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

Health

be 50.2% less likely to be obese

In Colombia, 24.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Colombia, 0.6% 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 11.8 years less

In Colombia, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 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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see 94.6% less spent on your healthcare

Colombia spends $1,758 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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have 96.4% fewer doctors per person

Colombia has 25.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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have 42.5% less access to essential health services

Colombia scores 80 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gambia scores 46 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 21.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Colombia, 8.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2025.

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make 89.3% less money

Colombia has a GDP per capita of $8,562 as of 2025, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.3 times more children

In Colombia, there are approximately 13.2 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 6.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Colombia, approximately 59.0 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 45.8% less likely to be literate

In Colombia, the literacy rate is 95.3% as of 2024. In Gambia, it is 51.6% as of 2021.

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be 3.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Colombia, approximately 10.5 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 32.2% less likely to have access to electricity

In Colombia, approximately 99% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 95% 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 37.6% less likely to have internet access

In Colombia, approximately 79.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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be 10.3% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Colombia, approximately 97% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 84% 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 46.6% less on education

Colombia spends 5.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 64.5% less on healthcare

Colombia spends 8.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 2.9% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 97.5% less coastline

Colombia has a total of 3,208 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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Safety

be 15.4% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Colombia, 51% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 59% as of 2020.

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be 35.8% more likely to die in a road accident

In Colombia, road accidents kill 16.2 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 39.1% less strain on fresh water

Colombia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gambia withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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find 97.0% less home broadband

Colombia has 17.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 90.0% less CO2

Colombia emits 1.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gambia emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 3.8 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Colombia, air pollution causes 24.0 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 (2019–2022), 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 Colombia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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