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

Health

be 44.5% less likely to be obese

In Latvia, 22.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 68.4% less likely to die by suicide

Latvia has a suicide rate of 15.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 4.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.6 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Latvia, 0.5% 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 10.4 years less

In Latvia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (72 years for men, 82 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 96.9% less spent on your healthcare

Latvia spends $3,034 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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have 97.4% fewer doctors per person

Latvia has 34.0 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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have 38.7% less access to essential health services

Latvia scores 75 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gambia scores 46 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 2.4 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Latvia, 22.5% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

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make 96.5% less money

Latvia has a GDP per capita of $26,312 as of 2025, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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Life

have 4.3 times more children

In Latvia, there are approximately 6.9 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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be 18.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Latvia, approximately 19.0 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 48.3% less likely to be literate

In Latvia, the literacy rate is 99.9% as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 51.6% as of 2021.

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be 14.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In Latvia, approximately 2.2 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 33.1% less likely to have access to electricity

In Latvia, 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 46.6% less likely to have internet access

In Latvia, approximately 92.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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be 11.8% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Latvia, 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 35.0% less on education

Latvia spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 60.3% less on healthcare

Latvia spends 7.3% 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 83.9% less coastline

Latvia has a total of 498 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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Safety

be 21.9% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Latvia, 75% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In Gambia, that number is 59% as of 2020.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Latvia, road accidents kill 9.8 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 98.0% less home broadband

Latvia has 25.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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live with 2.2 times more strain on fresh water

Latvia withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gambia withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 95.1% less CO2

Latvia emits 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gambia emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 2.2 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Latvia, air pollution causes 40.0 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), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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 Latvia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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