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

Health

live 3.7 years longer

In Liberia, the average life expectancy is 62 years (61 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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be 30.3% less likely to be obese

In Liberia, 17.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 19.4% less likely to die by suicide

Liberia has a suicide rate of 6.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 4.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 44.4% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Liberia, 0.9% 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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see 59.6% less spent on your healthcare

Liberia spends $233 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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have 49.4% fewer doctors per person

Liberia has 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Liberia, 2.9% 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 43.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Liberia, approximately 628.0 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 die during infancy

In Liberia, approximately 63.2 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 2.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Liberia, approximately 32% of people have electricity access (53% in urban areas, and 9% 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 53.6% more likely to have internet access

In Liberia, approximately 32.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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be 10.5% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Liberia, approximately 79% of people have access to drinking water (86% in urban areas, and 70% 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 77.8% less on healthcare

Liberia spends 13.0% 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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spend 23.8% more on education

Liberia spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 86.2% less coastline

Liberia has a total of 579 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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Safety

be 43.8% more likely to die in a road accident

In Liberia, road accidents kill 15.3 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 92.6% more home broadband

Liberia has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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live with 8.5 times more strain on fresh water

Liberia withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gambia withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 50.0% more likely to die from air pollution

In Liberia, air pollution causes 60.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gambia, it causes 90.0 as of 2019.

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emit 20.0% more CO2

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

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