If you lived in Gambia instead of Rhode Island, you would:

Health

be 60.8% less likely to be obese

In Rhode Island, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 12.4% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 48.2% more likely to be unemployed

In Rhode Island, 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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be 5.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Rhode Island, 10.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

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make 98.4% less money

Rhode Island has a GDP per capita of $56,938 as of 2024, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 45.5% less likely to have internet access

In Rhode Island, approximately 90.8% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (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 Rhode Island? See an in-depth size comparison.

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