Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 6.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Laos, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 1.8% of people as of 2020.

be 94.3% more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 71.8% less money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $7,800 as of 2020, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,200 as of 2020.

be 2.7 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Gambia, however, that number is 48.6% as of 2015.

Life

have 37.7% more children

In Laos, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Gambia, there are 28.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

be 3.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 185.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Gambia, 597.0 women do as of 2017.

be 40.0% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 84.7% as of 2015. In Gambia, it is 50.8% as of 2015.

Basic Needs

be 48.4% less likely to have access to electricity

In Laos, approximately 95% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 93% 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.

Expenditures

spend 46.2% more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.6% 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.
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How big is Gambia compared to Laos? See an in-depth size comparison.

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