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

Health

be 64.3% less likely to be obese

In Paraguay, 34.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 24.4% less likely to die by suicide

Paraguay has a suicide rate of 6.4 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 Paraguay, 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 7.9 years less

In Paraguay, the average life expectancy is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 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 93.6% less spent on your healthcare

Paraguay spends $1,469 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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have 97.7% fewer doctors per person

Paraguay has 38.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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have 36.1% less access to essential health services

Paraguay scores 72 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gambia scores 46 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 35.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Paraguay, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2025.

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make 86.9% less money

Paraguay has a GDP per capita of $7,027 as of 2025, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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Life

have 51.3% more children

In Paraguay, there are approximately 19.7 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 6.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Paraguay, approximately 58.0 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 45.6% less likely to be literate

In Paraguay, the literacy rate is 94.9% as of 2024. In Gambia, it is 51.6% as of 2021.

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be 2.3 times more likely to die during infancy

In Paraguay, approximately 14.5 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 33.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In Paraguay, 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 39.3% less likely to have internet access

In Paraguay, approximately 81.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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be 12.6% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Paraguay, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% 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 20.4% less on education

Paraguay spends 3.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 65.4% less on healthcare

Paraguay spends 8.4% 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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Safety

be 36.0% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Paraguay, 43% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2019. In Gambia, that number is 59% as of 2020.

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Infrastructure

find 96.0% less home broadband

Paraguay has 12.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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live with 20.1% more strain on fresh water

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

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Environment

emit 84.5% less CO2

Paraguay emits 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gambia emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 3.6 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Paraguay, air pollution causes 25.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gambia, it causes 90.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), 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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