 2009. In Gambia, however, that number is 48.6% as of 2015.

Life

have 41.9% more children

In Botswana, there are approximately 20.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Gambia, there are 28.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

be 4.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 144.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Gambia, 597.0 women do as of 2017.

be 42.6% less likely to be literate

In Botswana, the literacy rate is 88.5% as of 2015. In Gambia, it is 50.8% as of 2015.

be 47.7% more likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 25.2 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 16.9% less likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 59% of people have electricity access (71% in urban areas, and 29% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Gambia, that number is 49% of people on average (69% in urban areas, and 16% in rural areas) as of 2019.

be 42.2% less likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 64.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Gambia, about 37.0% do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 58.0% less on education

Botswana spends 6.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Gambia spends 2.9% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 37.7% less on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Gambia, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2019.

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.
Read more

How big is Gambia compared to Botswana? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Gambia.or Botswana It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.