If you lived in Gambia instead of Democratic Republic of the Congo, you would:

Health

live 4.0 years longer

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the average life expectancy is 62 years (60 years for men, 64 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 63.0% more spent on your healthcare

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends $58 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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be 45.2% less likely to die by suicide

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a suicide rate of 8.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 4.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 85.7% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 0.7% 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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be 85.2% more likely to be obese

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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have 56.7% fewer doctors per person

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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Economy

make 13.9% more money

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of $807 as of 2025, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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be 47.2% more likely to be unemployed

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 17.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 427.0 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 42.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 56.4 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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be 24.6% less likely to be literate

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the literacy rate is 68.5% as of 2023. In Gambia, it is 51.6% as of 2021.

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have 27.0% fewer children

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are approximately 40.9 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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Basic Needs

be 3.0 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 22% of people have electricity access (56% in urban areas, and 1% 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 2.5 times more likely to have internet access

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 19.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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be 2.4 times more likely to have access to drinking water

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, approximately 36% of people have access to drinking water (59% in urban areas, and 14% 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 21.5% less on healthcare

Democratic Republic of the Congo spends 3.7% 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 2.2 times more coastline

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a total of 37 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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Safety

be 35.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, road accidents kill 16.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Gambia, they kill 22.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 17.3 times more home broadband

Democratic Republic of the Congo has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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live with 9.6 times more strain on fresh water

Democratic Republic of the Congo withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gambia withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 25.0% more likely to die from air pollution

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, air pollution causes 72.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gambia, it causes 90.0 as of 2019.

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emit 3.0 times more CO2

Democratic Republic of the Congo emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gambia emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), 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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